Buttery Smooth Black and Grey Tattoos | Owen Paulls

Owen Pauls is one of the most technically refined black and gray tattooers working today — and in this episode, we get into exactly what makes his work so distinct: buttery smooth values, a collage-based design process, and a relentless refusal to stop at "good enough."

Owen shares his unlikely path from punk band drummer and DIY merch designer to world-class tattooer, why he spent two full years doing traditional and neo-traditional before ever touching realism, and the three-pass rendering technique he uses to push every piece beyond what most artists would call finished.

We also get into the business side — why Owen designs a full sleeve for every client even when they only book a single piece, how he structures long double-day sessions to keep clients coming back, and what he looks for when critiquing portfolios.

And we close out with a genuinely great conversation about AI in tattooing: the shortcuts it offers, the foundations it threatens, and why stepping over the finish line without running the race isn't art — it's just tracing.

Owen will also be doing an exclusive technique talk for the Inside Fireside Tattoo Club soon — stay tuned for that date.

🔥 Topics covered:

• How a punk band accidentally launched Owen's tattoo career
• Why traditional tattooing is the foundation of great realism
• The 3-pass rendering technique
• Designing full sleeves to convert single-session clients
• Portfolio critique: the most common weakness he sees
• AI as reference vs. AI as a crutch
• Moving to Southern California & upcoming studio residency

📌 Mentioned in this episode:

• Black Alien Project
• Alibis (band)
• Andy Chambers
• Nick Baxter
• Oliver Sin
• Neon Judas
• Rick Rubin — The Creative Act
• Paradise Art Retreat 2026 (Oct 6–8, Jiminy Peak)

💬 Join the Inside Fireside Tattoo Club — link in bio 📧 Sign up for our mailing list to be notified about upcoming technique talks