EVERYBODY'S IN LA: MECCA, TATTOO AND VISUAL ARTIST
Hey, thanks for talking to us! Why and where are you in New Orleans, LA?
Hi, I'm Mecca and I'm a painter, tattooer, and the owner of Hell or High Water Tattoos. I moved to New Orleans in 2009 and I'm currently residing in the Treme.
You’re a visual artist and a tattoo artist…are they different parts of the same discipline for you?
No, but working towards making that answer a yes. Initially, I viewed painting and tattooing as extremely different disciplines with very different approaches. However, a big part of my process is designing tattoos that feel like paintings and blending my favorite parts of each medium together.
Where did you start to learn about art? Did you just pick up drawing or painting at school and found out that you were really good at it?
I've been doing art since I was a kid. Truthfully, I started drawing because my older brother drew and I wanted to do everything he did at all times. In middle school, I found my way into a program that taught animation, and that became my life and obsession pretty much through college.
I assume you’ve been creating art longer than you’ve been inking people - when did you take up tattooing and how did that part of your life begin?
I always wanted to be an artist, but did not consider tattooing until I moved to New Orleans. I had a friend who worked at a local shop. We would hang out and draw and after a while, I approached the owner about apprenticing me.
Is it nerve wracking when you have your first real client as a tattoo artist?
I cried doing my first tattoo! Like, fully sobbing while trying to put the lines in. I was nervous and I made a dumb mistake and got yelled at about it, which only made me more flustered. Then I made another mistake and got yelled at again, and that's when the waterworks started. The guy I was tattooing knew it was my first and he kept trying to comfort me while the artist watching me went out to smoke.
You seem incredibly prolific, is that a fair thing to say? Do you have set times when you sit down to create, or is it more of a case of the muses taking over and you just go with the creative flow?
Prolific! That feels like a compliment and I have a really hard time accepting those. I do try to draw every single day, though. While there is always some concept bouncing around in my head, but I don't really believe in waiting for inspiration to start a piece. Consistency beats divine inspiration any day.
Tell us a bit about your non-body art - which mediums do you like to work in, and what are your favorite kinds of drawings or paintings to work on?
Outside of tattooing, I work in a variety of other mediums. I really enjoy painting with watercolors, as well as acrylics. I do a lot in pen and ink as well. Additionally, I do some videography. I've done a few music videos for a local musician, and every once in a while I'll do some digital art. For subject matter, I find myself doing a lot of portraiture and florals, and I like my work to come off as surreal or chaotic.
I assume there’s a fairly lengthy apprentice-type period for tattoo artists. How long did that last for you and how long have you now had your operation?
My apprenticeship was a bit of a nightmare, but I was in it for about a year/a year and a half. I have about 15 years in this industry, and I've owned my current shop for about three years, which I took over from the late great Tony Barton. He owned it for 14 years prior to my stepping in.
What are the worst and best things about your job?
For me, the best thing about this job is the connections I get to make with other people. Creating something meaningful for someone, and then being with them for hours as you make this permanent addition to their body. I'm part artist, part therapist and I love the relationships that I've built through this profession. The worst thing about the job...the joint pain. My back, my shoulders, and my wrist are all shot to hell.
What’s the most common tattoo request that you see?
In New Orleans, the most common tattoo is 100% the Fleur-de-lis. That image has kept the roof over my head.
What are some of your favorite local spots for eats/drinks/hangs?
My go-to hang out spot in the city is the Velveteen Lounge on Bayou Road. I'm also partial to Auntie Carol's Kitchen on Howard Avenue.
Tell us about some of your favorite artists beyond New Orleans.
My all time favorite artists are Salvador Dali and Alphonse Mucha. My favorite tattoo artist is Fredao Oliveira, this amazing blackwork artist out of Brazil.
Where can people find you?
Hell or High Water Tattoo is at 308 Magazine Street. Find us online at www.hellorhighwaternola.com or @hellorhighwaternola on Instagram.