Lana Wingo
Published July 2007
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Everywhere you turn in the tattoo world these days, you get bombarded with the word custom. So many artists do all custom work and look down on flash, that it’s easy to forget that there ever was another way. But, not only was there another way, but that way still thrives and grows. It’s still alive and as popular as ever. It’s practiced in street shops around the country. As our readers already know, one of the finest examples of a quality street shop can be found right here in Chicago on Taylor Street. There, the tattoo artists of today are the legends of tomorrow, and one of those artists is Lana Wingo.

Dave Muller: How did you first get interested in tattoos?

Lana Wingo: I was 5 years old, and our school bus driver had a big tiger on her leg and I loved it. I knew I didn’t want to be a bus driver, but she was just so cool, and the tattoo was cool... so, I guess that’s kind of how I got interested. By the time I turned 12, I told my dad I wanted to be a tattoo artist. He just laughed at first, but he’s proud now.

Dave Muller: How long have you been an artist for?

Lana Wingo: I’ve always been an artist. I’ve been painting with acrylics for 10 years now, and drawing my whole life. My art was entered in art shows when I was in kindergarten. Later on, I went to San Jacinto College in Texas on an art scholarship and came away with an associates degree in commercial art. But to me, that part meant nothing. I felt like I was wasting my time, I just wanted to tattoo.

Dave Muller: How did you finally get into tattooing?

Lana Wingo: I got that scholarship right out of high school so I went... what else was I going to do? I knew I really wanted to be a tattoo artist, but it’s really hard to get into at first. I was getting tattooed, and spending money at the shops and I finally got started tattooing with friends. I didn’t go through a traditional apprenticeship, but I met someone who helped me on my way. He was really great, and he taught me a lot of tricks and things about tattooing. In this business, teaching someone to tattoo is kind of like taking money out of your pockets. Why teach someone to tattoo in the same town and create competition? It’s like a secret, and you don’t give up that secret to just anybody. Finally, I started an Internet correspondence with Mike Malone, and he critiqued my first 11 tattoos. He was nice, and kept it short and sweet. He told me I was really green, but that I’d come along.

Dave Muller: How did you meet Keith Underwood?

Lana Wingo: I met Keith about 4 years ago at the Austin Tattoo convention. He tattooed my husband, Tim Gooding, who is the piercer at the shop here. I got tattooed by Keith over the years, and I already knew Kindel. When Keith needed a piercer up here at Taylor Street Tattoo he though of Tim so we moved up here. I started tattooing here in September of 2006.

Dave Muller: What is it about Taylor Street Tattoo that makes the shop so special?

Lana Wingo: Definitely the people. Keith, Kindel and their kids are like family, they mean the world to me. Keith is the best boss, he’s very easy to work for. Plus, Mike Malone was here when I started at Taylor Street Tattoo. I got to meet him, and have him critique my tattoos in person. He taught me a lot about painting, as well as drawing for tattooing, and he shared many stories about him tattooing and coming up in the business. He was loved by many people, including myself. I love working here because I get to do a lot of traditional tattoos because of Keith and Mike Malone and their history.

Dave Muller: With so many shops going all custom, how do you think street shops fit in?

Lana Wingo: Keith and I pride ourselves on this being a street shop. Sure, custom tattoos are great, but in my opinion, walk-ins are just as fun. I really do enjoy doing flash as much as I do custom work. I like the idea about how you got a tattoo in the past. Tattooers hand painted designs on the wall, then they made acetate stencils for everything, and you got to come in and pick out your tattoo. People are getting traditional American tattoos again, they’re very popular. Everything comes full circle.

Dave Muller: True, they do say that everything old is new again, but what do you think is different this time around?

Lana Wingo: People are getting wise to what it takes to get a good tattoo. It’s really bad in Texas. There are tattoo shops across the street from each other in Houston, but all that it really means is that there are more places to get a bad tattoo from. There you have tons of people walking around with bad tattoos. In Chicago, we have less shops, because it’s much harder to get a license. I love Chicago, I like living here, the scene here is great. I get to tattoo all kinds of fun stuff, like skulls, snakes and anchors.

Dave Muller: Why do you think those images appeal to so many people?

Lana Wingo: Probably because that’s what we’ve been tattooing since the beginning of American tattooing. Sailors were the first people who had tattoos, they traveled the world and got tattoos elsewhere. So, that’s where the American tattoo industry started, with the images that sailors got. The snakes and skulls are what bikers got back in the 70’s and now it’s all vintage.

Dave Muller: What is your style like?

Lana Wingo: Definitely traditional. Keith says I should use more black, but sometimes there’s a need for turquoise and mint green. In this day and age, with all of the new colors and everything, I think that for me to be a good street shop tattoo artist, I feel that I have to know how to use fuchsia every now and again. What I do best are good quality traditional pieces like daggers, hearts, flowers, banners, eagles, anchors and snakes. Good, solid, clean tattoo work that’s going to last and look good in 20 years. That’s what I believe in, a good tattoo today should look good for life.

Written by: Dave Muller
Photos courtesy of: Lana Wingo

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