Tattoo Artist Spotlight: Elijah Rain
Q&A with Elijah Rain, tattoo artist.
What’s your name (and studio name/location etc...), and how long have you been tattooing?
I’m Elijah Rain, I work in a private studio in San Diego, CA, which I have yet to name (though I’m considering naming it Patterns in the Rain). I’ve been tattooing since 2019, but I’ve only really started liking my own work since 2023
What got you into tattooing?
I just always thought it was a really cool world and wanted to at least do it for fun since I was very young. I was too scared to start though until I had some shift in mentality.
Did you start off as an apprentice? If so, what was that like?
I apprenticed at two different shops. I learned a lot but it was hard and there were certainly some shitty parts. Especially starting at 29
When you were starting out, were you inspired by other artists?
Absolutely. My favorite tattoo I have was what inspired me to start drawing for three years before I started trying to tattoo
Did you work in other mediums first or go straight to tattoos?
Yes, I come from a family of musicians and actually used to teach music. As for visual art, I dabbled with a lot of mediums, but primarily got good using microns.
Do you work in other mediums now?
Not as much, other than doing music.
Do you have a specific niche or style that you specialize in?
Yes, sacred geometry. Primarily dotwork.
How do you handle the pressure of Working with something permanent…with no “undo” button?
I go slow when I need to. I think people get stressed and then they try to rush and that’s the real killer
Some tattoo styles seem to come and go, is there one style that’s gone away that you miss?
Not really. I think things die for a reason. As someone in the LGBTQ community, I was disappointed for my friends when JK Rowling turned out to be a bigot and everyone needed to cover up their Harry Potter stuff. A lot of people assumed it was queer coded. Myself included.
Do you prefer clients who come with a finished idea, or ones who give you a vague concept and let you run with it? Do most clients give you freedom to be creative?
Honestly I prefer clients who pick my flash. I get really excited for my own designs and it makes me happy when someone else is excited as well.
You’ve probably heard a lot of back-stories “behind the tattoo”, is there one story about a tattoo that you’ve done that’s stuck with you?
Honestly, my favorite tattoo is frequently “the next one”. I have done some pieces lately that I’m really happy with and my goal is to get better every time so that the next one is even more exciting
Aside from the actual drawing, what’s a skill a tattoo artist needs that people don't realize? What challenges do tattoo artists face?
There are so many skills. You need to be able to market. You have to manage people’s emotions for something that may be a life changer for them, even though it’s just a day at work for you. You have to be kind to people who are maybe not kind back. You have to have time management skills. You are literally running your own business and all that entails.
Follow Elijah on IG: @elijahraintattoo
