with, cover up or refresh. “One of my mentors encouraged me to learn to do a little bit of ev- erything,” she said. “That way, if you ever hit a slow time, you won’t just be a one-trick artist.” But still, fantasy images are al- ways appealing. “‘Lord of the Rings’ is my all-time favorite, but really, I like anything nerdy,” she said. “I also do a great Obi-Wan cosplay.” The studio is full of images from Star Wars and other favorite fran- chises. Its name is even a combi- nation of her last name and the site of a pivotal location in the Tolkien universe. Overall, she calls her style “illus- trative realism,” featuring impres- sive, almost realistic linework. Her Instagram portfolio shows ev- erything from detailed animals and plants to tarot cards and an- ime characters to vivid designs like mandalas. When new clients request a tat- too, she encourages them to ar- rive with ideas of images, colors, and styles they like on Pinterest or Google. Then she’ll meet with them and discuss their concept further. “Once someone has done their re- search and knows what they like it’s easy for me to pull from that,” Helms said. “But tattoos are per- manent and you can tell when someone isn’t quite ready.” >> Roundabout route While some tattoo artists have al- ways been interested in the media, Helms initially gravitated to other types of art. She considered tattoo art cool but never thought it was a medium she could pursue. “I always loved to draw, and in school I chose as many art electives as I could,” she said.
Helms’ illustrative realism sets her apart.
spring 2024 after studying the me- dia and working alongside other North Idaho tattoo professionals for the last four years. She’s excit- ed to provide clients with any de- sign that they can envision. Personally, she loves fantasy and sci-fi and would love the chance to illustrate someone’s skin with something from this creative genre. But it’s really about the client and what they want to adorn their body
Tattoos are also an amazing form of art to create and to wear, said Courtney Helms, owner of Helmzz Deep Ink, a studio in Hayden. “It’s your art that you’re putting on someone, but it also becomes part of someone else’s body,” Helms said. “And then it’s out in the world and you may never see it again.” >> Learn what you like Helms opened her studio in
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