Quick answer: I’m a Brazilian tattoo artist in Sydney. I arrived on October 1st, 2019 with two bags, very little money and zero English. I almost gave up more than once. What kept me here was discipline, faith and the people who believed in me. Those same lessons now guide every Black and Grey Realism tattoo I do.
Most people who find me online see the finished tattoos. Healed realism, soft shading, strong contrast. What they don’t see is the Brazilian tattoo artist in Sydney who, a few years ago, couldn’t say one full sentence in English. This week I told that story on camera for the first time. Here it is in writing, with a bit more detail.
From Brazil to Sydney: the decision
I was born in Suzano, São Paulo. I grew up in Caieiras, then Mongaguá by the beach, then Curitiba. I was always moving. In Brazil I had built something real. Two tattoo studios. Good friends. I won tattoo conventions, including Tatuí, and people knew my name.
That’s how a studio in Bondi Beach found me. They invited me to come and tattoo in Australia. Every change brings pain. Nobody wants to trade the life they have for a life they don’t know. But I’m a person who decides, and when I decide, I go.
Starting again as a Brazilian tattoo artist in Sydney with zero English
I landed on October 1st, 2019. I had never spoken English in my life. Every word I wanted to say, someone had to translate.
Imagine this. A client is in front of you. You want to explain your idea, your art, your care. And the words don’t come out. For a tattoo artist, that is hard. Trust starts with a conversation, and I couldn’t have one.
The good news? The studio received me really well, and clients came from day one. That helped a lot, because money was tight. But inside, something was hurting.
The hardest days
I’m a person who loves people. I love connecting. On my birthday I was always the one bringing everyone together. Suddenly I was in a country where I couldn’t have a simple conversation. Christmas, New Year, your birthday. You look to the side and there’s nobody there.
A few months after I arrived, Covid hit. I lost people in my family, people close to me, and I couldn’t be there. I couldn’t hug my mother.
Then I got the news that my dog had cancer in his brain. I flew back to Brazil to say goodbye, to let him sleep in peace. That was the moment I thought about giving up the most. A pet comes into your life to teach you things. He taught me to be strong. He taught me that money doesn’t matter, our time here is short, and we have to do our best with what we have right now.
Why I never quit
Here’s what nobody tells you about starting again. Thinking about giving up is not giving up. I thought about it many times, but I never packed my bags.
I was in the army before tattooing. There I learned something simple. When you give your word, you finish the job, even when it hurts. I gave my word to myself and to my family.
It wasn’t only discipline. I believe in God, and I believe everything happens for a reason, even the hardest days. And it was my mother, my father and my two brothers, all in Brazil, believing in me. If one person believes in you, you can’t stop.
3 lessons this Brazilian tattoo artist in Sydney brings to every tattoo
1. Be humble
In Brazil I had a name. Here I had to start again with no English. Nobody cares what you did before. They care what you do today. So every client, I treat like the first one. That means listening properly, planning properly and never rushing because I’ve done something similar before.
2. Patience wins
It took me years to speak basic English. One word at a time. A realistic tattoo is the same. Light, shadow, contrast. You don’t rush it, you build it, so it looks good today and still looks good years from now. You can read more about how I plan realism pieces on my blog.
3. People matter
People translated for me. People opened their studios to me in Bondi, Surry Hills and Balmain. People trusted me before they could even understand me. Nobody makes it alone. That’s why I care so much about the experience in the chair, not only the result on the skin.
What kept me here
The people. Slowly, I learned enough English to talk to my clients myself. No translator. Just me and my client. That was one of the biggest wins of my life.
I won an award in Brisbane. Invitations started coming from all over Australia: Melbourne, the Gold Coast, Newcastle, where I also lived. Every place brought new people and new stories. Then I opened my own studio. And one of the most incredible days of my life: I got my permanent residency. The guy who arrived with two bags and no English now calls Australia home.
This journey taught me to be humble, and it taught me that people are what matter most in our lives. So if someone believes in you, don’t stop.
Why I’m sharing this now
I stopped making videos for a while when I opened my studio. That’s not an excuse. So I’m starting again, and I’m doing it to be real with you and to help you. Every Tuesday there’s a new video on my channel. Real stories, real lessons, about tattoos and about life.
If you’re an immigrant building a new life in Australia, the Australian Government’s Home Affairs website is the official place for visa and residency information. And if you’re going through a hard season far from home, talk to someone. You don’t have to carry it alone.
FAQ
Who is Washington Tattoo?
I’m Washington, a Brazilian tattoo artist in Sydney specialising in Black and Grey Realism. I arrived in Australia in 2019 and now work from my own studio.
Do you speak English with clients now?
Yes. It took years, one word at a time, but today I talk with every client myself, from the first idea to the last session.
How do I get a tattoo date with you?
Tattoo dates are limited. The best way to hear first about new dates is to join the VIP List.
Join the VIP List
If this story meant something to you, tell me in the comments of the video who believes in you. And if you’re thinking about a realism tattoo in the future, join the VIP List for studio news and future booking announcements.
Washington
