Laz Gein • Mastering Fine Arts from Canvas to Skin

Meet Laz, a seasoned tattoo artist and oil painter from Adelaide, Australia, whose career nearly two decades. Known for his striking black and grey realism pieces, Laz’s journey began in the heart of Sydney’s tattoo scene, where he honed his craft through a traditional apprenticeship at the world-famous Sleevemasters Tattoo in Kings Cross back in 2006.

For the readers who are not familiar with you, how would you introduce yourself?
I’m Lazand I started tattooing in 2006, by doing an old school apprenticeship in Kings X, Sydney at the world-famous Sleevemasters Tattoo. I’m now back in my hometown of Adelaide, Australia and I’m also an oil painter who teaches art also, art and tattooing are in my blood and I can’t imagine anything else. Tattooing’s opened so many doors for me including tattooing idols of mine as a kid and doing album covers for bands I’ve always loved.

Where did your fascination for tattoos come from?
I was collecting tattoo magazines in high school, I got my first tattoo when I was 15 and never looked back, every time I would see someone tattooed (and it was a lot more rare back then) I couldn’t help but look and wanted to know the background of the tattoo from an early age.

At what point in your life, you became a professional tattoo artist?
I was 21 (19 years ago), I had been getting tattooed for years and got to know the local guys at the tattoo shop where I lived in Newtown, Sydney. The boss had several shops and I heard of an apprentice leaving and took my portfolio and the rest is history. I’ll never forget his words, “your drawings are good, you start at 8pm, don’t be late, and if you rip me off I don’t have to tell you what happens” haha.

How would you describe the tattoo scene in your country these days?
I think like everywhere else in the world it’s blown up, it’s great so many people from all walks of life are getting tattooed and I love connecting with people from all backgrounds, it’s the funnest part of my job.

How would you define your current tattoo style and how did you end up focusing on it?
I’m one of those artists who learnt in a time when we were told to be able to do whatever walked through the door and to be able to do it well, so I’m happy doing all styles, however, people mostly come to me for my big black and grey realism pieces. I work fast, I do a whole panel i.e., inside of forearm or whole outside of top of arm in 4 or 5 hours so I generally do one of those per day.

Please walk us through your process when you start a new tattoo for your customers.
I’m lucky where I’m in the position where people have seen my portfolio who book so are aware of my capabilities and are usually clients I’ve tattooed so they usually come to me with an idea say ‘I want a Spartan warrior on the outside of my leg, happy for you to come up with something, and they often let me do whatever walked through I want to do.

What’s the most challenging aspect of being a tattoo artist in 2025?
I think for me, tattooing in the era when I started and being Middle Aged now, it’s keeping up with the social media stuff, I know it’s important, but I’ve never been one to brag or be like ‘look at me look at me’ or feel the need to be popular, however, these days I know how important it is so it’s something I’m trying to get better with.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a tattoo artist?
Without a doubt pleasing your clients, I’ve done portraits of people who’ve lost loved ones, their kids, or parents, and seeing their reaction when they look in the mirror is the best feeling I’ve ever had. It’s extremely fulfilling to know you’re helping someone with their healing.

What’s your experience at tattoo conventions so far?
I have done several conventions in Australia, mainly Melbourne, Sydney, and Adelaide and have been very lucky to be booked out with many fun pieces throughout.

Did you ever participate in any tattoo contests?
I’ve never been one for the accolades in tattooing, I just want to be busy and do good work so I’ve never even entered any. If I could go back I probably would have, I was too busy making connections and picking artists’ brains I’ve admired.

What’s your primary reason to attend a tattoo convention?
A few reasons, networking is a big one but it’s a great chance to showcase your work to people who might not have heard of you, I love the community and hearing people’s stories that come up to you.

How do you think tattoo conventions could improve for the artists and the public?
At least where I’m from, I think there could be more, I don’t think there’s been one in my city since 2017 so we’re not as prominent with conventions as a lot of countries around the world.

What’s your favorite tattoo convention so far? And why?
I think it was the 2011 Rites of Passage Festival in Melbourne, I tattooed Australian Heavy metal legend Peter Hobbs, of ‘Hobbs’ Angel of Death’ who was a larger-than-life character very prominent in the Australian heavy metal scene in the 80’s and 90’s. He got a portrait of Lily Munster on his leg and I said ‘we’re finished’ and he said ‘I don’t think it is, you have to sign your name on it!’ So I did and it was a bit of a pinch-yourself moment and something I’ll never forget (R.I.P. big fella).

What advice would you offer to someone considering a career as a tattoo artist?
I’d say to be open to learning from anyone with experience, even if you get a small thing from each artist it all goes a long way and can carry you throughout your whole career.

Who are the people you admire the most within the tattoo community?
I think the guys from my era and before who’ve kicked through the whole time while the tattoo industry’s changed so much, it says a lot about an artist who can move with the times and remain relevant.

What’s your biggest accomplishment as a tattoo artist?
I think tattooing a lot of my childhood heroes, athletes, and rock stars I looked up to and people I admire who are at the top of their game. That and just being good and respectful to my clients, I work hard, I’m always early, I’m always prepared and I don’t stuff people around and treat my clients with a lot of respect.

How do you stay at the top of your game?
I always want to be better than I was yesterday, I don’t compare myself to other artists, I just compete with myself and I’m always open to learning and finding ways to improve.

Do you do other forms of art besides tattooing?
I absolutely do, I’m an oil painter and have been for many years now, it’s as important to me as tattooing, I also teach painting at an art store and help children and adults better their art skills with specialized classes. I’ve done album covers for bands I’ve admired and paintings for many celebrities and pro athletes over the years.

What are your goals or dreams for the near future?
I’d love to take my talents to the United States, there’s so much opportunity for me there and I’d love to get into all the movie and horror conventions also.

Do you have a sponsor? If so, what could you tell us about your sponsors?
My friends at Planet Artz Tattoo in Milwaukee are trying to get me over to join the team and they are super cool and talented people and I can’t wait to get over and bring some Australian hospitality to their shores.

Is there anything else you would like to tell our readers?
I’m just a big art nerd, Tattooing’s a part of me like breathing and eating, I owe a lot of my life to tattooing and being a senior artist I feel the need to pass on the knowledge I’ve learned and I was given so the next generation can make it better than we have (not that they need much help) but I love to help them whenever I can.