This "Bad" Tattoo Artist Is In Very High Demand Precisely Because She Can't Draw

Concept art. It's a thing.

Elana

• Published in Interesting
• March 30, 2019

Helena Fernandes is in her mid twenties, living her best life in Salvador de Bahia, Brazil. In Brazil, Fernandes is proud to have founded her in-home studio, Malfeitona. Body art has been around for as far back as humanity has, in a wide variety of ever-evolving forms. One of today's most popular forms of body modifications is tattoos. Once regarded by the mass public to be for those lesser than in society, tattoos have become widely culturally acceptable. In 2012 it was recorded that 21% of Americans had at least one tattoo... that's 45 million people for reference!

While the tattoo industry continues to boom, tattoo artists are being put on a pedestal and are getting their own TV shows, make up lines, and clothing lines! The years of fine-tuning and honing the skills required to be a successful tattoo artist are often many in nature and impressive to say the least. But Fernandes isn't like other tattoo artists...

Hernandes provides what she describes in Portuguese as tatuagens peba (literally "trash tattoos.") With a strong sense of brutal honesty, Hernandes has forged her way into the tattoo world promising distinctly unique tattoo designs for all of her customers. Uniquely "bad," but impossible not to find intriguing and interesting. If you pause even momentarily to wonder who on earth would want such bizarre tattoos... keep in mind she has over 63,000 followers on Instagram and she's been steady going viral on the Internet for months now.

Cat, I'm a Kitty Cat!

...and I meow, meow, meow...

Totally Adorable

Colorful, too!

Lots of people like to get portraits of their pets, especially photogenic cats.

This is very impressionist, though.

The Solar System

See, if the earth was flat it would also be flat in tattoos.

All Better

Look at this cute little band-aid, it doesn't look trashy to me at all.

Emoji-riffic!

There's a perfect tattoo out there for everyone.

Animal Pile!

Every single one of these simple animals is precious as heck.

Are you feeling it now, Mr. Krabs?

I'm feeling something.

Happy Cat

So much joy in so little ink.

See ya later, alligator!

In a while, crocodile.

Look, you have got to love everything about this fabulous unicorn!

Already, 11 tattoos in and I'm sold. I need to buy a plane ticket to Brazil for one of these "trash tattoos."

Nostalgic as heck.

For the 90's kids.

Silly hobbits.

This character art is top notch.

A little cute, a little horrifying.

Balance is important.

Cross over!

When you love cats and Harry Purr, I mean Potter. Hernandes has you covered!

Vegan-tastic.

What's not to love about this farm-animal friendly ink?

Space Dog!

This is heckin' cool.

Morbidly adorable.

These are the ideas that today's youth flocks to.

For a "trash tattoo," this character is easy to recognize!

When the beep-beep gets the best of ya.

The beauty is in the details.

This terrifying bat is super underrated, just looking up close and you can see that Hernandes is a lot more skilled than she'd have you believe.

Showered with LOVE.

Nothing but love for this Brazilian artist.

Nothing trashy to see here.

This looks better than what a lot of people pay a fancy artist to put on their bodies, honestly.

Plant Pals

Everything is better with plants.

You might do a double take.

If you don't, you'll want to look again because the details in this cat tattoo are hilarious.

Space Deer!

Bambi flies high.

Cutest, lil fella.

How does such a tiny, simple tattoo make you say, "awww?"

Shark Attack

Most definitely unique.

Bewitching!

A black cat and a few ominous signs. Wink-wink.

If you catch this one then you might be a little on the older side.

Older, darker side.

Truly, one of a kind.

I can't think of a tattoo better to end with than this one.

Elana