Article: The Journey of Lauren’s Back Piece
The Journey of Lauren’s Back Piece
A Connection Forged in Ink
Lauren and I first crossed paths at one of my earliest tattoo conventions. She became one of my first convention clients — and from there, a journey began that would span over seven years.
In the early days, Lauren opted for smaller, scattered tattoos. Like many, she started with spontaneous choices. But over time, her vision evolved. She began seeking larger, cohesive works that told a full story — and I evolved alongside her. We have reworked, covered up and connected so many pieces.
The Five-Year Journey
Lauren’s back piece became a significant milestone for both of us. It was the first full back I started — and the first I finished.
The project unfolded over five years. In that time, we worked on nearly every part of her body: sleeves, stomach, chest, legs. Every session was fluid. Often she’d walk into the studio and I’d simply ask, “What do you feel like working on today?” The back piece grew in layers, shaped not by a rigid plan, but by trust and creative evolution.
The final design: a vivid jungle scene, featuring a powerful leopard, a brilliant macaw, and lush tropical foliage. It reflected Lauren’s bold, colourful energy — the same spirit she pours into her hair salon, Ferale.
Translating Ink into Steel
When it came time to translate Lauren’s back piece into a steel panel for Skin to Steel, the process felt almost natural. Tattoo linework — bold, deliberate, connected — lends itself perfectly to laser cutting. With minor adjustments to ensure the design’s structural integrity, her back was reborn in black metal.
The result was not a reproduction. It was a transformation: from skin to steel, from living canvas to permanent monument.
Bonds of Steel
What makes this piece truly significant isn’t just the artwork — it’s the relationship behind it.
Lauren has been there through my darkest days. She’s shown up with sympathy houseplants when my grandma passed away, had sweet treats delivered when the days grew too heavy. Big bunches of Australian native flowers for my birthday. She has been more than a client — she has been a quiet constant, a source of loyalty and support.
To honour that bond, we shared a final moment. On the day we finished her back, I tattooed the VANTA heart behind her ear — a symbol of sisterhood, respect, and gratitude. A private mark of everything the journey had meant to us.
Legacy in Metal
Lauren’s back piece stands not only as a testament to her transformation, but to mine. It represents a shift: from tattoo artist to founder, from temporary to permanent, from skin to steel.
Together, we created more than a tattoo. We forged a Bond of Steel — a monument to trust, evolution, and the enduring nature of true creative partnership.
