Lis is one of our regular tattoo artists in Eindhoven. For The Tattoo Closet, she designed the stings like a melting thought t-shirt.

“The severed head is in high contrast with the simplistic thorn branch. Combined with the tears, it gives a dramatic look. I’m also really into fashion, where I like things to look simplistic but still convey a certain extraness.” For Lis, it was important to incorporate this concept into the design.

The story behind the Stings like a melting thought shirt

Lis describes herself as an emotional person. She loves translating these emotions into her designs.

“The melting eye represents the frustration of feeling lost, the thorns of the branch symbolize pain, and the tears stand for sadness. Together, these elements create a strong visual. In my opinion, all negative emotions stem from love. For me, love is the most beautiful thing to experience in this life.”

A combination of organic and industrial shapes

She’s been drawing a lot since childhood, but Lis really developed her own style during her apprenticeship at BlackBear Ink: a combination of linework and blackwork. Every tattoo artist has their own style and design process, and for Lis, it’s no different. “I often start by searching for a reference that speaks to me, then I start developing it. After that, I add elements and see what feels right and what fits.”

“I’ve always thought tattoos were super cool. It’s such an honor when clients want to carry a piece of my art on their bodies for the rest of their lives. I love bringing industrial and organic shapes together. It results in abstract, compositional designs!”

Pre-order Lis’s shirt through the webshop. Want to see more from Lis? Check out her Instagram: @eam.artsi or book a tattoo appointment via the booking form on our website.