by Ryan Pangilinan
I’ve known Suzanna Fisher for the better part of a decade as we worked together at an unnamed video chain store in the early aughts. After we both escaped the dreaded corporate video environment, Fisher went on to greener pastures, first as a University of Washington graduate, then as a tattoo artist at Seattle’s popular Supergenius Tattoo shop. I have the utmost confidence in Fisher’s ability – as she’s tattooed everything that’s on my right arm, as well as Totally Crushed Out’s Janice Benton and Michelle Morris – so I thought she should kick some raps about being an artiste in a male dominated industry.
TOTALLY CRUSHED OUT: You've been illustrating for as long as I've known you. What first piqued your interest in art?
SUZANNA FISHER: I have been interested in art for as long as I've been able to grasp a drawing utensil. There is no point in my life that I can remember not doodling or being the "arty person" in school or in my social circle. The more I've done it, the better I get, which makes me want to make more art. It's a never-ending cycle.
How did you get into tattooing?When I was 11 or 12, I watched a Discovery program on tattooing and thought it was the coolest thing ever. Being a tattooer was next on my list to being an actress, both of which were professions that I mentally filed under "probably not going to happen but it would be cool". My dad wanted me to go to college, which I did, but I didn't discover anything that interested me as much as tattooing. I ended up getting tattooed, hanging around shops, asking a lot of questions and eventually getting a job running the front counter at a tattoo and piercing shop. This led to an apprenticeship, which led to a professional tattoo job at Supergenius, and here I am:)
What is your favorite medium to work in?
Of course I love permanently marking folks, but man, a pen or pencil and a piece of paper can make me really happy. I also enjoy making three dimensional art: jewelry design (mostly in silver) and woodcarving are some mediums that I get a kick out of. I like materials that are unforgiving; when you make a mark, you've committed and there's no turning back.
Do you ever get hit on by random dudes that you end up tattooing?
Haha, yes I do get hit on by random dudes I tattoo, but being situated right next to The Wild Rose (a rather infamous lesbian bar) opens up the field for every gender. Usually the most forward folks are older women or drunk men. I don't really get cute young groupies like the boys do, but someday when I've attained cougar status, that may change;) I like this industry because if you are inappropriate and I don't like you, I can tell you to fuck off and it's perfectly ok.
Who are some artists that you're inspired by at the moment?
Well I like to be inspired but the folks around me, so my coworkers at Supergenius are always pushing me to do better. As for other visual artists, I currently, and have always, adored Robert Crumb. I also am a fan of Tim Burton, Ramiro Rodriguez, Audrey Kawasaki, Gustave Dore, and El Greco, to name a few. Lately I've been inspired in my tattoo work by other tattooers such as Jeff Gogue and Darcy Nutt. Music is also always inspirational and necessary for me to make art, and my tastes run the gamut.
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