I’m a person of extremes, and naturally that will translate through my design work. I have deep lust for all that is creepy–especially anything that comes off as obscene and is thought provoking. On the other end of the spectrum, I absolutely love doing portrait work–be is to celebrities, kids, loved ones, pets, I love it all!

Hey, i’m iva – i’m a Tattoo Artist based out of vaughan, who loves black and grey realism.

I’m not going to sit here writing this blurb about how I got here in some third person narrative as if a stranger is documenting this for me. Nor am I going to create some glorified accentuated persona for you here. I’m gonna be real with you, like I’ve been real with all my clients.

Since I could remember, I always had an interest in drawing. I remember being 4 years old, sitting on the floor in my family room, and drawing a three-dimensional box for the first time. I probably knew how to draw before I knew how to speak English (funny story; I was born in Canada to Croatian immigrant parents, so naturally my first language was Croatian). If you know Eastern Europeans, then it follows that you are strict; and so was my upbringing. I spent my summers drawing pictures of flowers from my garden, or creating coloured portraits of my pet budgies. No matter what I drew, one common theme remained: make it as realistic as possible. Interestingly enough, at this point I had solely created with colour–be it oil pastel, pencil crayon, and even oil paint later on.

Unfortunately, as I get to high school, I fail to foresee a career in the arts, so I begin to focus strictly on the sciences–the “proven academia.” I graduate with honours, and proceed to move forward with a Batchelor’s Degree in Psychology. And it was hard. And a very dark, trying time in my life. But I persevered through, and graduated with my best friend by my side (she’s the coolest ever).

During my final year of university, my mentors and close friends begin motivating me to tattoo. Me? Tattoo?! Yeah, okay. But I did it. And like completing my psychology degree, this too was hard, and trying. I think learning how to tattoo was the most emotionally and mentally exhausting thing I have ever put my mind to–and trust me, I’m a masochist when it comes to challenging myself. But the better I got, the more satisfying it became; like a drug. Every piece, every accomplishment, had me feeling like I was flying, if just for a brief moment in time.

So here we are now, as hungry as ever. My childhood conquest for realism has translated fully into my style as a tattoo artist. One thing has changed, however; I only tattoo in black and grey. It not only appeals to the darker sider of my personality, but has an undying class to it.

So this is me. Wasn’t that better than some lame, personality-devoid explanation of my accomplishments ? I hope to meet all of you that come across my work. It has been and will always be a privilege to get to know so many beautiful souls, and I can only hope that I can give you a piece of me to take away with you and wear forever.

XO

IVA

Check out my Portfolio here!