If you’re at all familiar with the dance department at Hofstra University, you have probably come in contact with the adorable, punky, and effervescent Eilish Henderson. This modern dancer is all about body language if you know what I mean, whether it be catching your eye with her hypnotizing dance technique, getting right into the action at a hardcore show, or turning heads with her bold and badass tattoos on Hofstra’s campus. Henderson, class of 2018, is not someone who plays by the rules, especially when it comes to going under the needle and rocking tattoos that you don’t see every day on the unispan. Here’s what the Ohio native has to say about her own sickening tattoos and what is is like to be inked out on a college campus.
HC: When did you first realize that you wanted to be tattooed and what was your first tattoo
EH: I suppose I realized I wanted to be tattooed when I first started seeing heavily tattooed people with really well done tattoos. I was immediately drawn to the idea of having artwork permanently on your body. My first tattoo is of the script on the cover of an album titled “Wildlife” by La Dispute. The album came into my life at the most perfect time. Seeing as La Dispute’s music influenced me heavily in terms of how I see things, I couldn’t imagine this album not having some place on my physical form. The tattoo is around the size of my palm and is located on the inside of my forearm.
HC: What are your favorite tattoo styles?
EH: My favorite styles are most definitely Dotwork, Blackwork, Geometric, Sketchwork, and Trash Polka
HC: What made you decide to get a chest piece?
EH: I decided upon getting my chest piece because Lauren Vandevier, who has done all of my tattoos was coming to New York as a guest artist at Daredevil Tattoo and since she’s located in Ohio, I don’t have many opportunities to go there anymore. I had been thinking of ideas for a while and I had a really clear vision of what I wanted for my chest area. I also knew how painful this area was going to be to get tattooed and since I am planning to be covered in tattoos, I kind of wanted to get this area done sooner rather than later. I had it done about a month ago and I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out.
HC: Do you have any weird experiences because of being tattooed in college?
EH: I haven’t had anything I would consider extremely bad happen to me in college. Of course, people notice and are curious about my tattoos, but the majority of questions are positive and extremely benign.
HC: What are some of the pros and cons about being tattooed in college?
EH: I would say that the pros are that it is nice to feel that your image reflects who you truly are. It’s also a great way to relate to other people and start conversations. I think every time I get a new tattoo I feel myself becoming more authentic, if that makes any sense. I would say the cons don’t really concern me entirely. I attribute any negativity that results from me being tattooed as ignorance. People simply don’t understand why someone would want to be tattooed and rude things come out of their mouth as a result.
HC: How has your tastes in music influenced you to get tattoos?
EH: I would certainly say that my music taste has influenced me to become a tattooed individual. When I got involved in the punk and hardcore scene at a young age, I was surrounded by people who were heavily tattooed. For me, it wasn’t so much that I thought that I needed to be tattooed to belong, it was more of that I admired the beautiful pieces of art I saw on the bodies of these people that I admired. I began to notice how these tattoos completed others in a way, and I knew I would have the same experience a I recieved tattoos myself.
HC: Do you have a dream tattoo artist?
EH: To be honest, I’m lucky enough to have my dream artist as the artist I’ve been tattooed by. Of course there are artists here and there who I might have a tattoo by, but Lauren Vandevier really understands my visions and does crisp, beautiful work. I would have a hard time going to someone else. I truly think the majority of my tattoos will be done by her.
HC: What are your views on tattoo discrimination in the job world?
EH: I would say that it’s bullshit! To determine that someone is less qualified for a job simply because of what they choose to do with their body is horrid and completely discriminatory. The assumption that because someone has tattoos, they are unprofessional and involved in immoral activities is outdated. Many of the people who I know who are heavily tattooed are the kindest, most honest people that I know.
HC: Has being tattooed changed you as a person?
EH: I would say that being tattooed has not changed me as a person, but it has allowed me to breathe more easily as the person I am. I’m no different than when I had naked skin, I’m just decorated in beautiful pieces of art.
HC: What are your tattoo plans for the near and or distant future?
EH: Ultimately, I’d like the majority of my skin to be covered in tattos, excluding my face. I have so many ideas, but my next piece will be a large dotwork piece on my left arm.