Tebori, translating to "hand-carving," is a Japanese tattoo method which uses a handheld tool (nomi/sashibo) with needles to inject ink through a rhythmic, poking motion. It bears similarities to the stick and poke method but requires greater precision and is therefore a more specialist skill. It is known for producing deeply saturated, long-lasting, and smoother-looking tattoos.
Luke is now including Tebori method tattoos in his offerings. While Luke appreciates the more traditional Japanese Tebori tattoos, for his personal practice he wanted to develop this skill as another tool which allows him to incorporate a greater array of textures into his designs. This method enables him to use ink to create more of a charcoal effect in a natural way. As with his fine art practice, Luke desires to push his tattoo skills as far as possible and continuously learn and evolve his personal style. Tattoos have been created by hand far longer than by machine so for Luke, learning the Tebori method honours the history of this great art form while also allowing for the creation of something completely unique. In moving away from traditional tattoos by combining Tebori with other methods in his designs, Luke is aiming to produce an entirely new texture for tattoo work.