Perth Guest Spot Recap — Tattooing at Five Star Tattoo & WA Ink
Sydney tattoo artist Mitch Oscar traveled to Perth from March 11–21 for an 8-day guest spot at Five Star Tattoo and WA Ink, tattooing throughout the trip while exploring Rottnest Island, Perth beaches and the local tattoo scene.
Perth Guest Spot — March 11th to March 21st
From March 11th to March 21st, I spent ten days in Perth, Western Australia, with eight of those days tattooing between Five Star Tattoo and WA Ink.
Although I’m based in Sydney, travelling for tattooing has been a big part of my career for years. It’s one of the things that keeps the work fresh and keeps me connected to different people, shops and tattoo scenes around Australia.
This trip was a solid reminder of that.
Tattooing at Five Star Tattoo with Ricky Luder
A big part of the trip was spending time tattooing at Five Star Tattoo alongside Ricky Luder.
Ricky is a significant figure in Western Australian tattooing and one of the long-standing names in the local scene. Being around artists who’ve spent decades in the trade always brings a certain perspective with it. It pulls your attention back to the parts of tattooing that actually matter — strong design, clear application, longevity, and work that still holds weight long after trends pass.
That kind of environment always makes for a worthwhile guest spot.
Tattoos from the Perth Trip
Over the eight tattooing days, I worked on a strong mix of pieces across the trip.
The tattoos ranged across:
American Traditional
blackwork
bold custom designs
drawn directly on skin
and a few pieces designed to fit naturally into existing collections
A lot of the work leaned into the kind of tattooing I’m most known for — bold, readable designs with strong linework, solid black, timeless colour and clear composition.
One of the tattoos I enjoyed the most from the trip was the pin-up / girl head with the butterfly, but overall I was happy with the whole run of work. Trips like this are less about one tattoo and more about putting together a solid body of work across the week.
That consistency matters.
WA Ink and the Perth Tattoo Scene
Alongside Five Star Tattoo, I also spent time working at WA Ink.
One of the things I always appreciate about travelling to tattoo is seeing how different cities carry their own version of tattoo culture. Every place has its own pace, personalities and visual language around the trade.
Perth has a strong tattoo history and a more laid-back feel than Sydney, but there’s still a clear respect for bold, lasting tattooing there. That always makes for a good environment to work in.
A Visit to The Tatt Shop
While I was in Perth, I also stopped by The Tatt Shop in the city.
It’s one of the longest-standing tattoo shops in the country and is owned by Noel Wilkinson, another well-known name in Australian tattooing. Shops like that are always worth seeing. They carry a lot of history and remind you that tattooing in Australia has real roots, real personalities, and a much longer story than a lot of people realise.
It’s always good to spend time around places like that when travelling.
Rottnest Island, Snorkelling and Quokkas
Outside of tattooing, one of the highlights of the trip was getting over to Rottnest Island with Adele, who is also a tattooer.
We spent the day:
riding bikes around the island
snorkelling
checking out the beaches
and seeing the quokkas
Rottnest has a completely different pace to the city and was a good reset in the middle of the trip. Clear water, open space and a bit of time off the machine always goes a long way when you’re working back-to-back.
Perth Beaches and Time Between Sessions
I also had a chance to get around a few of Perth’s beaches while I was there.
Perth has a very different feel to Sydney in that regard. The coastline feels wider, quieter and more spread out. It has a slower rhythm to it, which made the whole trip feel balanced rather than just work-focused.
That’s part of what makes travel for tattooing worthwhile. It’s not only about the appointments — it’s also about experiencing the place properly while you’re there.
Why I Still Travel for Tattooing
Travelling for tattooing has shaped a big part of how I work.
Guest spots are important because they keep you adaptable. They push you into different environments, introduce you to different clients, and keep you connected to the wider tattoo community outside your home city.
At the same time, every trip reinforces where I’m based and what I bring back with me.
I’m still primarily working as a Sydney tattoo artist, and every guest spot adds something to the work I’m doing at home.
Booking in Sydney
I’m now back in Sydney and taking bookings as normal.
If you’re looking to get tattooed, you can:
use the contact form on my website
follow me on Instagram
join my broadcast channellinked on my instagram
or get in touch to be added to the email list for future travel dates and booking updates
Upcoming Guest Spots in Sydney
I’ll also be doing a couple of upcoming guest spots soon:
Golden West Tattoo, Camden — April 28 & 29
Sydney City Tattoo, Chippendale — April 30 & May 1
If you’re in those areas and have been meaning to book something in, feel free to reach out.
Final Thoughts
Perth was a solid trip.
Good tattoos, good people, a chance to work around some established names in Australian tattooing, and enough time around the ocean to make it feel like more than just a work run.
I’m grateful to everyone who got tattooed, everyone who had me through the shops, and everyone who made the trip what it was.
Introduction: Who I Am, Where I Came From, and How I Tattoo
My name is Mitch Oscar, and I’m a tattoo artist based in Sydney. I’ve been tattooing professionally since 2018, and while my work today is grounded in American traditional tattooing, the way I arrived here was shaped by a long relationship with drawing, travel, and traditional art in many forms.
This post is here so you understand who I am before you ever book an appointment or sit in the chair.
Early Years & Drawing Before Tattooing
I started drawing very young — around four or five years old. My mum used to sketch a lot, especially charcoal portraits, and watching her draw was one of the first things that really captured my attention. Drawing was always present in my life long before tattooing became a possibility.
That early exposure to figurative drawing and strong imagery stuck with me. Even now, a lot of what I value in tattooing — contrast, structure, and clarity — traces back to those early foundations.
Apprenticeship & Early Career
I completed my apprenticeship at a shop in Cronulla, here in Sydney. At that time, the shop leaned more heavily toward neo-traditional work and realism, which naturally influenced what I was focused on early in my career. Those styles taught me a lot technically — composition, rendering, and attention to detail — and they still inform how I think about design today.
A couple of years in, I realised something wasn’t fully clicking. While I respected the work I was doing, I didn’t feel completely aligned with it as an artist.
About two and a half years later, I moved into a more traditional-focused shop, and that change was pivotal. It was there that I properly learned about the origins of tattooing, the history behind American traditional work, and why those designs have endured for generations.
That environment suited me far better, both personally and artistically.
Tattooing a Pharaoh’s Horse’s on tattooer Nat Patsura’s belly at Newtown’s King Street Tattoo in Sydney, Australia, 2020
Why American Traditional Tattooing
What drew me to American traditional tattooing wasn’t just one thing — it was everything.
The power of the imagery.
The discipline of the designs.
The history behind the motifs.
The fact that these tattoos are meant to last.
Bold linework, strong contrast, and clear shapes aren’t aesthetic choices for me — they’re functional ones. A good tattoo should still read clearly years down the track. It should hold its presence as the body changes.
While American traditional is my foundation, I don’t box myself into a single lane. I work with influences from Japanese tattooing, folk art, religious symbolism, and other traditional forms. No matter the subject, I aim to apply traditional values so the tattoo works as a tattoo first — not just an image.
Travel, Guesting & Worldview
I’ve guested at many of Australia’s best tattoo shops, including studios across Sydney and interstate. I’ve also tattooed internationally throughout Europe, South America, Asia, and Morocco, working alongside artists and shops I have a lot of respect for.
Travel has had a huge impact on how I think and how I create. When you travel, your perspective shifts. You see how art, religion, symbolism, and ritual exist differently across cultures. You access parts of your mind you don’t always reach when you’re in familiar surroundings.
Some of my most interesting ideas — both artistically and philosophically — have come from being in unfamiliar places, being open to new experiences, and letting ideas find me rather than forcing them.
Tattooing an elderly Dutchman at Prik Tattoo in Utrecht, Netherlands, 2024
What a Good Tattoo Means to Me
A good tattoo, to me, is striking and powerful.
It’s something you can recognise from across the street.
Something that holds presence.
Something that makes the person wearing it feel stronger in themselves.
That’s the standard I aim for, whether the tattoo is small and simple or part of a large-scale project.
How I Work With Clients
I see myself primarily as a guide.
I always want clients involved in the idea and direction of their tattoo — but within a framework I know will work. My job is to make sure the tattoo makes sense on the body, ages properly, and doesn’t compromise quality for the sake of impulse or trends.
I’m comfortable saying no if something is a bad idea. That honesty is part of the responsibility of tattooing.
I enjoy one-off tattoos, long-term collectors, and large-scale projects. If I had to lean one way, I’d say larger projects are the most satisfying when they’re completed — but I value all of it equally when the work is solid.
Lined Jayden’s back - a good client turned friend - at Thanks Tattoo in Sydney, Australia, 2024
Booking & Appointments
I work by appointment so each tattoo gets the time and attention it deserves. Walk-ins are sometimes possible, but they’re never guaranteed — booking ahead is always the best option.
If you’re considering working with me, this site and this blog are here to give you a clear understanding of who I am, how I work, and whether my approach aligns with what you’re looking for.
This is the starting point.
More posts will follow, going deeper into tattooing as a craft, decision-making, longevity, and the thinking behind the work you see on my Instagram.
If you’re here, take your time — permanent work deserves it.