One dot at a time: Three stick and poke artists note rising popularity of the tattoo style

Gabriela de Camargo Gonçalves, Executive Editor

The needle pokes in and out, creating a trail of dots that will ultimately become a forever piece on the skin. 

Stick and poke, or handpoking, is a nonelectric method of tattooing with a single needle dipped in ink, doing one dot at a time, according to Merriam-Webster.

What started as a way to have a “do-it-yourself” tattoo between friends has become a tattoo artistry on the rise, especially among the younger generation, according to handpoking artists.

The practice may take on different forms, whether it be a full-time job at a personal studio, like artist “slow poke sam;” a job on a dining table, like Sid Morgan; or a side hustle that works from word of mouth, like Kyrie Codd. 

One thing all three artists have in common, besides their chosen art tool, is how they started: someone telling them they should try it out.

Slow poke sam started tattooing themselves after a friend demonstrated the supplies and techniques for handpoking. Now, slow poke sam rents a studio and makes their own hours with tattooing being their main source of income, according to slow poke sam.

The rise in popularity is due to the accessibility of the practice, according to slow poke sam.

“Different forms of tattooing are becoming available that are more inclusive,” slow poke sam said. “I think a lot of people who are intimidated by a tattoo shop will seek out a private tattooer, and certain people have had a hard time with machine tattoos — either more painful, or too loud.”

Some traditional tattooers and professional shops may harass handpokers because of health concerns, according to slow poke sam.

“I have done my own training with bloodborne pathogens, and I take it very seriously,” slow poke sam said. “But sure it’s going to be people out there who just pick up a tattoo needle who haven’t done any preparation.”

The important factor to be safe is knowing and watching your tattoo artist, regardless of the place or tool, according to slow poke sam.

A tattoo gun, or machine, is more expensive and requires more materials to keep in stock to maintain it, slow poke sam said.

“This is picking up a chainsaw, instead of a handsaw,” slow poke sam said. 

Stick and pokes are for specific types of people — for both the artist and the person getting them, artist Morgan said. She knows she will never stray away from handpoking, which many see as a transition to a machine instead of a real way to tattoo, she said. 

“I love handpoking. I love the meditative one dot at a time, like pointillism,” Morgan said. “I love how gentle you can be with someone.”

Social media plays a part in the rise of stick and pokes. It also opened a new way to tattoo for those who may be intimidated or not comfortable with traditional shops, though more and more women-owned shops for stick and pokes have been opening up, Morgan said. 

People kept telling her to get into the business, especially after graduating from VCUarts and being able to pursue the artistry full time, Morgan said. She converts her dining table into a parlor, plays music and puts tea out while tattooing.

“Something I love about handpokes is that it proves you don’t need really expensive, top-of-the-line tools to make something beautiful,” Morgan said.

Artist Codd had a similar initiation to tattoo style after many compliments to their art and introduction to the supplies, they said. The stick and poke culture was already big at Codd’s old school, but when moving to Richmond, there was enough room for one more handpoker. 

“I just started doing little pokes for my roommates, and through word of mouth, people wanted to get art on their bodies from me, and I thought that was really cool,” Codd said. “It just started off as a fun thing to do as friends and family.”

Hand poking is more of a hobby and side hustle for Codd while working a part time job and taking a gap semester from VCU, but they still notice the rise in the practice. In part, the factors that contribute to its popularity vary in its affordability, accessibility and a more welcoming community, Codd said. 

“I think people are starting to see the slow art movement holds a lot of value,” Codd said. “Tattoos hold a lot of value, but being able to see that it’s done dot by dot and by hand, that adds something that a machine can’t.”