Lydia Szubert became a tattoo artist out of love, and a ceramicist out of frustration. The Dutch-born Australian artist (whose upbringing included a childhood stint in Austria, a boarding school in England and teenage years living in Adelaide/Tarntanya), has long been fascinated by two things: tattoos and folk art. 

“Ever since I was a kid, I’ve loved folk arts,” she says. “Delft Blue is the Dutch definition of folk art.” The blue and white pottery is heavily influenced by Chinese porcelain, and dates back to the early 17th century. The city of Delft in the western Netherlands, where Lydia lives and works, is known for its Delftware production.

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Delftbluetattoo (@delftbluetattoo)

Lydia has been a working tattoo artist for the past six years, and always knew she wanted to unite the artistry of Delft Blue with the craft of tattooing. It took her three years of tattooing to feel confident enough to start trying.

“I began designing Delft Blue tattoos, but was getting frustrated as the designs kept feeling slightly off, never quite like real Delft Blue,” Lydia says. “I realised in order to create authentic work, I would have to learn it from the masters themselves.”

She didn’t have to go far to search for a teacher. At that time, the tattoo shop she worked at was neighbours with De Blauwe Tulp, Delft’s smallest Delftware factory. At the encouragement of her colleagues, Lydia – who had previously studied graphic design and painting in London, Rotterdam and Florence – approached the shop and enquired about undertaking a one-off workshop.

“I did the workshop, and questioned the teacher’s ear off about everything.” A couple of weeks later, she nervously asked if there was any way she could study with her. 

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Delftbluetattoo (@delftbluetattoo)

Two years later, and Lydia is still a student – the only student – at De Blauwe Tulp. In exchange for her training, she makes and paints ceramics to sell there, once a week. “I’m not making money from it; it is study,” she says. “It is a very secretive industry; you can’t just learn this. There are no books to teach you.”

To read the rest of this story and learn more about Delft Blue Tattoo, nab a copy of issue 131 from the frankie shop or visit one of our lovely stockists. For future issues, subscribe here.