Sarah De Azevedo Long is one of Salt Lake’s best-known female tattoo artists. She began her career at Big Deluxe and now works as an independent contractor at Oni Tattoo Gallery. She has her own line of jewelry at etsy.com and produces tattoo-related paintings and prints. She is also a proud new mother to baby Oslo, who is six weeks old.
– by Daisy Blake

Please tell us how you got started in the tattoo industry.
As a teenager, after seeing friends getting tattoos, many of them bad, I figured I could do that, but hopefully better! So I started bugging a couple local reputable studios about how to get an apprenticeship. In fact, I was going to Salt Lake Community College at the time and had an assignment to interview someone in my field of interest, so I interviewed James Zehna and Keith Haines (then at Big Deluxe, now at 1896 electric company tattoo in Logan) and ended up starting my apprenticeship shortly thereafter.

What was your first job as a tattoo artist? What was your journey to Oni Tattoo Gallery (325 E. 900 South)?
My first job as a tattoo artist was at Big Deluxe, where I met all the fellows I currently work with at Oni Tattoo Gallery. I also guest-spot at Apparition Ink on occasion, as well as at Loyalty Tattoo in Kenvil, N.J. When Greg Christensen decided to open his studio, Oni Tattoo Gallery, he offered me the opportunity to be an independent contractor, meaning I run myself as my own business, and set my own hours and deal with my own clientele. Definitely the way to go!

Who does your tattoos? How many do you have?
Everyone does my tattoos! I currently have over 35 different artists’ work on my body. I’m more of a collector of tattoos and I enjoy getting little random pieces here and there. When people ask how many tattoos I have I just tell them, “One! Just one big one!” That’s considering my whole body is almost covered (only my feet and back are empty.)

Are you going to have your feet and back tattooed?
My feet I will get tattooed at some point, but I have freakishly oversensitive feet so that will probably be the very last spot on me! I even have my armpits tattooed, but FEET TERRIFY ME! And as for my back, I have been saving it until I have a family of my own, so I’ll have room for tattoos honoring them. So now that I do, I actually already have an appointment in early August for a big lower back piece for my little Oslo.

What are your favorite tattoos?
I can’t really say I have a favorite tattoo, although it’s usually whichever one is the newest. So as of today I’d say my favorites are my Michael Jackson tattoo, and my son’s birth date.

I understand you recently had a baby, Oslo. Has that totally changed your life? What are your future plans?
Cute little Oslo has definitely changed my life. My time constraints and priorities are completely different now, as he is number one! I already really miss my work life and all my amazing regular clients, but they’ll have to be patient and understanding, as I don’t plan to be back scheduling until September... then with fewer hours than my usual six days a week nine hours a day! Being home more does give me time to continue my crafting obsession; Locust of the Sea is my etsy store; and selling the necklaces and earrings I make at Black Chandelier, and Craft Sabbath. I also hope to have some new tattoo-related paintings and prints ready before I return to Oni.

More info • onitattoogallery.com,
etsy.com/shop/locustofthesea.