My name is Maya, and I’m a 34-year-old Brazilian deeply passionate about various forms of art.
I can’t do much without music, and I absolutely love a good horror movie. My first memory of watching a horror film is from when I was around four years old—it was Hellraiser.
 

I entered the world of tattooing in 2008, leaving my logistics degree behind to pursue this art form. Back then, things weren’t like they are today. There were no tattoo schools or courses. You’d either approach a tattoo artist directly to learn from them or, if you were lucky, land an apprenticeship in a studio. In my case, I had both experiences! I learned the basics—including how to solder needles—with a tattoo artist named Fátima Oliveira in Campinas. Then, in 2010, I became an apprentice at the studio of my dear mentor, Déborah Soares. Unfortunately, due to serious health issues, I couldn’t stay there, but I never stopped tattooing. Like many others, I worked from my grandfather’s house or offered home sessions while also holding down a traditional job—because, well, bills don’t wait.
 

In the early days, I did a little bit of everything. It’s worth noting that many of today’s styles didn’t exist back then. Fineline? Blackwork? Blackout? Forget it. The options were mostly color, tribal, or black and gray. I did a lot of all three—tons of butterflies, names, and crowns. Learning a variety of techniques became the foundation for my specialization. I remember Déborah once gave me a shading exercise (I struggled a lot with creating smooth gradients). Watching me struggle, she jokingly said, “Maya should’ve been a wall painter—look at this solid black!” We laughed, and I kept practicing. Little did I know that her comment would shape my future work! Soon you will understand...
 

To sum things up, I continued tattooing and working traditional jobs for many years. Around 2014, I had to leave tattooing behind temporarily due to my demanding role as an English teacher and coordinator at a vocational school. I simply didn’t have time, and, again, those pesky bills. In 2016, I moved to São Paulo for work. The city was a revelation—so much diversity in art! Déborah once mentioned that I was her only client who liked really dark tattoos with a touch of white ink. In São Paulo, I saw it everywhere: people with blackout tattoos, and I thought, “Finally! My walls! This is 100% me!” (Besides realism, which has always been my passion).
 

In 2020, my son was born. In 2021, my daughter was born. In 2022, I got married and moved from São Paulo to Minas Gerais. It was there, in Extrema, that I returned to tattooing. I took courses in fineline, blackwork, and intense black (the famous blackout) to catch up on the latest techniques and refine my skills. Tattooing is like riding a bike—once you learn, you never forget; you just keep improving. Later that year, we moved back to Campinas, my hometown, where I’ve been working in my studio ever since. My style reflects all my passions: heavy metal, Gothic Victorian architecture, and horror movies.
 

I’m deeply grateful to everyone who has been part of my journey. Without each of you, none of this would have been possible. Of course, we need to relentlessly chase our dreams, but some people are truly essential to our daily path.
 

Last but not least, I’m part of the Odd Sheep Artists team, which is a huge accomplishment for me. I continue to study and work hard to deliver impeccable work for my beloved clients because they deserve nothing less than the very best!