Today we’d like to introduce you to Lina Shuliar
Lina, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I never planned on becoming a tattoo artist—I simply didn’t think of it as a profession. I wanted to create video games or anime, to build new fantasy worlds and meaningful art. I dreamed of traveling the world, meeting new people, and building a career where I didn’t have to rely on anyone else. Looking back, all of that was the perfect prompt for the universe, and somehow, it gave me the best possible way to turn my dreams into reality.
I’ve been on this path for 15 years now, and I’m absolutely grateful for every step and opportunity that has brought me to where I am today. I’ve always been an artist—maybe I was meant to be a tattooer all along.
I’ve been drawing my whole life. My parents enrolled me in art school when I was eight. At 13, I got my first tattoo. At 15, I tattooed myself for the first time—it’s still there, and I love it. On my 18th birthday, I decided to give myself a gift: I designed my own tattoo and went to a professional studio to get it done. I wanted more and more tattoos and was convinced I’d eventually cover my whole body, just like my favorite rock and metal band members.
I started practicing tattooing after my friends kept saying they wanted tattoos too. One day, it just hit them—I could be their tattoo artist! Their reasoning? “You draw beautifully, you’re cool, and you already have tattoos.” Fair point, I thought. So I bought a tattoo machine. I went to the closest tattoo shop to get one, and somehow, I walked out as an apprentice.
I spent years learning not just how to tattoo but also how to communicate with clients, how to engage them in new creative ideas, how to fix tattoo equipment when it breaks, and how to tattoo in different styles—including permanent makeup. Damn, I learned so much in my first few years!
The next step was moving to a big city. It came with new challenges and new skills I had to develop to survive. I had to work on my social skills, build confidence in my art, and learn to stand out in a competitive industry. Back then, Instagram ads didn’t exist. The strategy was simple: do great tattoos, provide great service, and let word-of-mouth work its magic.
I was surrounded by amazing artists who showed me things I never knew before. It was so much fun—I felt like a beginner again! And when you’re having fun, people gravitate toward you because they want to feel that energy too.
As an artist in a big city, I knew competition was growing every day. I needed new experiences, new challenges, and new ways to evolve my art. I believe it’s good to feel bored with your routine—it pushes you to seek adventure.
So I started traveling. My first stop was Europe, and I fell in love. It had everything I was looking for: new architecture, new cultures, new people, and new artists with unique styles. I began searching for a tattoo style that truly defined me, something I could feel passionate about.
Of course, it didn’t happen overnight. I spent years searching for myself as an artist and as a person. I even went through a deep depression—months of lying in bed, drawing like crazy. My husband was my biggest support, always believing in me. Looking back, I see it as a privilege to have had that time to slow down, reflect, and truly understand who I am.
I listened, I learned, I experimented, and eventually, I found myself in the gothic, dark, and mysterious style I do now. When we moved to the U.S., I received incredible feedback from the tattoo community. I started attending conventions and competitions to showcase my work and get critiques. The results were amazing—I won multiple awards and met some of the most influential people in the industry.
I’ve always told myself these words by Neil Gaiman: “Wherever you go, you take yourself with you.” I know it’s meant to be a sad quote, but I interpret it differently—I’m never truly alone. I carry my skills, my experience, and my ambitions with me, and that means I’m capable of anything, anywhere. I think that mindset is what has carried me through all these years and made me truly happy with what I do.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Art is never a smooth road!
First, you need to develop strong professional skills.
Second, you need to fight your self criticism, gain confidence and sell your art.
Developing skills may actually be the easiest struggle on the road to success—it just takes time and patience. But I’m not a very patient person! I ended up dealing with a lot of self-criticism and constant stress. I wanted to become an independent and cool tattooer as fast as possible, but my perfectionism kept getting in the way. It caused me a lot of stress and never let me feel satisfied with what I was creating.
I worked a lot. I was the first one in the shop and the last one to leave after hours. I was so exhausted that sometimes I couldn’t even sleep, constantly thinking about how to make my next tattoo better. I also studied online, watching YouTube and researching as much as I could to absorb every bit of information available.
It took a toll on my health and personal life. Eventually, I had to accept that what I was doing was hardcore and that I needed to slow down. But I also learned that slowing down doesn’t mean giving up! My self-criticism never fully disappeared—thanks to it, I’m still learning and improving—but I’ve found a way to make the process enjoyable.
To make it fun, I changed my perspective. Instead of constantly thinking, “I’m not good enough,” I started asking myself, “What else am I capable of?” That simple shift in mindset made all the difference.
It’s also fascinating how psychology works behind the scenes. Back when I lacked confidence and wanted to change things because I didn’t like them, people would often cover my tattoos with others or go to different artists for touch-ups. But when I allowed myself to slow down and enjoy the process, clients could feel that shift. And suddenly, my bookings filled up months in advance.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a tattoo artist specializing in dark and gothic style designs.
My art is heavily inspired by video games, anime, folklore, and mythology.
What sets me apart is my approach to storytelling through tattoos. I don’t just create cool-looking designs—I make sure each tattoo has meaning, whether it’s inspired by a personal story, a character that resonates with my client, or a ancient world they want to carry on their skin forever. I also focus on crafting bold, high-contrast work that ages well over time.i have a lot of experience in doing a large scale tattoos in a short time.
I’m most proud of the journey that got me here. Tattooing has been my way of exploring both art and life—from my first self-tattoo at 15 to winning awards at conventions years later. I’ve traveled, met incredible artists, and constantly pushed my style to evolve. What makes me happiest is seeing my clients light up when they see their tattoo finished—when they recognize a piece of themselves in the art.
I think my work stands out because I genuinely love what I do. I put my heart into every piece, and that energy translates into the experience. Whether it’s a knight from a dark fantasy world, a beautiful gothic vampire design, or a character that means everything to my client, I aim to make each tattoo feel like it belongs to the person wearing it.
I got a lot of comments from people from everywhere that they recognize my tattoos in airports, gym, on the street, and the fact that my style is unique and well recognized is make me proud of myself and happy 🙂
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
I am open for collaborations, looking forward to work on interesting projects, no matter is it a t-shirt brand or a metal band. You can send your request to my business email linalcfr.booking@gmail.com or contact me on instagram – @lina.lcfr.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.linalcfr.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lina.lcfr
