Balancing Intuition & Technique | Levi Hilton | EP 295
Balancing Intuition & Technique | Levi Hilton | EP 295
What's up everyone, I just had the opportunity to sit down with the incredibly talented Levi Hilton, a recommendation from our friend Patrick O'Neal, and it turned out to be one of the best episodes we've recorded in quite a while. Levi shared his journey from Louisiana to San Diego, diving deep into how animation influenced his unique tattoo style and the importance of understanding how designs interact with the body as a canvas.
We explored some really profound concepts about simplifying art for maximum impact, using negative space effectively, and why making mistakes is actually essential to artistic growth. If you're looking to level up your tattoo game with insights about shape design, placement techniques, and finding your authentic artistic voice, this conversation is packed with wisdom you won't want to miss.
This episode was made possible thanks to:
Interview by By Jake Meeks —
Topics: Levi Hilton, tattoo artist, animation influence, San Diego, Guru Tattoo, Emaki, style development, simplifying art, tattoo techniques, negative space, body awareness, shape design, tattoo placement, artistic intuition, making mistakes, iteration, thumbnails, continuous learning, collaboration, character design, storytelling
“I think the important thing to recognize is that every piece, no matter if it’s the focal point or a secondary element, it’s all abstract. You have to be able to break it down. If I’m really trying to figure out if a color palette is working, take the structure out, all the lines and values. What do these shapes look like?”
— Levi Hilton
Levi Hilton (@Levihiltontattoos) is a tattoo artist with over 15 years of experience, originally from northwest Louisiana and now based in San Diego at Emaki Tattoo Collective. His bold, illustrative style combines detailed line work, striking imagery, and a strong sense of storytelling, often drawing from anime, pop culture, and nature. Each tattoo is crafted to be personal, playful, and thoughtfully designed to reflect the individuality of the wearer.
Levi is based in San Diego, CA, and tattoos at Emaki Tattoo.
Please enjoy!
INTERVIEW LINKS, MENTIONS, AND SHOW NOTES BELOW…
SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODE
Connect with Levi:
levihiltonart.com | @Levihiltontattoos | Tiktok
Guru Tattoo
Emaki Tattoo
SHOW NOTES
[00:00] New Hair and Episode Introduction
[01:43] Background on Levi Hilton's Tattoo Journey
[03:39] Evolution of the Tattoo Scene in Guru and San Diego
[04:58] Current Shop Dynamics and Collaboration Opportunities
[09:20] Early Influences and Style Development
[10:32] Simplifying Art and Tattoo Techniques
[16:09] The Balance Between Knowledge and Artistic Intuition
[18:52] The Importance of Making Mistakes
[19:50] Perspective and Context in Art
[21:01] Iteration and Refinement in Art and Tattooing
[24:14] Learning from Others
[26:50] Embracing Continuous Learning and Curiosity
[28:14] Importance of Body Awareness in Tattooing
[30:01] The Evolution of Artistic Intent
[32:51] Aesthetic Challenges and Stylistic Preferences
[36:26] The Collaboration of Artistic Styles
[37:50] Balancing Artistic Elements in Tattooing
[40:35] The Role of Negative Space in Design
[43:35] The Distinct Nature of Tattoo Art
[45:46] Understanding Style through Shape Design
[47:01] The Relationship between Tattoos and Body as a Canvas
[52:24] Filling Space Meaningfully in Tattoo Art
[54:42] The Importance of Tattoo Placement
[56:00] Understanding Client Expectations
[56:55] The Misconception of Uniqueness in Tattoos
[1:00:50] Capturing Essence Over Exactness in Art
[1:04:09] The Importance of Character in Art
[1:06:30] Sharing Stories through Art
[1:08:00] Being Open About Creative Processes
MORE Levi QUOTES FROM THIS INTERVIEW
The Balance Between Knowledge and Artistic Intuition
[16:09] “Now that I've learned as much as I have... sometimes it feels like it gets in my way because I'm thinking too much about every little thing.”
— Levi Hilton
Embracing Continuous Learning and Curiosity
[27:26] “You're never going to improve if you're not willing to think that maybe you don't know everything.”
— Levi Hilton
Balancing Artistic Elements in Tattooing
[37:50] “I think the important thing to recognize is that every piece, no matter if it’s the focal point or a secondary element, it’s all abstract. You have to be able to break it down. If I’m really trying to figure out if a color palette is working, take the structure out, all the lines and values. What do these shapes look like?”
— Levi Hilton
Understanding Style through Shape Design
[45:46] “I think people get ‘style’ wrong. They tend to think style is the way you draw something. But, to me, style is the way you prioritize the fundamentals of art.”
— Levi Hilton
PEOPLE MENTIONED
Gallery Of Levi Hilton
This episode was made possible thanks to:
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