Willow Tattooer

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Willow Tattooer Black & grey realism. Illustrative surrealism · florals · Custom work
Sydney - Surry Hills
Limited availability
Enquire www.viveolaya.com

Joey sent a realism reference. But realism wasn’t actually what he wanted. 🐙Sometimes a reference is just a way of expla...
10/10/2026

Joey sent a realism reference. But realism wasn’t actually what he wanted. 🐙

Sometimes a reference is just a way of explaining an idea.

After chatting, we realised he was after something more illustrative, with bright colours that would complement his existing seahorse tattoo.

So we took the elements he loved, worked on a different interpretation, and created this colourful little octopus.

That’s why I love consultations. Sometimes the most important part of designing a tattoo is understanding what someone is trying to describe.

What do you think of the result?

Colour Illustrative Tattoo · Custom Tattoo Design
Wilbert Olaya | Authentink, Surry Hills, Sydney

08/10/2026

Emails day 📩
That face when a tattoo project starts flirting with me. 👀😂

Some ideas just get my attention immediately.

What are we creating next?

A cover-up changes the way you design from the very beginning. And some times we don’t have many options.You’re not star...
07/10/2026

A cover-up changes the way you design from the very beginning. And some times we don’t have many options.

You’re not starting with a blank arm. You’re working with what already exists, deciding what can disappear, what needs to be incorporated, where the darkest values need to sit, and how to make the entire sleeve feel intentional.

Swipe through to see how we got here →

Have an old tattoo you’d like to turn into something new? Send me a photo and your idea. Let’s see what’s possible.

Black & Grey Realism · Custom Large-Scale Tattoos
Sydney · Surry Hills



My man wanted a full sleeve with a specific theme for him.
Plus we had an old tattoo in the equation

This one started with a consultation, a lot of ideas, references and planning. Then we built it piece by piece around the arm.

If ChatGPT helps you to express your ideas I am 100% down for it. But REMEMBER: those are just digital ideas, the Ai don’t understand well about the skin as canvas, and how the tattoo age.

I tattoo thinking on the future and how your piece will age.

I forgot to take any videos on the day one.🤦🏻‍♂️😂

This is the result on day 2

2 days later

Day 3 and getting there. These sessions were a bit longer than a normal full day sitting due to time limitations on my last guest spot in Adelaide.

Day 3, 28 hours of work

Final day! We are really close

Almost finished now. One final session to close the remaining gaps, refine the transitions and bring the whole sleeve together.

Thanks my man! You are a true legend!

Have an old tattoo you’d like to turn into something new? Send me a photo and your idea. Let’s see what’s possible.

Black & Grey Realism · Custom Large-Scale Tattoos
Sydney · Surry Hills

More and more clients are using AI to help visualise their tattoo ideas, and honestly, I don’t think that’s a bad thing....
01/10/2026

More and more clients are using AI to help visualise their tattoo ideas, and honestly, I don’t think that’s a bad thing. AI can help communicate the idea. It doesn’t replace the tattoo artist.

The important part is explaining them why does ai design don’t work as tattoos and knowing how to take that starting point and turn it into a design that works with the body, has the right amount of detail, and will actually work on skin in order to age well.

This is the result. 🌻

Sydney tattoo artist | Colour realism & illustrative surrealism
October bookings open. Send me your idea through the link in my bio.



Now. I don’t hate clients using Ai, I believe is super useful, but is our responsibility to let them what is fictional, what is achievable and what will translate well as a tattoo.

AI gave her a starting point. My job was to turn it into a tattoo.

Not everyone can draw. Not everyone can explain exactly what they see in their head. Sometimes you know the elements, the meaning and the feeling you want, but putting all of that into an image for the first time is difficult.

My client used AI to show me her idea: a blue wren, flowers and the composition she had in mind. We talked about what was possible, what needed to change and how to make the design actually work as a tattoo.

The purple rose became a sunflower for her dad, we refined the composition, and I translated the concept into my own style and into something designed specifically for her arm, something that could flow with her existing tattoo.

This is the result. 🌻

Sydney tattoo artist | Colour realism & illustrative surrealism
October bookings open. Send me your idea through the link in my bio.

Old tattoo. New direction.This project started with an online consultation before my guest spot at ALL SAINTS TATTOO ...
01/10/2026

Old tattoo. New direction.

This project started with an online consultation before my guest spot at ALL SAINTS TATTOO STUDIO - ADELAIDE in Adelaide.

Two full days later, we had completely changed the chest working around the existing tattoos, restoring the overall composition and blending new black & grey realism into the old work rather than pretending it wasn’t there.

This is a big part of how I approach existing tattoos: work with what you have, not against it.

Thanks for the trust and for giving me the freedom to make it work. 🖤

Sydney bookings open.
Adelaide — back in November.

If you have an old tattoo you want to build around, rework or bring back to life, send me some photos and tell me what you have in mind.



The design has to flow with your body lines, tattoos always move with your body.

Because of the distance, my client sent me photos of the existing work so I could assess the area, understand what we were working with and come back with ideas before he even sat in the chair.

2 days later, lots of commitment and we made it!

First day, we cover the biggest blank area.

First day done and Chris was feeling still strong the next day.

I am really obsessed with how this 3 elements sit on his chest. The flow from the cherub starting at his shoulder and going down finishing at his pec with the bird. With a meaningful heart on the center.

Thanks for trusting one more time bro Chris

29/09/2026

Black & grey realism and colour surrealism, designed around your idea, your body and your story.

I’m now taking bookings for October in Sydney.

If you’ve had an idea sitting in your head for a while, send it through. We can figure out the rest together.

28/09/2026

Adelaide, the city where it all started for me in Australia. 🖤

A happy full week of tattooing, old friends, familiar places, good coffee, good food and a lot of memories. Nostalgia through the roof! 😅

No matter how much life changes, coming back here always feels special.

Thank you to everyone who came to get tattooed, thanks to my people of ⬩ Black Diamond Tattoo Adelaide ⬩ and ALL SAINTS TATTOO STUDIO - ADELAIDE for the guest spot opportunity and thanks to my Adelaide people for all the love.

I already miss this place.

I’ll be back soon. 🖤 Waitlist now open for mid November. If you want to get tattooed by me, send through your ideas and lock in your spot.

25/09/2026

Day 4 at ⬩ Black Diamond Tattoo Adelaide ⬩ . 🖤

More progress on this sleeve and it’s all starting to come together.

One more session to go.

Always good to see a big project getting closer to the finish line.

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Sydney, NSW

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