The Art of Hand-Poked Self-Tattooing
The Art of Hand Poked Self-Tattooing is a 2 day, immersive journey into the art of hand-poked tattooing, designed for thoughtful beginners who feel the call to mark their own body with intention.
In this intimate, ritual-focused training you will:
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Learn the history and traditional roots of hand-poked tattooing across cultures.
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Understand hygiene, safety, and setup so you can tattoo yourself responsibly at home.
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Explore design, symbolism, and placement, creating a personal tattoo that truly means something to you.
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Practice hand-poked technique on practice skin before ever touching real skin
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Spend the second day tattooing a small and simple design on yourself under guidance and ritual.
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Receive clear aftercare instructions so your tattoo can heal beautifully.
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Experience tattooing yourself as a form of self-development, creativity, and challenging yourself to try cool new things as you step into this new year.
This is exclusively for self-tattooing. This is an initiation: a safe, supported experience into the world of hand-poked tattooing yourself, and creating permanent stories on your body.
There will be a maximum of 4 in-person spots available for this training.
NEXT DATES:
TBD
LOCATION:
The Yurt, Cochrane AB
254121 Towers Trail
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It is important to note that if you are endeavouring to design tattoos on yourself or others, you do need some artistic abilities.
This is a very special offering coming from a love for teaching and honouring the practice of hand poked tattoos that has been practiced for centuries. This course has been thoughtfully curated from my decade of learning, growing and evolving in this field.
Breakdown of Days
9am - 4:00pm
There may be some slight adjustments between the days depending on how slowly or quickly we progress on day 1.
Day 2:
1. Check in and group discussion
2. Choosing your self-tattoo design
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Connecting to symbols and their meaning
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Creating intention and story for your tattoo
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Drawing your own or choosing a pre-drawn stencil for your tattoo
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This will be a small and simple
3. Set-up
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Review hygiene and set-up
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Set-up your own self-tattoo space
4. Choosing your tattoo location
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Questions and considerations
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Placing the stencil or drawing the stencil
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Checking your work
5. Self-Tattoo
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A slow and mindful guided start then allowing space and time for you to find your flow
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I will be present and available for each person's specific questions during this time.
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Aftercare
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Tear down and clean up
6. Closing
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Discussion on experience
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Further question and answer period
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Closing ceremony
Day 1:
1. Opening Ceremony & Story sharing
2. History
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Traditional / historical roots of hand poked tattoos
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Why hand‑poked tattoos?
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Understanding your story - Creating ritual, atmosphere, and opportunity for self-growth
3. Hygiene, Safety and Full Set-up
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How to make a hygienic space to tattoo at home and clean up safely
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Further considerations in setting up space for comfort, ease and NO cross-contamination
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Explanation of each necessary tool in your tattoo kit
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Demonstration on how to set up and tear down appropriately
5. Aftercare Instructions
6. Choosing body locations to work on
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Highlighting areas that are best for self-tattoos
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Trouble-shooting different positioning for specific locations.
7. Your Skin Education
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Understand the different layers of skin
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Understanding the depth of where the needles is meant to deposit ink
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Learning how your skin changes on different parts of your body
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Expected sensation
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Self assessment of skin and group discussion
8. Stencils:
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Different types of stencils
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Self-placement considerations
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Body positioning and how to place on appropriately
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Practice drawing stencils
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Practice placing stencils
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Group discussion
9. Tattoo Needles and Technique
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Understanding different types of needles and their purpose
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What to consider when choosing your needle
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Learn basic line-work and pointillism technique
10. Practice:
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Practice full set-up
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Practice different needles and techniques on fake skin
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Discussion while practicing
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Tear down
10. Closing Circle
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Homework: If you want to do a hand drawn stencil for tomorrow, draw it out.
Meet your Mentor
My very first tattoo was a hand-poked tattoo from my boyfriend at the time in his basement using India Ink, a sewing needle and a bottle of vodka. The tattoo actually turned out fine, but at 16, this was my first experience with stick and poke/hand-poked tattoos. I had an urge at a young age to mark my body. I coloured on my skin, practiced henna and then got this tattoo. Because of this quintessential teenage tattoo experience, I never saw hand poked tattoos as a legitimate practice, it felt underground, risky and felt like something you may get if you were in jail.
I always loved art. It was my passion in highschool and when I travelled on my own right out of my grade 12 year, I found my sketchbook was my perfect companion and it went everywhere with me. I doodled when I went out for meals, or sat for hours in some beautiful place sketching the details of what I saw around me.
It was the same when I travelled years later with my husband on a year-long adventure to over 20 countries. Many of my doodles could pass as tattoo designs. The more backpackers I met, the more encouraged me to design them a tattoo. When they loved their design, they said I should be tattooing it not just designing it. This encouraged me to explore apprentice opportunities at a shop whenever we came back home to try my hand at tattooing. However the more I dived in, the more I was turned off. The culture was extremely intimidating and really did not align with my values. I decided to put this idea to the side. However, I was in Thailand, and what do you do when you go to Thailand? You get a tattoo of course! I received a hand poked tattoo and it was love at first poke. I was flooded with the realization that not only is this totally a legitimate way to tattoo, it is the original way to tattoo!
I dove in and learned what I could from observing the tattoos I got and geeked out on skin, needles, inks and designs, slowly becoming a self-taught hand poked tattoo artist. I tattooed myself and my husband and learned as I went. It was a slow way to learn and some hard lessons were gained along the way but I loved it from day one. I have been tattooing for nearly 10 years now and my passion for it has only strengthened. The journey of tattooing not only provided me with my business and career, but it has taught me so much about myself and others. I am far more self-assured, confident, creative and expressive. I see other peoples tattoos differently now too, witnessing their own story marked on their skin, with a curious urge to know more about them.
I find it very cathartic to tattoo myself. It feels extra special to permanently mark my body with my own hand. Something happens during a self-tattoo session, where you don't feel sensation the same way as if someone else were to tattoo you. You get lost in the flow. I am excited to teach others to tattoo themselves as a form of ritual and self-care like it has been for me. The in-person courses happen in my yurt on the land which I live on and love. I can't wait to welcome you to this special place and to witness a a special piece of your tattoo story!
Cost: $999+gst
What's included:
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Two intensive days of training from Marni who has almost 10 years of experience tattooing herself and others professionally
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Your very own hand-poked, self-tattoo kit to use and take home with you including pre-made stencils
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Two days spent in a gorgeous Yurt, overlooking the mountains, surrounded by nature and in an intimate, small group setting
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Not only is this a weekend of learning but an unforgettable self-growth experience where you will leave with your very own tattoo that you did yourself!
