Profile: Danielle Distefano, tattoo artist

Distefano, owner of Only You Tattoo, won’t laugh if you want a unicorn puking up a rainbow.

After tattooing for eight years in New York and Atlanta, Danielle Distefano recently opened her own tattoo shop, Only You Tattoo, in Grant Park.

How long have you been a tattoo artist?

Eight years, professionally. I was an apprentice for a year and a half before.

What was the first tattoo you gave?

It was a little anchor with a shield that I never finished, because my machine stopped working and I didn’t know how to fix it. That was before I was an apprentice. I got a machine from a friend and was playing around with it.

What’s the strangest tattoo you’ve ever drawn before?

laughs. That’s a tough question. I guess a unicorn puking up a rainbow, jumping out of someone’s skin. With lightning bolts coming out of its horns.

How would you describe your style?

It’s based in American traditional classic “tough guy” with Japanese influence. Kind of like sailor tattoos mixed with a Japanese style.