Draft:Chaim Machlev

Machlev was born on November 7, 1980, in Israel.{{Cite web |last=Stories |first=Local |date=May 22, 2023 |title=Meet Chaim Machlev {{!}} Tattoo Artist & Designer |url=https://shoutoutla.com/meet-chaim-machlev-tattoo-artist-designer/ |access-date=February 16, 2025 |website=SHOUTOUT LA |language=en-US}} Initially, he worked as a project manager in the IT industry, overseeing numerous technicians for long hours.{{Cite web |last=Ledovskih |first=Alexander |title=Beyond Colors: Focusing on Dots and Lines - Chaim Machlev {{!}} iNKPPL |url=https://inkppl.com/en/magazine/intervyu/beyond-colors-focusing-on-dots-and-lines-chaim-machlev |access-date=February 16, 2025 |website=inkppl.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Meet Chaim Machlev |url=https://canvasrebel.com/meet-chaim-machlev/ |access-date=February 16, 2025 |website=canvasrebel.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=August 8, 2023 |title=Meet Chaim Machlev |url=https://boldjourney.com/meet-chaim-machlev/ |access-date=February 16, 2025 |website=Bold Journey Magazine |language=en-US}} Feeling burnt out and seeking a more creative path, he received his first tattoo at age 30. This experience prompted a dramatic shift in his life, leading him to quit his job and pursue tattooing full-time. Despite having no formal art background, he credits his studies in computer science and psychology for influencing his structured approach to design and client engagement.{{Cite web |last=Allen |first=Shane |date=May 9, 2020 |title=INTERVIEW // DotsToLines |url=https://populistmagazine.com/post/chaim-machlev/ |access-date=February 16, 2025 |website=Populist Magazine |language=en-US}}

In pursuit of a tattoo apprenticeship, Machlev moved from Israel to Berlin with minimal savings, eventually finding a studio owner who agreed to mentor him. After six months, he opened his own small, private space, DotsToLines, where he lived on-site. Devoting himself to mastering “the ancient craft” of tattooing, he honed a style characterized by flowing lines, geometric shapes, and minimal use of color. Over time, social media exposure drew international clients, encouraging Machlev to establish a second private studio in Los Angeles.{{Cite web |title= 30 Best Tattoo Artists You Should Follow in 2024 - Saved Tattoo|url=https://www.saved-tattoo.com/best-tattoo-artists/ |access-date=February 16, 2025 |website=www.saved-tattoo.com|date=January 12, 2021 }}

He is known to tattoo only one client per day, believing that dedicating himself fully to each client yields better results and fosters a spiritual connection. Many customers travel from around the world for appointments, sometimes waiting months or years for the opportunity.

Machlev’s work has attracted attention from both major brands and well-known clients. He has collaborated with Mercedes-Benz and BMW, seeing such partnerships as a way to highlight tattooing as an art form in broader cultural contexts. He’s also worked with Simon Gallup, Biffy Clyro, and Machine Gun Kelly, famously executing a “blast-over” design by inking over the musician’s existing tattoos.{{Cite web |last=Rawte |first=Sakshi |date=April 17, 2024 |title=The Developing Relationship Between Crossing Continents And Lines Of Ink |url=https://elle.in/the-developing-relationship-between-crossing-continents-and-lines-of-ink/ |access-date=February 16, 2025 |website=Elle India |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=Inked Mag |date=March 12, 2021 |title=Machine Gun Kelly Gets a Stunning New Tattoo |url=https://inkedmag.com/original-news/machine-gun-kelly-blast-over |access-date=February 16, 2025 |website=InkedMag |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=About |url=https://www.dotstolines.com/about |access-date=March 14, 2025 |website=DotsToLines |language=en}}

In 2024, Machlev partnered with Champagne Duval-Leroy to create the limited-edition Coffret Héritage, featuring rare vintages of the Fleur de Champagne cuvée (1988, 1997, and 2002). The collaboration aimed to “combine the elegance of Champagne and the contemporary art of tattooing,” highlighting Duval-Leroy’s heritage and Machlev’s distinctive graphic style.{{Cite web |last=Evison |first=James |date=September 5, 2024 |title=Champagne Duval-Leroy gets tattooed |url=https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2024/09/champagne-duval-leroy-gets-tattooed/ |access-date=February 16, 2025 |website=The Drinks Business |language=en-GB}}

Machlev’s aesthetic focuses on minimalist geometric lines, primarily in black ink for its “timeless” quality. Each tattoo is custom-designed directly on the client’s body, ensuring the piece harmonizes with the person’s form, posture, and personality. Machlev considers each session a collaborative ritual, often citing nature and music as key inspirations that inform his line-based techniques.

He emphasizes the need for consistency, persistence, and focus, arguing that the hardest part of tattooing is not the technical skill alone but also the responsibility of meeting the high expectations of clients who travel from across the globe to see him.

Machlev regularly travels between Berlin and Los Angeles to run his private studios. He has spoken candidly about dealing with self-confidence—balancing the outward persona of DotsToLines with his own inner insecurities—and credits his ongoing passion for art and spirituality with guiding his career. He is also a father and has expressed how family life shapes his motivations and priorities.