Exclusive interview with Denis Decaroli by Iva Kanceska 6/08/2009
Q: When did you start tattooing? Can you tell me about your
first experience with tattoos?
A: My first tattoo machine I bought was in 1997, on a tattoo
convention in Italy, but in that time it was just for fun, in my
spare time and i also had another job. From 2004 I started tattooing
professionally . My first experience with tattoos, was when I was
15. I was tattooing myself under the foot. That was a small heart,
done with hand, single needle and pen ink..
Q: Which designs are your biggest challenge to tattoo?
A: Portraits, are the most complicate for me, I need put all my
energy on them.
Q: What is your biggest inspiration?
A: My biggest inspiration is INTERNET..ha...ha...ha... I'm not very
good on drawings, so I need to take a reference from internet or
some books. I also don't have a favorite style, I try to do
anything, so I need to look many different references to get my
inspiration.
Q: What is the most difficult in making a color portrait
tattoo?
A: The difficult in color portraits is to arrive very close to the
real colors of the pic u should reproduce, also some portraits or
realistic tattoos have a lot of details, so you need patience and
time.
Q: What do you think is the best way to learn how to tattoo?
A: Going on tattoo conventions, look some good artists works. Right
now in this era of internet you have a many tattoo forums to
understand some skills, also drawing can help a lot, but I think to
become a good tattoo artist you need to be born for this, and need
passion for tattoos, not just to see this as a good business.



Q: What equipment do you use and which one do you prefer?
A: I use many different kind of equipment and I made machines. I use
Rotary and Neuma machines. It depends of which style of tattoos you
want to do, but for me one of the best tattoo machines is "Next
Generation". Also I use many many different kind of inks. I think
the best are Enternal, Intenze and some of Milenium's collection are
cool.
Q: Tell me more about the tattoo machines powered by air.
A: Those are the air machines -NEUMA, provided by Carson Hill -an
amazing artist. Is little bit different from the normal machines.
The skin is more soft and is different feeling when the needles
touch the skin. Is a very great invention, very light and is
possible for sterilization because they don't have the electrical
part. Is something different, and I recommended to all tattoo
artists! The only problem is the air compressor, because is heavy
and complicate for travel, but its good in shop. The new NEUMA
machines are accomplished to connect to a normal power supply, so
don't need anymore air compressor.



Q: Some say there was a “Tattoo Renaissance” around the
1990s. They say there were a lot more people getting into the
industry with fine art degrees, there was the birth of the Internet,
there were conventions, more magazines started coming out for the
public, instead of just trade magazines. How do you feel about that?
A: Yes is true, but I think the real RENAISSANCE OF TATTOOS is more
after year 2000, start arrive many young tattoo artists with high
level of their work. Now is more easy to done tattoos, because you
have many good supply to choose, the best machines, the best ink,
the best needles. You can order from the internet and arrive direct
to your home. 10 years ago that was impossible, the problem now is
the level of tattoos, VERY HIGH, so it become more difficult for the
competition.
Q: What about the tattoos you’re currently wearing? Where
they come from, what's their significant etc?
A: I have tattoos done from all over the world, most I done in
Italy, the other I made in Cuba, Brazil, Mehico, Germany, Taiwan,
Thailand, and now ill stay to finish my back piece in China, from FU
HAILIN who is amazing tattoo artist and good friend of mine.
Q: If you could tattoo anyone in the world, alive or dead,
who would it be?
A: Something that I really want to do from many years is a JAPANESE
ROBOT, like GUNDAM or GRENDIZER, with Japanese classic background,
for me it looks very cool. Maybe one day I find the customer for
this...
Q: Where do you see your art and creativity going in the
future? Will you be tattooing in the next five years? Ten years?
A: I hope that I'll work in some quality tattoo shop, where the
customers understand the quality of tattoos and ask for them.
Q: What can we expect from you in the future?
A: I hope in the future that my level of tattoos will become more
and more high, and maybe I'll open my own tattoo shop in some cool
place.




