interview with tattoo artist alex bruz
Hello Alex Bruz! Thanks for taking the time to
do this interview. How long have you been tattooing? What inspired you to
start tattooing?
I started on February 7th, 2012. My inspiration was my father, he
was a great sculptor and oil painting artist. I grew up watching him
paint daily, and one day I decided to start tattooing.
Q: Was it difficult getting into the business? What
was the main goal you've had back when you were starting?
A: First of all, I don’t look at it as a business, even though it is
my income source, I’ve never looked at it that way. If you tattoo
for money, you won’t have art nor money. The main goal when I
started always was to do things the right way and be better
everyday.
Q: Do you have any artistic background?
A: Yes, in fact I'm a guitar player, even before I started
tattooing, that was what I used to do.
Q: How did you learn the basics? Did you have any mentor?
A: I started as a client of the best tattoo artists back then in the
country. I learned a lot from watching, asking and taking advice from
them. I attended a lot of seminars imparted by national and
international artists. No, I didn’t had a mentor. The best way to
learn this art is by practice, not making the same
mistakes on each tattoo. Any person can learn in both ways, being an
expert’s apprentice or by being self taught.
Q: Your best aftercare advice?
A: My aftercare advice goes like this: on the next 3 days after
getting tattooed, wash the area from 3 to 4 times a day and let it
dry. Don’t apply any ointment. After the 3rd day, start hydrating
the tattoo with an ointment, with this technique I’ve achieved an
optimal healing, since it avoids humidity and the final result is
more solid. You should avoid sweating, drinking alcoholic brewages
before, while and after, applying a non recommended ointment, and
sun exposition for the following 2 weeks.
Q: How is the tattoo scene in Venezuela? Do you see
progress? Would you change something about the global scene?
A: In Venezuela there's a strong development, the tattoo scene
globally, the progress is noticeable, since there are new artists popping all the time. If I could change anything, it would be to get more respect as artists or as any
other profession, like doctors, actors, musicians, architects, etc.
Yes, of course there are so many talented young artists, but they
should be more humble and close, leave egos aside.
Q: Do you have any favorite artists?
A: Yeah, my Venezuelan colleague,
Darwin
Enriquez. I think he’s an artist who never stops evolving, he’s
always innovating.
Q: What's the best part of being a tattoo
artist?
A: The best part of being a tattoo artist is to
understand that there can’t be an error margin on the art piece you
do on a client. It is gratifying to know they trust you enough to
let you create something that will last forever.