interview with elena diva dark | creative | style | russia | 25/05/2019
Hello Elena aka Diva Dark, interesting nickname, I must
say, I like it. Thank you so much for taking the time to answer some
questions for our readers. Please start by telling us something
about yourself and what inspired you to start tattooing?
I’d like to be called “Diva Dark – tattoo artist”. Such a nickname
had aroused before I first took a tattoo machine. I just prefer
black to almost all other colors, and somehow there were only dark
items of clothes in my wardrobe. The flat interior also predominated
with dark shades, even the ceiling was black. Until a certain point,
I didn’t think of becoming a tattoo artist, and even more – had no
dream of getting a tattoo on my own body. It’s a matter of chance I
guess. My friend made a tattoo on his shoulder, which I had never
seen in my life, it was like a real picture. That night the thought
flashed into my mind to try, and so it began…
Q: How long have you been tattooing? Was it hard to learn?
Did you have any mentor?
A: At the moment, my tattoo experience is 2 years exactly. What
struck me is the fact that a tattoo machine can’t be compared with
either a pencil, or a brush, or a pen. It is something else with its
own specific features. My first impression was that it’s too heavy
and it’s not easy to find the balance working with skin. My mentor
was Vasily Suvorov. With him my sleepless life began (just kidding).
He was the master who made the tattoo on my friend’s shoulder I
talked before. His only and perhaps the most important condition was
to make a tattoo by myself on my body. For me and my family it was
shock, but I couldn’t be stopped already (laughing).
Q: You're very creative. All of your works are beautiful mix
of many tattoo styles. I guess you take extra hours to draw each of
your designs. Do you suggest some ideas to your clients? Do you
allow them to bring some reference photos and then mix it all in one
design? Tell me more about the making process.
A: In fact, I’ve passed a long interesting way to become a real
tattoo artist. Sketches development and tattoos got better day after
day. I was trying to overcome my fears and in the end it was for the
better. Now I work in my own way mixing different styles and
techniques in one – graphics, realism or something else. There isn’t
any consistency in my head about what to do. I talk to my clients,
listen to them, together we’re looking for some specific idea and
start thinking it over. I’d like to notice that I’m always in search
of cool sketches, different paintings and photos. There’re a lot of
them in my tablet. I used to draw all my designs by hand that took
me much time, even more than just much. Plus, sometimes you can’t
fix what you have already drawn without redrawing from the very
beginning. That’s why I started using the iPad, and that is where I
do all my work while creating a design for the next tattoo now.
I always listen to my client very carefully – if something goes
wrong we change direction and try again and again until we succeed.
However, there are some moments to be explained the client, because
he/she is not aware of all the details of our work. So I tell the
client about best size to choose and what body part we should use
for this tattoo, what is it going to look like after healing and so
on and so forth.
Q: Tattoo realism is probably one of the most popular tattoo
styles nowadays. Of course, many artists are taking the challenge to
master this particular style, many clients want to have such a
masterpiece done on their bodies, so yeah, we have seen many
portrait tattoos for sure. But I like when a tattoo artist makes
their own way of doing this particular style. You made almost a
"signature" style in doing this type of work. I love the idea of
creating something unique, after all it's the artist's main goal to
be unique right? What's your opinion? How would you call your style?
A: Realism is definitely one of the most difficult schools of
painting, not all the artists can master it. Even a professional
with great experience in it is always a little bit nervous when he
starts working, because no matter what kind of materials he has, he
is the only one who is responsible for the final result. I tried
working with realism, but I always wanted to make something from
myself – some idea, thought, brushstroke that don’t actually belong
there. You must do what you really love, that’s why I can’t stop
myself from mixing different styles together.
Q: Many interesting drawings in your studio. You can frame
them and make an expo! ;) Or maybe consider a graphic design as a
part time job haha I love them all. Again, very creative. Before
considering getting into tattoo business, did you have any artistic
background? How much the talent played a big role in what you do
today?
A: It’s an interesting question in fact. I used to dream about being
an artist when I was a child, but my parents send me to a dancing
club. I managed to balance art school with playgroup. After school I
went to college of applied arts, faculty of design. Then it was the
institute of design and computer graphics. I wanted to become a
designer, but as it turned out, working as a designer is not so cool
as I imagined. I did miss the art since all design nowadays is done
via computer programs. I really wanted to work with my hands. I
tried to paint with oils, make photos of my friends, even decorate
walls and much more. But tattooing is the best thing you can
imagine. Regarding the issue of education, I can certainly say that
it gave me a good background, because some things aren’t enough to
be done only intuitively. However, I personally know a lot of
talented tattoo artists who have no educational background but who
take a high place in the tattoo industry. All our artists have their
favorite sketches hanging in frames in their workplaces. The clients
really like seeing it! I only hang those sketches that have won
award at tattoo festivals. To me they mean a lot.
Q: How do you get inspired? Is it hard to get cool ideas
every day, especially when the work schedule is crazy and your
clients expect from you to give the maximum?
A: It’s difficult to say what inspires me. I love unusual, even
specific things. I’m interested in photos, especially photos of
women, I really enjoy visiting new places, it’s kind of euphoria to
me. Team work is also very cool, we load each other with positive
energy, give advice to each other how to do best. I believe that
healthy competition is key to our success.
Q: Many people, especially the young believe that being a
tattoo artist is a lot of fun, hmm is it?
A: When I first came to the tattoo studio I was told that the job’s
really difficult physically and morally. I thought about it a lot
and finally decided that I could do that. It’s still hard sometimes,
but I’m getting over it because I’m really passionate about what I
do. Even my friends at first laughed when I told them that I came
home in the middle of the night and couldn’t unbend my back like an
old broad. Now I’ve found the way in sport. Sport does help from
everything, but rest is also very important!
Q: Having the talent to draw definitely is an open window to
explore many new ways of working and maybe even yourself as a
person. How much is important to experiment in order to level up
artistically?
A: Experimenting is an important part of work of any artist. It
helps you to overcome the fear and grow as a professional. Sometimes
you just can’t do something perfectly, but it gives you motivation
to try again and finish what you have started.
Q: Looking gorgeous and being talented, bringing up some
really new, cool style in the business, I guess gives you many
opportunities to grow as an artist. Do you have some extra
international bookings, like guest spots or working on tattoo
conventions?
A: I visit a lot of festivals where I can speak with other artists
and share my own artistic specialties. I’m absolutely sure that
every tattoo artist should visit at least 3-4 festivals per year.
Incredible emotions, miss them so much in my everyday life. Testing
yourself, creating a new super-duper project... Plus you can get a
reward for that, and that’s the most amazing part. You always get
your inspiration there. I visited both local Russian festivals and
international. Yet I had no experience working in other studios, but
I think everything is ahead.
Q: Anything to look forward?
A: Speaking of my plans for the future - I’m kind of person who is
always looking for self-development. I walk this path with
enthusiasm. But I don’t want to guess - my life changes very
quickly. I do want to become someone in tattoo industry, to multiply
my talents.
Q: As a girl in this business and as a promising coming up
artist, who is fully dedicated, what would you recommend to those
who are willing to try becoming a pro artist?
A: It’s always difficult to succeed in this industry when you’re a
girl, because work takes 90% of your time, and you have only 10%
left for your personal life, family, children. It’s not for
everyone, but if you manage to find a crazy one like yourself,
you’ll definitely be on the top. Ambition is our everything.
Please write your contact info:
Instagram: diva_dark_tattoo
Ms,Diva Dark Thank you so much for the interview.
Kind regards,
The team