interview with marco pepe | Encre tattoo | naples, italy |25/04/2019
Hello Marco Pepe! Thank you so much for taking the time to answer
some questions for our readers. It's a pleasure to exchange some
thoughts with you. You bring some really cool style in our industry,
very creative. Let's hope we will inspire the people out there with
our conversation and maybe some will get into this business too.
Q: How long have you been tattooing? Do you remember your
first tattoo? If so, what was it? Who had the honor or I should say,
who trusted you enough to get tattooed while you were just starting?
A: I started tattooing in 2011, my first tattoo was a traditional
cherry blossom flower, done on a friend. I remember that took
forever to make it done like almost 3h.
Q: What was the most challenging part of becoming a tattoo
artist and getting your name out there?
A: I think the most challenging part was to find something unique,
find clients that trust you and become part of project, an idea,
something that can go from the brush to the skin.
Q: How much time took to gain confidence in yourself? Would
you say that your talent played a huge part or it is all about
consistent dedication and hard work?
A: I think that I'm still looking to have 100% confidence in myself,
and this is a very important part for me, because I think that
trying to find that confidence make you grow up day by day and find
every day something new. I'm sure that if you wanna do something you
can work hard and get it, some people have a very big talent, others
can reach the same point by studying hard.
Q: You seem like you have artistic background or some formal
art training like a college etc, do you? How has your style shaped
over the years?
A: I'm in love with art, unfortunately I didn't have the chance to
study it in school, so I have to try to understand why and how
painters are able to create emotional things out of their brushes...
So I tried to do the same. I always want to send a message with my
works, sometimes it is hidden sometimes it is not. Actually I
started with the traditional, old school style, I was in love with
the large big lines and with the whipped shading, and over the years
I made something mine, but bringing with me that kind of shading and
the use of a lot of black to get very contrasted colors.
Q: You're very creative. I like your style a lot. I'm a
graphic designer so when I see someone doing something different
rather than the popular tattoo realism style, I'm all excited. Haha
Tell me about the process before the tattoo session. Do you draw a
bunch of sketches for each client?
A: I usually do just one tattoo a day, because I wanna give all
myself to one person at the time. I draw in the morning and I tattoo
in the afternoon. Everything starts with a form where I ask the
client to explain me the feeling that they wanna show, from there I
tell them the way that I will draw it. For me drawing is like a
language so I try to translate a feeling into an illustration. When
they see the project, usually is almost ready, about 70 % I always
wanna see the design on skin, to understand how to "hug" the area,
after that I paint something directly on skin and make something
unique.
Q: There's no "undo" or "edit" option when it comes to
tattooing, everything has to be well placed and planned before the
session. Do you collaborate with your clients, do you give them some
advice about placement, color, size etc?
A: Is the same with painting, when the painting is on canvas you
cannot "edit" it, that's why you need a good control when you wanna
make a really cool abstract drop, the same on skin, but each person
have a different shape, a different skin, a different tone etc, so I
prefer to follow the natural line, with brushes or markers before I
start tattooing. Usually my suggestions are about placement and
colors. While painting, it's very important follow some rules like
gravity, and how liquids usually move, my favorite part are legs and
arms, about size... I like to take all the area to give that
"infinity " looks that for me have the abstract painting, without
frame, so the work have to wrap a bit, giving the idea that we are
watching only a part of it.
Do you accept some reference images or you prefer the design
to be your own creation?
I prefer to draw or paint all by myself, usually I do not accept
reference images, only sometimes when I work on pets, but for me is
very important to draw all.
Q: Would you give your style a specific name? Do you think
is important for one artist to have their own recognizable style?
A: I call mine hard painting watercolor because I try to make my
tattoos look like a painting as much as I can. My personal idea is
that today is very important do something unique in the tattoo
business and everybody should have their own style.
Q: Are there any other mediums such as digital art, graffiti
etc that you work with as an inspiration or just another creative
way to express your ideas?
A: I usually paint watercolor/acrylic, a lot of abstract stuff, that
give me a lot of inspiration... I like the way the paint act...
Unpredictable and out of control, this gives me a lot of ideas and
sometimes I use part of it in my tattoo work. In the last 2 years I
felt in love with digital painting, I use it a lot, but... the
brushes are always my first choice.
Q: Do you travel a lot for work like doing guest spots,
visiting tattoo conventions etc? How much is important to gain
foreign knowledge in order to grow as an artist? What are your
experiences?
A: To be part of a tattoo convention is fundamental, as well doing
guest spots. To be side by side with some person that work in a
different way can make you understand a lot, can teach u a lot! In
my personal experience all the times that I went to a tattoo
convention my way of work changed a bit. I've met some tattoo
artists that really blew my mind.
Q: What is your advice for those who are willing to start
tattooing?
A: Draw, draw and draw, again and again and again, and if you are
interested in watercolor or any painting style... use brushes not
pencils!
Please write down your contact info and studio location.
Marco Pepe Encre
instagram marcoencre
email marcopepetattoo@gmail.com
studio Encre tattoo studio location: Naples Italy
www.encretattoo.it
facebook /encretattoo
Mr.Marco Pepe, Thanks for the interview,
Kind Regards,
The team