tattoo Interview with Matteo Pasqualin | Bosaro, italy 09/08 /2012
Q: When did you start doing tattoos? What made
you to become a tattoo artist?
A: Since I was a kid, I spend a lot of my free time
drawing. It was 1997 when I made my first step into the
world of tattooing, after getting some advices from a
tattooist that used to work, in his home, near where I
lived. My whole imprinting was self-taught.
Q: Some people say that it is possible to be
self though artist. What are your thoughts about this?
A: I think it's just a thought, because as I said
before, I also started a self-taught, by following a few
tips here and there!
Q: How has your
work developed over the years?
A: I experienced a quantum leap 4 years ago, shortly
after I made a tattoo by Andrea Afferni, I gave some
useful tips especially on the organizational level.
Since then I decided to dedicate myself only to the
style that I'm passionate - realism. Since then I have
noticed an improvement in my technique and I finally
feel happy with my work.
Q: I can see a lot of custom tattoos.
In which designs you find most creative freedom?
A: When I do a tattoo , portrait or realistic, I take inspiration by
pictures that contain strong contrasts between light and shadow. I
really like dogs portraits, cause I really love my dogs. In my life
they cover a very important role, especially Pini and Lona, my two
little dogs! More than human’s portraits, but in particular way, I
love when the pictures are no-conventional never seen or crazy! I
really like when the customer favors my idea, I can give them free
rein to my ideas.
Q: Your color use is awesome. What inks do you use?
A: I use “ Panthera Black Inks” doing Black and Grey. When I do
color tattoo, I often use Intenze or Eternal. It’s more difficult
tone tattooing colored piece cause my background is based completely
on Black and Grey drawing. But there’s another problem: I work near
the beach, so it’s rare to have possibility to work on white skin.
Q: Portraits are maybe the most remarkable designs in your
portfolio. Do you remember when the impression for this kind of work
first began?
A: Portraits always been my favorite subject to do, even when I
still wasn’t a tattooer. I’ve always been inspired by the challenge
to reproduce a face like it’s real and listen to people says “wow”!
“It’s really him/her!” In particular way I love to realize dog’s
portrait, because I really love dogs and I think that every dog has
his physiognomy and the owner knows it well.
Q: Can you tell me little about the making process?
A: When a client come with his idea, the first step is to find some
pictures on the internet, with a good resolution and most artistic
as it’s possible. The second step is to adapt on the part of body
where to put tattoo piece (longer or pargost is important to me to
concept this work as well). The 3rd step is to realize a collage of
images or, in case of a single images, create a good background to
make possible it doesn’t see lik a “ sticker” on body.
Q: I was fascinated when I saw the Charlie Chaplin sleeve.
WOW! What was the basic idea?
A: About the sleeve with the Charlie Chaplin's portrait, the
client's idea was to reproduce 4 portraits: Chaplin, Marylyn, David
bowie, Dali'! I didn't want just to put Them as They came so I found
interesting to fuse Them together using a texture pixel effect! I'm
really interested on putting this kind of effect close to a
realistic tattoo! I think it can help to make less ' anonymous' a
piece like a portrait or else . Normally the client's idea is well
supported by me
even not in case They ask to choose a picture not clear or not good
contrasted.
Q: What reaction from the clients makes you happy? Any
crazy experiences with the clients?
A: The final reaction of the clients is always an emotion to me!
First of all when I realize portraits of r.i.p.Person! Often the
client's eyes became wet as they look at the work I've done! So I
understand That I've done a good work and
the portrait really seem to the real person!
Q: Tattooing is very creative work.
What's your biggest inspiration?
A: I find my inspiration trying to get more and more strange
pictures on the web, books, magazines or else! Then i love to mix,
interpreting by my way! The hardest part is to sell them to the
customer... lol
Q: What is the best lesson that you've learned from your
tattoo journey?
A: The best lesson I've learned from my TATTOO journey is That every
day you have a lesson to learn: by the costumer, by the partnership,
by the skin, by your supplies, by yourself...! I know it looks a
rhetoric answer but it's real as it is!
Q:
Any advice for the new artists?
A: People Who is starting to TATTOO nowadays, founds it very easy
instead several years ago, when I started( 1997). You've got every
sort of supplies, books, tutorial on you tube, advices ( even by
payment) from a lot of tattoo artists ,Google and more for draws!
But this kind of 'take it easy' makes think That you
don't need to sacrifice at all, and everyone feels like a master
after few TATTOOs done, killing imagination and the curiosity to
learn!
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www.facebook.com/matteo.pasqualin