Interview with Silvano Fiato | eternal tattoo | Genova, Italy 07/06/2012
Q: When did you start doing tattoos? What made you to become
a tattoo artist?
A: Since I was child I always dedicated my time to drawing and
painting, seeking perfection in it, as long as 10 years ago I met
the world of tattooing and from there I can't stay without it.
Q: Why tattoo artist?
A: I didn't finish art school and I worked completely different
jobs, because unfortunately is not easy in life to do what you like
, but this dream continued to grow inside me. Now, I can't imagine
myself doing something else.
Surely the tattoos always catch me and when I figured out that it
was possible to reproduce what I knew already on paper and canvas,
on the skin of people, I realized that this would be my way.
Today I'm very proud because I never had a teacher and I learn
everything by myself. For me tattooing is a great passion I can not
wait to come to work in the morning, and express myself 100% every
day.
Q: What kind of art interested you at that time?
A: My specialty is realistic tattooing joined with the horror style,
for me that's what gives me more satisfaction when I work and is the
most complex and impactful, and gives many emotions, I think this is
what a tattoo should be.
Q: Do you have any influences?
A: I started I was shocked by the portraits of Robert Hernandez and
Bob Tyrell. Today there are also many other great artists that I
admire but I couldn't say a name in particular.
Q: Some people say that it is possible to be self though
artist. What are your thoughts about this?
A: In my opinion yes, for example I had to learn everything by
myself, without having any kind of education or teacher, so
everything I know I had to learn it by myself. But on the one hand
this has led me to be who I am today. Now I'm a professional and I
know what I do because I always studied to improve myself and I'll
always study to do better every day more.
Q: Artists are constantly making some changes in their
style, technically and artistically. How has your work developed
over the years?
A: Surely, over the years, I have completed myself a lot and I
always tried to push myself over the edge improving myself more and
more every day.
Q: In which designs you find most creative freedom?
A: All the pieces that are created in my studio, are personalized.
Every piece we do is created specifically for the customer. I hate
to chose in the catalog or use other people's tattoos, so I always
preferred to dedicate more time, but to create unique works. For
now, everyone who comes to me, give me the possibility to express
myself fully, and I think that is the best thing that an artist
could wish for.
Q: Maybe the most impressive thing about your work is the
color shading in layers. Seems like there is 3d work in some of
them. What is the most difficult part in doing realistic tattoos?
A: First of all thank you for your words. I spent a lot of time in
the recent years on the study of color and especially how to do make
it render in the best possible way.
Definitely something that unfortunately many artists overlook is
that they think only of how the photograph will be with the tattoo
just did, while I think about it will only be made once its healed.
I think this is the hardest thing to do.
Q: Can you tell me about the making
process, do you collaborate with your clients when it comes to
ideas?
A: In my opinion the are 3 key features for a good work :
- Choose a good photo, that I always do with my client.
- Choose the best point where I'll do the tattoo.
- Completely trust in me for every aspect of the tattoo like my
customers do.
I haven't a favorite subject, I like
everything. I try to capture the soul of the subject that I'm going
to tattoo because I want to give some emotions and sensations to the
viewer.
Q: What kind of tattoos people like the most?
A: Now I think people are directing to the realistic tattoo style,
so there isn't a precise subject, but rather a genre able to enclose
in it many other styles.
Q: What are the most interesting experiences with the
customers?
A: I think the tattoo process in some cases is creating relationship
between the tattoo artist and the customers. Very interesting and
perfect harmony, but the most beautiful, thing that all worthwhile
you certainly see the expression of the customer satisfied after I
finished work on his skin.
Q: Any strange requests, you would like to share with us? Or
there is no strange request for a tattoo?
A: After so many years doing this work, it is hard to find something
that can shock me, but one of the strangest tattoos I remember, was
a realistic clove of garlic.
Q: In the past few years, there are many new tattoo artists
trying to develop a unique style. What people could expect from you?
A: Certainly I think it's right that a good tattoo artist, to be
called such, will have mastered all the techniques and find his way
to a single style, so I think this is the right path, but like
everything in life I think it is right to know how to walk before
running and is an advice that I would give to all the tattoo artists
who want to begin this path.
Everyone who knows me, learns to understand how I am, and I am a
very ambitious person. I don't feel arrived and therefore I'll
continue to evolve myself more and more, always creating new and
original pieces, putting inside them all myself and all my passion.
Q: In a few words, what are the most important things that
every single artist should know in order to become successful and
respected?
A: The important requirements are passion, ambition and a lot of
humility.
You can contact me at www.eternaltattoostudio.com and www.facebook.com/silvano.fiato