Tag: Realism

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Interview with tattoo artist Grigorii Butrin

Tattoo artist Grigorii Butrin @butrin.tattoo creates incredible realism tattoos in Germany. We chatted to the tattooer about his journey into the industry, tattooing style and influences…

How long have you been tattooing and how did you get started in the industry? I’ve been tattooing since 2014-2015. I started it like a hobby when I was in my last year of medical college, because I realised that I wanted to be an artist.

I had been drawing all the way through school and I entered my work into city and school drawing contests. While I was at medical college I would always help with the creative decoration of information stands and themed banners for teachers of multiple disciplines.

What inspired you to become an artist? Do you have a background in art? I saw the works of Dmitriy Samohin and Den Yakovlev on the internet and I was shocked. At that moment I started to understand what I wanted to do with my life.

From around 4-5 years old I would spend a lot of my time drawing and making sculptures. I was also watching videos on YouTube, like Alexander Ryjkin’s channel and creating my own drawings.

How would you describe your style? My style is grey wash realistic tattooing, but it’s not copying. To make an image I use my experience during the drawing process so I don’t make a 100% copy of the image, so it’s academically a realistic tattoo.

What inspires your designs? I’m usually have an inspiration from music, movies and designers. I’m also the biggest fan of Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio. His art is unbelievable and his work with shadows is perfect. So, perhaps he is the reason why I work with deep shading.

Can you tell us about the process behind your tattoos? The most important part of my work is making a good design. You need to think a lot about anatomy, composition and dynamics in your design – 90% of a good project is a good design.

What do you like to tattoo and what would you like to do more of? My favourite thing to tattoo is portrait work. I really like to do this and usually my customers come for this kind of work.

How do you see your tattoos evolving in the future? I think I’m gonna add a lot of stuff from drawing in my style in the future. Also I’m gonna make more colour realistic stuff to make a collaboration between different styles.

What was your first tattoo? Do you still like it? The first tattoo I did was an anchor on a shoulder in the old school style. Yes I still love it, because it’s my first one. One day I’ll make it much better, but for now I and the guy I did it on are still in love with it.

Where’s been your favourite place to travel and tattoo? It was Israel. I was there in 2021; a really beautiful place with beautiful people. I was there for 3 months and I still get inspiration from this place.

Do you have any travels or guest spots planned? No, but I guess maybe the USA in the future, because there are a lot of artists I am inspired by there.

What do you do when you’re not tattooing? I spend my time with family, drawing and also I love photography.

What moment in your career are you most proud of? It was the moment when my teacher, Alexander Oberov, said he was proud of my work.

Make sure to follow @butrin.tattoo for more amazing black and grey tattoos.

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Interview with tattoo artist Neil Chetcuti

Tattooist Neil Chetcuti works out of Skinlabel Tattoo Studio, in Malta. We chatted to the artist to find out more about his tattooing style, his love for the craft and the tattoo scene in Malta…

How long have you been tattooing and how did you get started in the industry? I’ve been a tattoo artist for six years now. My passion for art and sports started at a young age and I was mostly committed to football prior to my tattooing career. Back then I used to sketch something every day, however after suffering a knee injury that ended my football career, I had more time to focus on my art. I was posting more of my artwork online and received a lot of positive feedback, leading me to pursue a career in tattooing. I started my training in 2016 and became a professional tattoo artist in early 2017.

What inspired you to become an artist? Do you have a background in art? My passion for art stems from my family’s history of artistic talent. Growing up surrounded by my great grandfather’s paintings, I was always drawn to art and began drawing from a young age.

My interest in tattooing was sparked by watching programmes such as Miami Ink, and my appreciation for the craft grew over time.

During my rehabilitation for my knee injury, I received my first tattoo from one of the most sought after artists, Denis Sivak, who served as an inspiration for me to pursue a career in tattooing.

What drew you to black and grey realism? Have you always tattooed like this? I have always been drawn to black and grey realism because of my love for graphite and fine paper, which I used for creating most of my drawings. The contrast between black and grey creates a soothing effect which I find appealing. During my first year of tattooing, I experimented with different styles to broaden my knowledge and build my client base. Although I am interested in colour realism, I have noticed that people in my region (a warm, sunny island) tend to have tanned skin which is not ideal for colour tattoos.

What inspires your designs? I dedicate a lot of time to creating designs for my tattoos because I believe that the design plays a significant role in the overall quality of a tattoo. I am always seeking inspiration from various sources, whether it be other forms of art such as paintings and movies, or from other artists who have been an influence on my work. Each new project presents a unique opportunity to create something special while still staying true to my style.

What do you like to tattoo and what would you like to do more of? I am currently fond of tattooing skull references but my preferences tend to change over time. I do not have a particular liking for furry references, but it may depend on the photo and the direction the project is taking.

I appreciate clients who are open to new ideas and give me the freedom to unleash my imagination and create unique, one-of-a-kind projects with original concepts, which I thoroughly enjoy doing.

How do you see your tattoos evolving in the future? In 2019, I introduced a new aspect to my tattoos by incorporating wording, calligraphy, and especially graffiti elements. This addition has been a game changer for me as it adds balance to the contrasts in my references and enhances the flow of my work. I am currently feeling confident in my projects and my style, but the future of my art is always unpredictable. I am constantly searching for ways to push the boundaries and create unique pieces.

Where’s been your favourite place to travel and tattoo? I’ve had the privilege of traveling to some amazing places for my work as a tattoo artist. While every place has its own unique atmosphere and charm, my favourite destination so far has been the Milano tattoo convention. It was a truly unforgettable experience to be part of such a large-scale event, surrounded by some of the best artists in the world. The convention offered a wealth of opportunities to learn and grow as an artist, and I will always be grateful for such experiences.

What was your first tattoo? Do you still like it? How has your tattoo collection developed since then? My first tattoo was a statue of the archangel St. Michael, which I got in 2014. Although I don’t regret it because of its sentimental value, I have since filled up my left arm sleeve with various tattoos and come up with better ideas for the theme. My right leg sleeve, which was done by my mentor Matthew @Skinlabel, is a tribute to art and features portraits of famous artists such as Picasso, Dali, Frida Kahlo, and Caravaggio, along with recreations of their works.

Do you have any travels or guest spots planned? I’m always open to the idea of traveling for work and doing guest spots, it’s a great way to network and learn from other artists. My schedule is quite busy, but I try to fit in as many guest spots and travels as I can. Currently, I have plans to attend the Brighton tattoo convention in a few weeks. I also receive numerous guest spot requests, which are difficult to accommodate due to my busy schedule, but I do plan to visit some studios that I have been to before and maybe even explore some new ones this year.

What’s the tattoo scene like where you are? The tattoo scene in Malta is growing and gaining more acceptance in society. Despite the increase in popularity, there is still some hesitation from certain parts of society and in workplace policies. However, this is changing, as demonstrated by the police force’s acceptance of tattoos. The tattoo industry in Malta is competitive due to the relatively small size of the island, but this is a common occurrence in any industry. The increasing popularity of tattoos has also led to a rise in the diversity of styles and designs being seen.

What do you do when you’re not tattooing/drawing? When I’m not focused on my tattooing or designing, I like to prioritise my well-being by incorporating physical activity into my routine, such as taking walks with my dog or hitting the gym. I also enjoy exploring new food and restaurants with my girlfriend and friends, as well as taking trips to experience new cultures. I often take on new hobbies and am currently reading a book in my free time. Overall, I strive to find a balance between my work and personal life, and make the most of my time outside of the studio.

What moment in your career are you most proud of? It’s been difficult to pinpoint one specific moment as my proudest in my career, but the recognition I receive for my work is what truly makes me proud. Whether it’s at conventions where my work is acknowledged or while guest spotting, when I receive compliments and appreciation from other talented artists in the industry, it’s a fantastic feeling.

It’s not just about winning awards or prizes but knowing that others value my work and see its worth is what drives me to continually improve with each new project.

Over the years, I’ve dedicated myself to perfecting my craft, and these moments of recognition are a testament to my hard work and dedication to the art.

Follow @neil.tattoo for more incredible realisim tattoos.

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Interview with tattoo artist Yeono

Tattooist Yeono creates incredible realism tattoos at 10KF_Hollywood in Los Angeles, CA. We chatted to the tattoo artist about her pet portraits and how her personality goes hand in hand with realisitic tattoos…

How long have you been a tattoo artist? I have been a tattoo artist for nine years, since 2014.

How have you seen the industry evolve since you began? The tattoo industry has become more diversified and popularised in that time.

The most remarkable change is the number of people who enter the industry, and the quality of their work is really amazing and impressive.

How did you become a tattooist? I wasn’t interested in drawing when I was younger. When I was 17 my mother wanted to get a small tattoo, so we looked at photos of tattoos together. We came across a back piece tattoo by a famous Japanese tattooist and I remember marvelling at it. Before seeing it the only tattoos I knew were the butterfly and Chinese characters on my mother’s body. I knew instantly that I wanted to create tattoos like the Japanese tattoo artist, so I made up my mind to become a tattooist.

This was one of the decisions that changed everything in my life.

How would you describe your work? Why drew you portraits and realism? In the beginning, I just liked drawing things realistically without thinking about the concept or meaning of the picture. Later on I started studying the aesthetic and meanings of tattoos.

I don’t think drawing the exact same picture as you see in a photo is the most important thing about tattooing. Instead I’m drawing pictures that can touch my clients’ lives. I want to show realistic tattoos in an easy to access and new interesting way. Another charm of these kinds of tattoos is that they take a long time and a lot of effort is needed to complete them.

My work, alongside the importance of design also has an emotional element. I think the perfect realism is powerful and greatly influences people. The reality is a virtual reality and I like my tattoos to be more on the side of virtual reality.

Has your style changed? I learnt the basics of design and tattooing from a Korean tattooist who created Japanese-style tattoos. So, I did new school and Japanese style tattoos for several years. But I became interested in black and grey tattoos, so I studied drawing in pencil. Currently, I mostly work on small-size realistic tattoos and pet tattoos.

What inspires your tattoos? I think my clients and many of the artists in the world have a great influence on me. I’m often found appreciating the works of hyper-realist artists, when I view their work it’s hard for me to tell which is a photo and which is a painting, which is a copy and which is the original. I think this kind of experience is another charm of hyper-realistic paintings.

When I see this kind of work represented in tattoos I am amazed and think of all the things I would like to do in the future.

What’s the tattoo culture like where you were born? In Korea, tattooing is regarded as a medical practice, so it can be only performed by licensed medical personnel. Even though drawing tattoos is not against the law, no one can make tattoos without medical doctor’s license. Nevertheless, the tattoo industry has been continuously growing.

I can’t understand how so many Korean tattooists who are internationally famous are treated as criminals at home.

However, there are people who are working hard for the legislation of tattooing. I hope the bill is passed quickly, so many Korean tattooists can work in a safe environment.

We love your pet tattoos, can you tell us more about these? There are many artists who specialise in pet tattoos and so each artist has a different artistic approach and techniques to express these images. I think I have many strengths that differentiate me from these other artists.

Thanks to my ability to concentrate I can work on delicate animal hair, soft shading, clean and accurate colour packing for a long time. I try hard to create powerful and substantial tattoos by using the various techniques I have learnt.

I’ve always had dogs and cats, now I have three cats. I really love animals and I feel so happy when I get to tattoo animals. My memories and personal experiences of raising animals helps me to create a strong bond and sympathise with my clients.

Has your background influenced your style at all?  My personality has had much more of an influence on my tattoo style than my background. I have great concentration and thoughtfulness, so for the most part I complete my work accurately and perfectly. This is why my personality goes well with the realistic tattoos I create as they requires a lot of time and efforts

Do you have a tattoo experience that sticks out in your mind? Out of all of the tattoo experiences I have had in the past nine years, the tattoo I remember the most is my first tattoo.

My mother was my first client and she got a tattoo of my name and my elder brother’s name on her arm. It was such a simple lettering style tattoo, but on top of feeling really nervous, it took more than eight hours to complete the whole process, which is why I can’t forget this memory.

What’s been your proudest and/or happiest moment in your career so far? It is difficult to pick one because there are so many. I always feel happy whenever my clients smile or shed a tear of joy after getting a tattoo. I feel proud of myself when I can make somebody feel happy.

What do you do when you’re not tattooing/drawing? I like to exercise and have fallen in love with reading books. After enjoying some recent travel experiences I’ve made it my goal to take trips more often. I just like to live a happy life.

Be sure to follow Yeono for more adorable pet portraits and extraoridinary realism tattoos.

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Interview with tattoo artist Sambee

We chat to North London tattooer Sambee about her journey into the tattoo world and her experiences as a woman of colour in the tattoo industry…

What inspired you to become a tattoo artist? To be honest it was never an ambition of mine, even though I had always drawn, been creative and did art at school. I also used to go home after school and watch LA Ink and NY Ink. I thought they were pretty cool shows but I never saw them as a future career.

Saying that, the idea of making things with my hands was attractive to me. It meant I would always have a way of being able to provide for myself without relying on someone to hire me.

How did you become an artist? A friend took a design of mine to a local tattooist and asked if I would go with him to get the tattoo done. Whilst I was there the tattooist talked to me about my designs, he was opening a studio soon and asked if I’d like to be the apprentice.

At the time I was looking to go to university but my parents were surprisingly supportive of me becoming a tattoo apprentice.

Can you tell us about your experiences in the tattoo industry? My apprenticeship started two months before my nineteenth birthday. I’m at the end of my twenties now, so it has been quite an education. It’s been a strange world to navigate through especially when you come into it quite young.

Tattooing is a great expressive art form and there’s always something to learn or a way to challenge yourself. The more you put in the more you’ll get out.

You meet all types of people, some sweet and some more savoury, but that’s like all industries. It’s nice to see more women and women of colour coming up in the industry.

Can you tell us more about the experiences you have had as a woman and a woman of colour in the industry? I’ve had some awkward moments. I think the frustrating thing about being a woman in a male dominated industry is that you can feel obliged to not create what’s sometimes perceived as ‘trouble’, or perhaps what used to be perceived that way. 

Even now, I initially felt like I had to answer this question by downplaying or lightly glossing over experiences.

If I were to mention every little moment where race or gender felt to me like a disadvantage or something I’ve had to speak out to defend against, it would be a long list. 

Toward the end of my apprenticeship, I was being tattooed by someone (who my mentor invited to the studio). I can’t remember how the subject of race was brought up, but somehow we got talking about it and mid tattoo session, with my limb in the tattooists’ hand, he says the words “ya know, I don’t actually believe in ‘mix raced’.”

My ears perked up, my heart rate rose and I had to control my facial expression. I just thought, let me make it to the end of the tattoo session and then I won’t have to listen to any more ignorance. 

I’ve also heard clients say they don’t believe in racism, casually, while I’m tattooing them. I’ve also seen someone point out the window at a person in a wheelchair and say the words “look, that’s a n*gger in a wheeelchair”. I was in that room. 

Are there any female artists and women of colour artists you’d like our readers to know about? Hell yeah there is! There’s lots of women that I know and follow on social media that make me proud to be in this job, at this time, because it has come such a long way since I started. 

My colleagues Trang and Chanelle are so talented, focused, driven and kind hearted. I used to work with Jade and we both had the ambition to get into tattooing. She’s got a beautiful heart and does beautiful tattoos. 

People should also follow:

The list goes on!

What attracted you to black and grey tattooing? I’m not sure why I was more interested in black and grey. I appreciate all styles, but when it came to doing them I found that black and grey made more sense. It feels more straightforward.

Have you always tattooed like you do now? I started out doing anything and everything and then slowly just narrowed it down to black and grey realism.

I’m sure in another 10 years my style will change, but I can’t see it changing too drastically. That’s the thing within any creative industry the only limits are what you put on yourself. It’s sometimes scary to change because it’s new to you and you obviously lack experience. Also you’re beginning the process all over again and that creates more self doubt.

Can you tell us about the process behind your tattoos? Sure! There’s not too much to it, my client would have given me images or a description through an email enquiry. With that information I search and source photos relevant to the idea and begin putting that into a composition to suit whichever area the tattoo is going. I tend to do image sourcing the night before and then put together designs in the morning showing a few options.

What inspires you? Other artists, not just artists who do black and grey. Or seeing people who have older tattoos and wondering how can I do my work to a standard that will hold and look sick as it ages.

It would be cool when my clients are in nursing homes and still feel excited about their tattoos or getting compliments.

What do you like to tattoo and what would you like to do more of? I really enjoy tattooing animals. Anything fluffy! I’d love to do more iconic portraits too. I’ve done a few civil rights projects and I loved those! Also any Marvel/DC characters would be a dream!

Are you a tattoo collector? I’ve got a few cats! I wouldn’t say I’m a collector maybe just an enthusiast, I’m definitely not at that level by any means.

I’ve enjoyed getting pieces so far from my talented colleague Matt Lunn and the awesome Anrijs, Ash Higham and Edgar Ivanov.

What moment in your career are you most proud of? Working my first convention felt quite pivotal. There’s a lot of anticipation for that moment, so much preparation and it can feel like a big hurdle when you build it up in your head. But it was a lot of fun!

I’m currently at a big transitional moment in my career. I’m joining my friends in making our own artist led studio. I cannot wait for it to be finished! This will definitely be the proudest moment in my career once it’s up and running.

Make sure to follow Sambee for more amazing realism tattoos and updates on her new studio.

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Interview with tattooist Pasha Et

A tattoo artist for 6 years, Pasha Et (Pavlo Kurylo) creates beautiful black and grey realism tattoos in Ukraine. We chatted to Pasha about the inspiration behind his pieces...

How long have you been tattooing and how did you get into the industry? I wanted to be a tattoo artist when I was 18. I found some videos about tattoos and decided that I could do it too. I’ve always liked tattoos and at 19 I bought all the necessary equipment and made my first tattoo, that was back in 2015.

What does tattooing mean to you? For me, tattoos are style, beauty, and self-expression. To be a tattoo artist is to give these things to other people. I enjoy the process of creating a cool tattoo, so after the tattoo is finished, my client will also enjoy their tattoo for life.

How would you describe the tattoo scene in the Ukraine and Belgium? If we’re talking about tattoo artists, then every country has some very cool but also bad tattoo artists. It seems to me to be about the same, there’s a balance.

If we talk about clients then the difference is really big. In Ukraine tattooing is still developing. Basically people aged 20-35 want to get a tattoo, but many of them are still students and can’t afford a quality tattoo. Most people over the age of 40 don’t understand tattoos or tattooing, they don’t see it as art.

Of course, there are exceptions, but it’s mostly like that. But in Belgium, clients consciously approach tattooing, they’re smart with their choice of tattoo and tattoo artist.

How would you describe your style? I work in the realism style with the technique of “whip shading”. I really like how tattoos look in this technique. I work mostly with small portraits (usually celebrities) and various sculptures or statues.

What’s the process behind your tattoos? How long does a typical tattoo take? It starts with the client sending me an example of what they would like, then we meet for a consultation and discuss all the details. Then we create a sketch in Photoshop (this is usually a collage of several pictures), if necessary, I finish sketching by hand. The next step is to determine the size and try a sketch on the part of the body they want tattooing. Once this is ok we agree on the date and time of the session.

Usually portraits take 4-6 hours. If they’re quite large portraits, about 20cm in length without additional details and heavy elements I can do them in one session (5-7 hours). If a portrait has lots of details, it can take 2-3 sessions each one being about 5-6 hours, but it all depends on how detailed and complex the design is.

Where do you get your inspiration? I am inspired by so many things. I’m mostly inspired by people in other creative professions, those who work hard on themselves and succeed in their field and beyond. It could be a tattoo artist, graffiti artist, a photographer or musician – anyone creative.

What do you love to tattoo and what would you like to do more of? Generally, I like to do realism by using photos. I would like to make even more portraits, especially shots from movies.

How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected your tattooing? I’ve had more time to develop and improve my style, but I think COVID has had the biggest impact on my trips to other countries to either work or go to tattoo festivals. Unfortunately, until the situation around the world improves it will be very difficult to move. But someday it will all end and tattoo artists will be able to travel and make people happy with their tattoos again.

Be sure to follow Pasha on Instagram for more awesome realism tattoos.