“One Piece has always been his point of reference, but in general, it is animation studios that still surprise him. Davide Set, originally from Italy and now based in Atlanta, describes himself as a nerd at heart, with a passion that began with Sailor Moon. This passion is reflected in his tattoos: anime-inspired designs with dynamic effects and powerful expressions, where line work, black ink, and the use of color to create light effects are the key ingredients that Davide remixes with Japanese references.”
HI Davide where are you from and where do you work?
Hi! I’m Davide Set, a tattoo artist specialized in anime tattoo. I’m Italian, from a small town between Varese and Milan, but I moved to the United States about a year ago! Currently, I’m working in Atlanta, Georgia, but I always take the opportunity to guest spot and participate in conventions.
How did you cross the tattoo art in your life?
This is a more common question than you might think, every client has asked me about it this past month. Well, you could almost say it was love at first sight. Ever since I was a kid, I was fascinated by a little rose my dad has tattooed on his hand near his thumb. Nothing aesthetically great or well done (as l’d say now), but the faded colours and the fact that it had been there forever, indelible, completely captured me!
When and how did you start tattooing?
I’ve been drawing for as long as I can remember, especially because as a kid, I loved redrawing the cartoon characters I watched. I kept doing it at school, sketching on my desk, which often got me sent to the principal’s office.
This was especially true because I went to a technical school, so I had no artistic foundation whatsoever, l’m a self-made artist!
After high school, I worked for a few years but always kept the idea of pursuing this path in mind. One day, I bought a tattoo kit, and l’ve never stopped believing in it since.
Your style is related to comics and manga subjects. In fact, you present yourself as an anime tattoo artist. Why this passion? How did it come about?
I’ve always been a nerd at heart. As a kid, I started watching anime like Ranma 1/2 and Inuyasha on MTV and later on national networks. Probably the one that engaged me the most was, surprisingly, Sailor Moon. But later, One Piece and Dragon Ball became my all-time favourites.
Unfortunately, I didn’t have much support from my parents, so I didn’t read manga until I realized I could do so freely. It’s a shame because some mangakas have absolutely incredible artwork! Miura’s work on Berserk is a perfect example.
Where does your inspiration come from?
My inspiration comes from everywhere. In recent years, animation studios have created incredible effects, using various techniques for outlines, shading, and backgrounds. Backgrounds, in particular, have been my focus lately, as l’d love to incorporate some of that Japanese aesthetic into my tattoo compositions.
What are the details you take care of to give these subjects the dynamism they deserve?
For me, tattoos are all about lines, black, and color. It’s a bit of a traditional view, but it’s the secret to a solid and timeless tattoo. Lines are crucial and need to be dynamic. I alternate between very fine lines and thicker ones to add strength and depth where it’s needed.
90% of whip shading to create the first layer for the darker and medium tones done. And finally, the colors are the cherry on top, they can completely transform the tattoo.
I don’t know exactly what is dosing my hand, but I always trust my gut cause I have a clear idea in my head.
What are your next steps to take your profession as a tattoo artist further?
My next steps are definitely to attend more important conventions around the world, one of this will be the Empire State tattoo expo in New York, but I really wanna attend some in Asia as well. Being sponsored by EZ Tattoo, I really enjoy meeting the people who believe in me and support me every day. Plus, I’m working with a few friends to organize some collaborations, and I can’t wait to tattoo something amazing!
Would you like to add something about projects or anything else to close this article?
First of all, thank you so much for this interview. It’s an honour for me to be featured in such a prestigious magazine that has represented the tattoo world for so long! I’d just add that I’m working on something really big right now, but I won’t say more because I’m quite superstitious!
