We spoke with the talented Lithuanian tattoo artist and discovered even the smallest details related to the creation of his esoteric and Realistic pieces on skin.
Domantas, I know this isn’t a simple question at all, but how much do you think you have improved, year by year, in these first 12 years of your career?
Hey! Indeed not a simple question at all. I think If I were asked this on any different day my answer would also be different. There’s no simple way to just say one improves or not. My technical skills improved and so on, but it’s very hard to tell how much I improved personally as an artist. It’s complicated.
Does it depend on how one wakes up in the morning?
Yeah. On one day I might think – yes I feel I’m moving to the right direction, getting myself expressed and making my client happy. On the other day might be completely opposite – I find myself thinking too much abstractly about what I could have done differently and so on. In my opinion every artist face this problem every now and then. In these years of my journey as a tattoo artist I’m beginning to understand that I can not improve or overlap myself and in any aspects be better than I was yesterday. The pressure on yourself might look like a good discipline in the start, but it’s much better just enjoy and try to have as much fun as possible while creating.
How much has the tattoo scene in Lithuania grown since you’ve been in the business? Are you in contact with other artists in your country?
It has growned a lot! We had a bunch of conventions going on, with impressive artist line up (local and foreign) and a lot of people showing interest and supporting. In general, tattoo scene got a lot more recognized, became more popular than ever.
Many new faces joined, many different styles formed, many new shops and gallerys opened.
Nowadays it’s very easy to find information about anything you want. I’m not, of course, claiming when I started it was hard to obtain tattoo equipment and so on like back in the days when it all started. Lets just say it’s even easier now than it was 10 years ago. I’m very happy people are using these capabilities and starting to improve and crystalize their talent in the field of tattooing.
When and how did you find that you found it easy to portray other people’s faces? And the horror/esoteric element when did it start to contaminate your art?
Hard to say exactly when, but since my childhood, I was always impressed about small drawings, detailed portraits and landscapes. When I’m working, tattooing or drawing a face, it’s best not to focus on it as a face.
So what do you actually see?
In my case I see everything as a sequence of lights and darks – does not matter what: be it an object, a face or anything else. It’s just your eyes seeing shapes with tones and the brain understanding it as a face brings anxiety and comprehension it’s hard to recreate. For me this method always helped. Also the darker aspect of my art was always there. I like it that way, difficult to say why. Probably because it’s cooler and way more serious that way.
Mystery and drama are always interesting does not matter where you see them being displayed – tattoos, literature, painting or movies.
Do you think Black-and-Grey is more artistic and iconic than color when it comes to tattoo art?
I don’t think Black-and-Grey are in any way more superior than color. There are amazing color tattoos being done everyday. I chose to work exclusively in Black-and-Grey. For my own taste it’s more serious and fits my own model of style. And realistic is just a particle in a huge sea of styles and fusions of styles which can incorporate both – color and Black-and-Grey.
Do you think you had any teachers that you never knew in your life? I’m talking about artists like H.R. Giger or some heavy metal album illustrator or movie poster designer…
I don’t have names I could confidentaly state directly shaped my comprehension and taste. There are a lot of different parts what gave me something. Each and all of them are really important. I would say music brought me most after all. Apart from that seeing some artwork, shots from a movie, envisioning that in my own psyche. In the end all of this produces something unique and different. That is how I create – usually it takes a long time to finally understand and put in on the medium. It’s like a figure emerging from a fog, it comes slowly, exposing new shapes and limbs to finally reveal itself to the viewer to be seen as it is.
Do you like to listen to music when you’re drawing or working privately on tissue paper tattoos?
Music is very important aspect in my life and I really wish I had a knick for creating and producing music.
I actually tried to produce some ambient music, but it was just some experiments for myself.
While working I’m almost always listening to music. If working alone I listen to experimental, electronic, ambient or modern classical.
Would you like to give me some names of your favorite artists?
Just to name a few artists my favorites would be Tim Hecker, Murcof, Deaf Center, Leyland Kirby (aka The Caretaker), Demdike Stare, Future Sound Of London and sometimes silence.
You tattoo privately and then make guests around Europe, right? Is it easy to make an appointment with you?
Yes, I’m working in the private studio in my hometown – Siauliai, Lithuania. Sometimes you can find me guesting around Europe and hopefully elsewhere in the near future.
Is it easy to make an appointment with you?
For the appointment please email me at domantas.parvainis@gmail.com with all the details and wishes and I would gladly try to help. Or you can find me on Instagram (see below. Ed).
How long does it usually take between the first email and the start of work on your client’s body?
Normally I have around 6 months planned ahead, but work can start sooner. Everything depends on the project, circumstances and so on.
And your last famous words are…?
Thanks TattooLife once again for a chance to be heard. I would like to thank my clients, sponsors and followers for believing in me. You guys are the best!
