Realistic portraits in black and grey with intricate details and shading are his signature. In his work he incorporates dark elements that add depth and complexity to each piece. One eye on the Renaissance and one on the photographic darkroom which still is part of his artistic DNA.
We introduce you to Dimitris Panagopoulos, Greek tattoo artist, resident at Nico Tattoo in Athens who loves travelling as a research experience and doing guest artist in Europe and the US for most of the year.
How did your passion for tattooing start?
Since I was a kid, I have always had a passion for art. From a young age, I spent countless hours filling up sketchbooks with my own creations and always found myself in awe of the beautiful artwork that filled the streets and city walls around me.
During my teenage years, I found myself hanging out with a group of BMX lovers who all shared a love for graffiti artwork. I remember listening to the stories behind each of their tattoos.
It was fascinating to see how each one of them had turned their bodies into a canvas for art.
That’s how my journey started… For two long years, I dedicated myself to practicing for numerous hours each day, watching every YouTube tutorial I could find, perfecting my skills and honing my techniques. But I’m glad that finally the countless hours of hard work and dedication paid off.
Did you attend an art school?
I started off as a graphic designer, but I decided to switch paths and become a tattoo artist. I also have a background in photography and have taken many lessons in dark room photography. This has greatly influenced my tattoo style, as I am always striving to create contrast and depth in my designs. The techniques I learned from dark room photography have allowed me to use light and shadow to create my designs.
Would you like to describe your style to our readers? Why did you choose it?
My signature tattoo style is black and grey realism, where I can portray intricate details and shading. Additionally, I incorporate dark elements that add depth and complexity to each piece. I have always admired the timeless beauty of the Renaissance era and I try to incorporate the same vibe to my tattoos.
To infuse more dimensions into my art, I often blend textures with nature elements such as leaves, roots, and other natural textures to create an overall stunning piece. Furthermore, I put a strong emphasis on body anatomy, as I believe that it is as important as every other element in the tattoo.
The large format is definitely what suits best your tattoos, is that right?
That’s totally right! I choose large format tattoo because I have always enjoyed seeing the transformation of a simple stencil into a beautiful piece of artwork. Watching the process of bringing a design to life is truly captivating and rewarding. The larger format allows for more detailed work, and I love being able to see all of the intricate details come together to form a cohesive design.
Overall, I am thrilled with my choice and am looking forward to watching my tattoo come to life.
What are your passions besides tattooing from which you draw inspiration for your work?
Travelling has always been a passion of mine. Exploring new places, meeting different people, customs and traditions. Travelling has had a significant impact on my art, allowing me to gain a unique perspective and inspiration. Whenever I explore a new place, I make it a priority to attend museums and exhibitions, as art is a universal language that bridges cultural differences. Additionally, I enjoy reading as I am constantly exposed to new ideas and perspectives that inform my creative work. Overall, travelling and reading has been a transformative experience for me, allowing me to grow both personally and artistically.
You start from an idea shared with the customer I imagine. And then how do you bring it graphically to life?
I always start with a consultation with the client to gather ideas, preferences, and personal elements to incorporate into the design. I usually collaborate with the client to make revisions and finalize the design.
The main topic of this piece is love and death. Although seemingly contrary have many similarities. Like love, death too has an impact on various emotions, positive or negative. If love cannot be forced, and must come naturally or in due course, death too should not be forced. People have been afraid of loving as much as dying. “like the roots of a tree, love has the ability to grow and spread.” Having this discussion with my client, we decided to dedicate his whole back piece representing death in a romantic way and also combine dark aesthetic, to create a signature piece of mine!
To wind up this interview, what are your plans for the near future and in the longer term in your career as a tattoo artist?
As an artist, I am constantly striving to improve and challenge myself. That’s why I’m ecstatic to share that I have some big projects in the pipeline that I’ll be embarking on in the coming months.
I’m relentlessly working on sharpening my skills and technique, so I’m excited to attend as many tattoo conventions as possible, explore new places, and share my art with the world.
I’ll continue travelling to different parts of the world to meet new people, and learn from the minds of some of the industry’s best.
My main goal is to always push myself to evolve even further, improve my artistry while broadening my horizons. I’m looking forward to continuing my relentless practice and hard work- it’s a thrilling time, and I can’t wait to see what lies ahead.
