Our special guest this time is a Spanish tattoo artist and owner of the studio, ‘Arde Vereda’, near Girona. Her style? Ornamental, often done freehand.
Maria, I know you’ve been tattooing professionally since 2012. What did you do before and why did tattoo art enter your life so forcefully?
I never thought I’d make a living from tattooing. When I was 20, I was in university, and a good friend gave me a tattoo machine as a birthday gift. I got hooked on that world and started to get more and more into it, but it was just another hobby for me at the time.
Then what happened?
After getting my degree, I started working as an industrial design engineer. I was designing kitchens for resorts in the Caribbean, but the workdays felt endless. I decided to quit my job and dedicate myself to tattooing professionally. I applied for a work visa to Canada, and that’s where I really started to learn.
That moment marked a turning point in my professional life and traveling & tattooing have defined who I am today.
“Yours is more of an artistic way of complementing the natural movements of the body with shapes on the skin, rather than just an ornamental style, right?
For me, it doesn’t make sense to design a tattoo that doesn’t align with the body’s proportions or natural movements. I love Ornamental style and symmetry; visually, it’s stunning, and those are the types of tattoos I chose for myself.
But…
But I enjoy working on organic pieces much more; flowers, birds, nature in general. It gives me more freedom and fluidity, especially when doing freehand work and adapting the design to the body.
Tell me about ‘Arde Vereda’ in Blanes, near Girona? What kind of tattoo studio is it?
My studio, ‘Arde Vereda’ (IG: @ardevereda), is a refuge in the town where I was born, surrounded by my family and friends. It’s a quiet, private space that I share with two colleagues. We don’t argue, and there are no financial or business concerns here. Each of us manages independently, focusing only on creating and maintaining a great atmosphere with our clients during each session.
When I get bored of the harmony, I head out for guest spots!
If you could meet a big name in tattooing (present or past), who would you choose and what question would you ask him or her?
Any tattoo artist with over 20 years of experience is already admirable in my eyes. But if I had to choose, it would be the artist who tattooed my arms: Guy Le Tattooer (IG: @guyletatooer.one). Watching him work made me realize I still had years of learning ahead of me in what I consider to be the real world of tattooing.
And your question would be?
I’d ask him: Guy, how do you reach a point where you can create something directly, on the spot, without even pre-planning, and still produce a piece that’s so harmonious with the entire body? Is there a specific process for achieving balance and harmony in freehand designs, particularly when planning a bodysuit? Is there an unconscious or deliberate order to composition when designing something so intricate?
What is the biggest challenge you plan to set for 2025?
This year, I feel like I’ve developed trust in my creative process. I’ve become quite liberated. My goal is to keep building that confidence. Simplify my pieces subtly, focus on details but with a solid foundation that will stand the test of time.
And your last famous words are… ?
Learn from what already exists, but don’t let it condition your creative process and your identity.
