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The “sculptor” of human skin with a true love for Realistic Black ‘n’ Grey tattoos opens up in this interview based on a very simple concept: the secret is to feel good about what you create.
Eduardo, I know that you studied at ‘Accademia delle Belle Arti di Brera’ in Milan and currently work at ‘Artigiano Tatuatore’ the studio of Matteo Pasqualin in Brembate, near Bergamo. In between (I mean between your studies and your presence in this tattoo studio) what happened in your life?
I learned the basics of the realistic drawing technique in my studies as a teenager and then refined them in the Academy studying sculpture and life drawing.
My journey into the world of tattoo has led me to often change studios and in recent years I have been collaborating with ‘Artigiano Tatuatore’ (IG: @artigiano_tatuatore). Being able to stay in contact with great artists like Matteo Pasqualin (IG: @matteopasqualin) has meant that my tattoo technique has been able to make a leap in quality.
I have always thought that the best way to grow in tattoo art is to always put yourself on the line and never adapt to your comfort zone.
Chasing my greatest tattoo idols has meant that my desire to improve has brought me to where I am today and I hope may this desire for research never end.
I know you are a great lover of painting and sculpture. We all agree on painting because the skin of those who get tattooed is usually seen as a “canvas” in the hands of a tattoo artist; but is tattooing also a bit like “sculpting” the client’s skin with soft and precise shapes?
My artists on painting and sculpture are the great classics – Caravaggio for his unique lights and shadows and Michelangelo, aka the undisputed master of sculpture. It’s for him, Michelangelo, that in many of my works I depict the statues giving them that black impact and imperceptible shades.
So I create sculptural volumes on skin that can capture the gaze of the observer the same way as someone looks at a statue.
I try to consider the skin as rough marble from which an artwork can be created. You know, today the world of tattooing provides us with a huge choice of needles and machines, depending on the type of equipment and a very precise technique it can almost seem like sculpting. So yes I think that human skin can be sculpted!
Are there more tattoo artists or sculptors among your teachers or source of inspiration? And among sculptors, beyond Michelangelo Buonarroti, would you like to name others?
Among my favorite tattoo artists there are Carlos Torres (IG: @carlostorresart), Matteo Pasqualin (IG: @matteopasqualin), Thomas Carli Jarlier (IG: @thomascarlijarlier), and others so I can say that I have more implementing artists as source of inspiration. While as sculptors I would say Michelangelo, Canova, Bernini – these three are part of my all-time favorites list.
Does your use of colour depend only on the explicit request of the client? If it were up to you, would your Realistic style always be 100% Black and Gray or do you like to vary it every now and then?
For the majority of my young career in the world of tattooing I have tried to express all my work in Black and Grey, but I can tell you that in the last period I have been evaluating the use of colour.
It happened on some occasions to be able to do color tattoos but they are technically very different from the classic Black and Grey pieces. To be able to make a nice color tattoo you need very light skin so as to be able to express the true brilliance of the color itself. In any case I would like to include colors in my works, maybe something new could be born in the next future.
What is your opinion of Italian and international tattoo conventions?
I can say that I haven’t done many conventions so far. I’ve done most of them in Italy and only one abroad. The one that gave me the most satisfaction was the ‘Milan Tattoo Convention’ because ever since I started tattooing I wanted to do it and being able to be there as a tattoo artist made me proud! In my opinion it’s one of the most beautiful in Italy due to its importance and the names that participate – an event not to be missed every year.
Regarding the international tattoo conventions they give the possibility of meeting different artists and make new friendships!
I know that, in terms of appointments, you prefer to dedicate yourself to only one client at a time, not adding the morning shift to the afternoon one, avoiding meeting two people in a row. So I guess you need to really connect with the person you’re tattooing, right?
When I did the first seminar with Matteo Pasqualin (IG: @ matteopasqualin) I learned the dedication and concession that existed between the tattoo artist and the client. Every client who comes to you trusts blindly in your art and I can’t do anything but give my best to be able to make a great Realistic tattoo.
I must have all the time and concentration at my disposal. In that period I make sure that a friendship can also be created between me and my client because the tattoo looks more beautiful through the client’s eyes if the session was also pleasant despite the pain.
Do you have a life philosophy applied to the world of tattooing?
I think that the objective of this profession is to feel good about what you create, always giving your best because no matter what happens, your work will always be on another person. And that person will remember you forever!
Are you satisfied with the present times in artistic terms?
Nowadays unfortunately we are losing this concept of “giving your best to the client” due to the exponential growth of social media which in many cases show works that are not 100% real and give all the importance to how many likes a photo of a freshly done tattoo could get. I hope that this bad trend in the use of social media doesn’t get worse. By the way I will continue on my path because, perhaps in a few years, I would like to see my clients still satisfied with the work I’ve done despite the time.
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