IN THIS FORMAT WE INTRODUCE YOU TO A TATTOO SHOP PRESENT IN THE “TATTOO ARTISTS YEARBOOKS”, A HANDY GUIDE TO THE TATTOO SHOPS IN EUROPE.
Interview with the Genoese tattoo artist to discover the so called “Wow Factor” that permeates her Dark Fantasy tattoos.
First question: Thea Lionetto, tattoo artist by chance?
Yeah, you could say that! I never expected this career to bring me so much satisfaction. After graduating from Art High School, I wasn’t sure what path to take. But once I got started, I worked hard and made sacrifices to keep learning. And I will continue to do so. —motherhood permitting! (smiles)
You describe your style as “Dark Fantasy” because you needed a solid answer when people asked, “What exactly do you tattoo?” Is that right?
Yeah! Let’s say that the Fantasy part of what I draw is found in my “baggage of inspirations”, which are cartoons that I watched as a kid, science fiction movies, mythological characters.
In fact, a lot of people when they see my works compare them to Magic cards.
The Dark part is because the experience has led me to have a vision of life that is not “peachy” and I tend to draw better when I’m in a melancholic and depressive mood. Once a tattoo artist from Madrid described one of my works as “Es tan lindo como obscure” (“It’s as beautiful as it is dark”. Ed) and I loved that!
Besides being a tattoo artist, you also organize talks and seminars where you try to bring out the best part of your audience. It’s no coincidence your events are called “Be Your Best”…
Yes. “Be Your Best” (IG: @theatattoo) is a project that has just started that I hope to take online as well. After attending several seminars, especially in the U.S., I decided to create my own, focusing on my artistic research and the search for an identity.
With social media playing such a big role in our lives, we often end up looking at others too much, counting “likes” under the image, making comparisons, and trying to be someone we are not. And it’s frustrating!
How to disagree with you there…
Well, my seminar crosses the psychological aspects of our work, By opening up and talking to each other with an open heart we try to understand the path that each of us needs to follow. It’s about accepting ourselves and discovering what our “Wow Factor” is.
If someone walked into your studio, ‘Abduction Art’ in Genova Pegli, what kind of atmosphere would they experience?
They would be faced with a choice of six tattoo artists, each with a completely different style, based on the request, and they would end up chatting and joking around with everyone, just like with friends (IG: @abductionart_t).
People who get tattooed with us always appreciate the family atmosphere.
When it comes to future tattoo conventions, do you have any unspoken wishes you’d like to see come true?
I would certainly like to participate at the ‘Gods of Ink’ (IG: @godsofinktattooconvention) in Frankfurt. In recent years, balancing conventions and motherhood has been a challenge, and being a mom is still my top priority I don’t have much help, so I’ve made huge sacrifices to attend the few conventions I’ve managed, often bringing my son with me. From next year I hope that things will get easier and that I can start travleling more again.
And what about tattoo art in general? Is there a project you’d like to realize or something you’re currently working on?
I started doing some Bio-organic/Biomech style work. I really like how Bio-organic/Biomechanic designs flow on the body and I would like to do more of it. I still don’t have much demand and I haven’t had much time to train properly. So I hope I succeed…
How do you juggle being a mother and a tattoo artist? Are you always super organized?
As I mentioned, being a mother and traveling is very demanding! Fortunately my husband will have fewer work commitments next year so he will be able to follow me; we are planning to return to America and attend more conventions. So far alone it has been tough, but in fact I haven’t done many tours as much as I would have liked.
They should put the ‘kindergarten’ service in the conventions! (laughs)
Last question: What are you reading these days? Do you have a bedside book that might inspire future tattoo designs?
I don’t have much time for books but I read a lot to my son Oliver. One of his books actually inspired my seminar, and I even read it in the opening of my seminars. It’s called “Pezzettino” (“Pezzettino/Little Piece”, an Italian children’s book written by Leo Lionni and first published in 1975. Ed)…
Follow ‘Abduction Art’ tattoo studio on Instagram: @abductionart_t
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