Issue 10 Vaughn Ara by 247inkmag

Cover

Vaughn Ara

Models! Kimmie S Cody Kaitlyn B

Artist

Kate Perets, Jim Leclerc, Parry Chotipradit, Tobias Urbano, Leonardo Tassi, Ksu Arrow, Fabian Hellberg, Leonardo Gonzalez, Mike Geyer, And Douglas Prudente!

Staff Steve Azzara (RIP) President/Editor in Chief/MFIC Pamela Sellers Co owner/President/Writer Matt Sellers Writer/Creative director/Editor

Contributors

Cypress Bates Video Journalist/Writer Mike Johnston Concert/ Event Photography Santelmo (Saint) Vazquez

Cover Girl-Vaughn Ara Photographer-John Keck Special Thanks to... Daniel Kearney, Santelmo (Saint) Vazquez, Mark Lawrence, Shawn Alexander, Tommy’s Supplies, New England Tattoo Expo, Sellers Ink Tattoo, Sean Hightower, Walt Anderson, Carnival of Ink, The Most famous studio, Urbans edge tattoo after care. New England tatoo expo

Pro Team

Lydia Bruno, Pammy Sellers, Pepe Carire, Jimmy Dalessio, Ninetoes, Nikko Gould, Josh Paul, Mike Geyer

TOC 6-Kimmie Spiz 15-Kate Perets 30-Jim Leclerc 43-Parry Chotipradit 56-Kaitlyn Burns 64-Tobias Urbano 76-Vaughn Ara 84-Leonardo Tassi 98-Ksu Arrow 110-Fabian Hellberg 125-Cody 134-Leonardo Gonzalez 150-Mike Geyer 162-Douglas Prudente

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KIMMIE S 6

Photographer-@KSpiz Enterprise Model-@ann.kimmie Tattoos done by-@kilinkstr14

Kate Perets

USA

Artist-@kateperets_tattoo Interviewed by-@msellersink13

Kate Where are you born and raised? Tell us a little bit about growing up what was life like?

When I was a child, I drew a lot always and everywhere. I think I was born with colored pencils in my hand. When I went to school, I started drawing on desks for pupils. I didn’t realize it was bad. It was Russia and in 2000, the country was still in short supply, if you know the history. My mother was called to school and I thought that I would be scolded for my drawings. But my teacher, on the contrary, praised my creativity, but said that it should be organized correctly. So I started going to a drawing school for children. I studied there for 9 years. I think this is the first important stage in my work. When I almost graduated from school, the second important event happened. At that time, I did not have the Internet and in order to find some information or images on some topic, I had to buy a disk for this. I often went to such shops. And one day I found a CD that was like the Best Tattoos. About 50 tattoos were collected there. It’s probably hard to imagine what I’m talking about. It’s just 50 random tattoo photos on a CD. I chose some of the most impressive ones and copied them. Then I drew my sketches and once drew a sketch of a cat for my mom’s friend. I was proud of it.

At what age do you remember getting into art? And can you remember what made you want to become a tattoo artist? Time passed, I graduated from school and moved to another city alone. I was 16 years old and enrolled in a design college. Studying was very difficult and it was the first time I lived alone, so I had to forget about drawing sketches for a while. When I graduated from college, I took exams and entered the university to become a design teacher. I started studying and working as a teacher as a newbie. My salary was very ridiculous and I had to look for another job after a few months. I started working as a regular salesman in a store. I got a little capital and I decided to do what I like. I immediately remembered about tattoos. I found the most expensive tattoo studio and on the same day, instead of lunch, I went to a personal meeting with the owner of the studio. Here it is necessary to clarify that tattoo training in Russia takes place completely differently. A person comes to the studio and shows his drawings and skills. If the boss is satisfied with everything, then the student pays money for the course and starts studying. The study lasts only a month. And then it’s almost impossible for this person to find a job in the studio. You need to have some kind of magic to get to work in a tattoo parlor with such a portfolio. I was accepted to these courses. I was so happy, I absolutely fell in love with this activity. I liked every stage, drawing a sketch, coming up with colors, transfers, tattoos. Everything seemed to me absolutely magical and most interesting. The only moment made me anxious. How can I stay in this charming world. The answer came by itself. My teacher noticed my talent and fire in my eyes and gave his recommendations to the boss. Studios usually don’t leave students as new artists because it makes a lot of hassle and problems. But this studio made an exception for me. And so I felt very grateful and responsible. That’s how my professional path began. It was April 2014. It was my first official working day. From that day on, I never worked anywhere else. This was the first point of my agreement with myself. It is worth noting that my relatives were against it and considered it a bad idea. But it only motivated me more. I wanted to prove to everyone that this is not just a hobby or a joke. I wanted to become a professional and an expert.

How long have you been tattooing for now and how has the journey been going? At the moment I’ve been doing this for almost 10 years and I live in New York. I win prizes at festivals, I participate as a judge, and I am published in such a great magazines like this. I have a O1 visa for Talented people and I’m proud of it. I was born in a small town in Russia, there was no Internet and no hope. No one supported me in my thoughts about tattoos. But soon I will be 30 years old and I live there, where I always dreamed of visiting. I want this article to let you, the reader, understand that if you are waiting for something right now, then this is a SIGN to start doing it. Starting Today will be better than starting tomorrow or in a month. Make this call, write this message, look for the right information right now! Achieving your goals is an incredible feeling! I wish you good luck!

So you do big bold beautiful tattoos in many different styles, and very good sticker’s, just so many cool tattoos, what got you into all the colorful styles you do? I couldn’t figure out how to do it for a long time. It’s as difficult as coming up with a new color or note. It’s almost impossible. Plus it should be interesting to other people as well. In fact, you need to come up with something that everyone will want to have. The task is incredible. But I had a great idea. I just created a folder on my computer desktop and saved everything I like for a whole week. Absolutely random things, without thinking about the structure or combination of these things. A week later, I opened this folder and imagined that I was seeing these pictures for the first time and tried to integrate it into the system. For example, I had a lot of bright colors, a lot of beautiful female portraits, makeup, stickers, graffiti. I tried to create some sketches based on what I saved, of course they were drafts. But I have been using this foundation for several years, constantly trying new things and clarifying details and cutting off excess. Today I feel proud when I see messages from customers: something in your style. It’s like a sweet elixir to my ears. I understand that absolutely everything I did was not in vain and I’m on the right way . I want to do more and better. 21

What is a style a tattooing that you prefer not to do and why? I am categorically against Polenesian tattoos. It’s been very popular for the last 10 years and really looks cool. Emphasizes muscles and stuff. But I think that an artist should know the history of this tattoo well. Understand the history of this country and much more. Also, the owner of the tattoo must have some kind of Polynesian roots, it seems to me. A person cannot simply decide to make himself a mix of random elements from this style. As far as I know, each element means something. For example, some part of the tattoo may say that the family is engaged in fishing, or that a person from a family of hunters.

What would be one of the most memorable moments in your career be? I think the very first day when I tried to do a tattoo. I remember that feeling. You know, there are funny videos where children are given chocolate to taste for the first time. And they’re like “whaaat?!?!?”. These were the feelings I had. I realized that this is something very interesting and new and I always want to be here. What do you like to do for fun outside of work? Hobbies Do artists do anything other than tattoos? I’m kidding. I have a million hobbies. My favourite: I like to paint with oil on canvas. Read books, real paper books. I love classical literature. Museums. I can stay there for hours in front of one painting. I love buying gifts. When I’m old and rich, I’ll find fake friends who will be with me for money. And I will be with them to give them gifts. And no one can stop me! 23

Who are some of your biggest influences in the tattoo and art industry? If I list all the people I respect like artists we won’t have enough magazine. But I will say that the most important thing was the beginning of my career. And the biggest role in this was by my tattoo teacher. His name is Alexander Ermakov, he is my teacher, my friend and my inspiration. 24

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Jim Leclerc Montreal

Artist-@jimleclerctattoo Interviewed by-msellersink13

You are currently located in Montreal Canada, are you born and raised there? Tell us a little bit about yourself what was it like growing up. Actually no! I was born in Lahr Germany. My father was in the Canadian military, so I was born there during the time he was deployed for 4 years. After my parents moved to Quebec City. Being a lonely child, my father being away often for the military, a full time working mother, I had a lot of time to develop my passion for creation, drawing and music. Always loved the feeling of creating something, enjoying the process and the satisfaction of finishing a project and then studying it. Drawing is definitely the one thing that followed me all my life. That’s what brought me to tattooing. I’ve been in Montreal for over 6 years now. Can you remember what originally got you into art and tattooing? I had my first tattoo during High school. And I was so obsessed with the process of it. Thought it was such a cool way to live your life from your art. So one day my father bought me a tattoo kit on Ebay. Think it was around 150$ for the full kit. Machines, power supply, everything! What a horrible idea! What was your apprenticeship like was it a difficult one or easy going? I will be honest, I never had a proper apprenticeship. I learned at my first time on pig skin. I went to see a butcher to ask if he could prepare them for me. (Good thing we have stuff like pound of flesh these days) Then I did one for my father. Then my father’s friends. And then some people up for free tattoos. Etc. Then I went to shops with my first portfolio. Was asking so many questions and trying to get tips and help to know what I needed to improve. Definitely not saying it was the best way to learn. I think I lost so much time by trying to understand what I learned by mistakes. 33

4. How long have you been tattooing for and how has then journey been for you? I’ve been tattooing for over 10 years now. I’ve done a lot of everything at the beginning. I think I started to ‘’specialize’’ in black and grey about 1 and a half after starting. But then I was still doing lots of different styles. I still think about trying lots of different styles and was hoping to get comfortable in most styles. (Which was really not the case) You do incredible and very detailed black and grey work, what got you into that certain style? : Since I was a child, I always loved doing pencil drawings and charcoal later on. I tried a bit of painting few times but never was that much into it. I was drawing the covers of my favorite albums and portraits. I just always liked realism. So when started doing tattoos I was really hoping one day to do black and grey realism everyday, Do you ever get to work with color tattoos? Not really anymore. Sometimes like for some animal’s eyes, flowers etc. But really not of fan of working with colors. My color theory is not the best and I find the process complicated and messy. Who are some of your biggest influences in the tattoo and art world? My first big influence in tattooing was Carlos Torres. I think it was the first time I saw the work of someone that I couldn’t understand how good that was. I was so impressed by his work and still am! For me He is definitely in some of the firsts artists to take tattooing and put it toward the tattoo world that we know now. I love the work of neon judas. His contrast and designs are out of this world! Black Sanchez, Elliot Kohek, Ryan Evans just to name a few of many! 34

What do you like to do for fun outside of work? Hobbies ect…

I love to get information on geek collectibles stuff! Star Wars, Batman, teenage mutant ninja turtles, power rangers, movie stuff. They are doing cool stuff now. Building Legos. Reading on sneakers, music. Also and mainly a huge movie fan! Almost watching one everyday

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paRrY cHotipradit USA

Artist-@parrychotipradit Shop-luckybirdtattoo Interviewed by-msellersink13 43

Parry

So you are currently in Annapolis MD, are you originally from there? Tell us a little bit about yourself? Yes, I am located in Annapolis, Maryland. I have lived in Annapolis for almost 20 years now and have been tattooing in Annapolis for the last 14 years as well. My name is Parry Chotipradit. I am 40 years old and I am a father, a family man, a tattooer of nearly 20 years and the owner of Lucky Bird Tattoo in Annapolis, Maryland. I am best known for my large scale custom new school, illustrative style tattoos. I am an artist that takes pride in creating my own world and characters to tell a story with my tattoos and just having a fun, positive time with my clients in the process! So did you have a tough apprenticeship or an easy going one? I started my apprenticeship over 20 years ago and it definitely was a different time in tattooing compared to now. Looking back some aspects were maybe a bit tough and some not so bad but to be honest I was no stranger to multiple jobs and working hard from cooking in restaurants to construction so being in a tattoo shop and getting an opportunity for a career doing something that I thought was so cool was just so exciting that I didn’t mind any of the process at all. At that time shops were more based off of tattooing flash and doing walk-ins. So, the apprenticeship was more about learning the tattooing process more than about learning about drawing, unfortunately. Which left figuring out a lot on my own when it came to drawing and probably made to a slower start in that department. Outside of my duties of helping clients, cleaning, scrubbing tubes and helping the artist with anything they needed, I would get the designs ready for their walk-in tattoos. That’d consist of making any changes or adding anything to the design, getting lettering ready etc. then I’d do the line drawings and make the stencils for them so when they were done with the current tattoo they would be able to just start the next one saving them time. I was doing a little more than what was asked of me by doing some of those things but I learned a lot about line work and stencils and the limitations of what was possible in a tattoo design. This was also in a time of using coil machines and before premade needles and cartridges. So I had to learn how to work on coil machines and I also had to learn how to solder and make needles. Again I was having fun with the whole learning process so it was a blast and very exciting time in my life! 45

You own Lucky bird tattoo if I am correct? How long have you had that shop, and how is it going for you? Yes, I am the proud owner of Lucky Bird Tattoo. I opened the doors to Lucky Bird 14 years ago. Things are going great, we have a great crew of true friends that we have all worked together for many years. It’s really nice to have such a close group of people to work with. Of course owning a business comes with its fair share of challenges but I just never lose site of my goal of delivering the best quality tattoos and giving a great experience to our clients. My goal from day one was to push for the best quality tattoos while having a fun, professional and safe place for all of our clients and staff and I am proud to say that 14 years later that we are still doing that! It looks like your main style is new school, what got you in to that certain style and why? Yes I predominantly work in my version of new school / illustrative style. Since I was a child I was always more drawn towards cartoon styles and things that just felt creative and bit out of the ordinary. To be honest at the time I first started tattooing I wasn’t aware of the term “new school”, I just thought I was drawing cartoons haha. This was before the abundance of art floating around on the internet and social media. The main source of tattoos I saw were what was getting done in the shop that I was in and in magazines at the time. It didn’t take long to start wanting to see more tattoos that were pushing the boundaries and I found that by checking out every tattoo magazine that I could get my hands on and going to tattoo conventions as a spectator just to be in a room with the select few out there at the time that we’re doing tattoos that were pushing the boundaries past the typical flash art and I always caught myself so intrigued with the new school guys that were fore-fronting that style at the time. So that was when I really fell in love with new school tattooing and even though I am big on learning all styles, that was the direction that I steadily pushed towards every opportunity that I could. 48

Who are some of your biggest influences in the art and tattoo industry? I always say I had 3 real big influences in the beginning when I was just starting to find out who some of the new school guys were over 20 years ago and that was Jime Litwalk, Tony Ciavarro and Gunnar. I found Jime first and was just so captivated with how fun his designs were and so packed full of style then that lead me to finding Tony and I felt the same about him as well and they both had such bright, playful designs that you didn’t typically see at the time. After finding those two, MySpace came out (yes I’m dating myself) but that was the beginning of social media and all of a sudden I could discover and see artist from all over the country. That’s when I found Gunnar’s work and man that blew me away! He had this new school thing but it was so different at the same time. I didn’t know how to put it in words at the time because my knowledge was so limited but I just felt like it’s got this obvious new school, exaggerated proportions thing going on but it seemed more realistic at the same time and color pallets that weren’t as obvious. He was also doing this on a larger scale that I hadn’t seen with new school work yet and that gave me a whole new goal to work towards. Fast forward years later the other biggest influence to me happened in the 2nd year of opening my shop. Rodd Diaz came into my life and ended up moving out of state to come work with me. This is the first time I personally got to work with an artist on a daily basis that could draw and paint this well. Me and Rodd became very close and being around him all of the time pushed me so much to take some steps backwards and learn more art fundamentals. When I look back that was one the most formative times for me as an artist because it pushed me and I grew so much from being around Rodd and I am lucky enough to still get to work with him all of these years later and call him a brother. I owe all of these guys a huge thank you for the inspiration and I’m flattered to be friends and peers with many of them now. There are of course many other amazing artist that I have come across their work or become friends with that have amazing and inspiring art but those are the few I always name because of how pivotal they were in my learning process in my formative years.

What do you like to do for fun outside of work? Hobbies ect… My favorite thing in the world is my son so for the last 15 years anything with him is on the top of my list! I love playing guitar and making music, that was my love before art and tattooing. Luckily enough my son plays guitar as well so it’s been really awesome to share music with him. I have an absolutely wonderful woman in my life. She is patient with how much I work on designs at home but spending any free time with her cooking, eating and watching shows and movies with her is always great. She gets me out of the habit of just working all of the time and reminds me to experience new things and places and I am grateful for that. We also have our little crazy dog, Presley that doesn’t seem to let there be a dull moment in the house either haha.

What is one of the most memorable moments in your career?

Aw man, that’s hard to put my finger on one exact moment… there has been so many little and big things that have happened over the last 20 years making the next thing possible. Obviously there were some big moments like winning awards, getting sponsorships, having magazine interviews and whatnot. But just the overall experience and pride that has come with learning the craft and pushing myself as an artist and at the same time making some life long friends through tattooing has been the most memorable and important part to me. You can check out my work and follow me on all social media @parrychotipradit and also on my website www.luckybirdtattoo.com

Parry C

Is there a style out there that you dislike and why? No, I don’t dislike any style. I think all styles can be absolutely great if done right and have a time and place depending on the tattoo. 54

Kaitlyn Burns

Model-@bostonfreklz Photographer-@pattiannephotography Hair and makeup-@rinhairpin

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Tobias Urbano SPAIN

Artist-@tobiasurbano.tattoo Interviewed by-@msellersink13

So you currently work in Spain are you originally from there? Tell us a little bit about yourself, and what was it like growing up? I was born in Argentina, in a town in Patagonia called Puerto Deseado. I came to Spain when I was very young, so I grew up here in Alicante, where I currently live. I had a good childhood surrounded by good friends and spending all my time in the street. I started painting graffiti at a very early age, this was something that taught me almost everything I know about drawing and thanks to this I have met some of my best friends. How long have you been in the tattoo industry and how has your journey been? I started tattooing in 2017. Some of my graffiti friends started tattooing and I became more and more interested in that world. I would always go to see how one of my best friends, Hornet , tattooed at his home and he would explain to me the whole tattooing process. Until one day he lent me his old machine and with what I learned I started to tattoo little things to my friends. Little by little I started tattooing people in my neighborhood and that’s how I learned. I have always drawn and painted, so tattooing was a new working tool where I could put my ideas and what I like on people, so I loved the idea of doing that. 67

I see that you mainly do black and grey fine line tattoos, stippling, and micro tattoos, what got you into that style? do you ever get asked to do other styles of tattooing? Since I started tattooing and researching, I have always been interested in white and gray tattoos with fine lines, the Chicano style and how artists achieved those results using only one needle. I have taken that technique of fine line work and shades of gray to my cartoon style, which is what I do most nowadays. I also love to do more classic and traditional motifs but still using the single needle. I always adapt to many other tattoo styles and to what the client wants, Who are some of your biggest in- always knowing my limitations withfluences in the tattoo and art indusin each one.

try?

My biggest influences have always been cartoonists, especially from the Golden Age of American animation, since I have consumed a lot of that content since I was a child, and also Pop culture. I am always in constant search of references, whether in animation books, movies, toy stores, posters etc. And also traveling helps me find new references and I try to look for stores and places where I can get new ideas. I have also been influenced a lot by my friends from graffiti to tattooing.

besides the style you do the most of what are some of your favorite style to look at? Personally I really like the traditional American style and the Japanese style. But I really enjoy seeing all kinds of different styles and I follow a lot of different artists as there are many new styles that I also love. I see you are traveling to Barcelona at the end of this month (september) do you travel alot for work? if so where are some of your favorite locations? I try to move around as much as possible, I have been to different cities in Spain and Europe. My favorites are Valencia, Barcelona and London. I plan to travel to other countries and continents. I would love to take my work to the States too since most of my influence comes from there. I love having the opportunity to get to know different cities and people through my work. what are some of your hobbies outside of work? what do you like to do for fun? Besides tattooing, one of my biggest hobbies is still graffiti. And outside the art world, as I live in a beach town, I spend a lot of time practicing sea sports, like scuba diving, kayaking, etc. I enjoy sports a lot. Also watching movies or reading books related to animation. And in my day to day when I’m not working I like to take the opportunity to see my friends who also share many of my hobbies. 70

Vaughn Ara USA

Model-@vaughnara33 Photographer-@johnlkeck

Leonardo F Tassi Brazil

Artist-@lftdead Interviewed by-@msellersink13

Leonardo Tell us a little about your self, where you work where are you from and what was it like growing up? My name is Leonardo Fukuyama, I’m 25 years old, I was born in a small city near São Paulo called Atibaia, but I lived in that city for a short time because my parents went to Japan to work and I went to live with my grandparents in another city further away , called Marília. This is all a long story haha I currently serve a private studio in São Paulo, called MN Tattoo Studio, owned by a great and important Brazilian tattoo artist called Mauro Nunes. I’ve always been very interested in drawing and knowing that today I can make a living “drawing” on people’s skin and, on top of that, being recognized for it, is very gratifying. How long have you been tattooing for and how has your journey been? It’s been 6 years since I started tattooing, it goes by so quickly that it seems like it all started yesterday. At the time I became interested in tattooing, I lived in Guarulhos, and it was at home that I got my first tattoo. Soon after, decide to look for a Tattoo shop to start as an Apprentice. My first tattoo shop was Rosa Preta Tattoo (Guarulhos), I spent 1 year and 7 months there and that’s where I met Carlos. It was with him that I actually learned to draw, Then I passed by 3 more shop in São Paulo until I got to where I am, which were Skink, Nine Ink, and the famous Scorpions Tattoo. I’ve been very lucky and I’m very grateful to all the places I’ve been.

You do beautiful dark art/ black work what got you into that certain style? What inspires you to come up with the art? I’ve always really enjoyed this dark part, that which is unknown and unexplained. I remember going to rock band shows a lot and seeing those drawings on t-shirts and thinking “I want to do those drawings, I want to make a living doing that!” I started drawing when I was 16, at the time I used Photoshop, then I decided to focus more on drawing on paper. Do you ever get asked to do full color pieces? Several times, both in illustration and tattoo. I don’t like to limit myself and say that I only do Blackwork or obscure tattoos. I keep in mind that the more I can learn and diversify, the better it will be for me. Filter everything that is best in each style and apply it to what I already do. This way, I can expand my knowledge and improve the style I love doing most. What I know I won’t be able to deliver good work on, I prefer to leave to someone who do it.

Do you ever travel for work and if so where are some of your favorite locations? In these 6 years, I traveled a lot for work, many cities in Brazil and other countries in Europe. One of my favorite places was in Poland, in Krakow.

Who are some of your biggest influences in the tattoo and art world? When I started tattooing, I didn’t know artists who did something more obscure in tattooing, so my references were illustrators like GodMachine, Abracombieink, Lovellart, Alphonse Mucha, H.J. Ford, Doré, Junji Ito... In tattooing this has only expanded, Tim Biedron, Grindesign, Lipa, Eckel, Waterstreetphatom… and many others.

What do you like to do for fun outside of work? Hobbies? Everyone I know knows that my hobby is playing Yu-gi-oh. Many of my paintings and drawings are light references to some of my favorite letters. Additionally, ride BMX and Skateboard. Chess haha Do you have any big goals for the rest of the year or near future? I had a goal since I started tattooing that I would go to Japan and tattoo there one day. This will happen at the beginning of next year!! I’m very excited and looking forward to it arriving soon. I love Japanese culture so much, I still will draw a lot of Yōkais!! Haha Furthermore, I intend to open my own store in the future to serve together with my girlfriend Pamela. But I’m still deciding the details calmly. 91

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What inspired you to open a tattoo shop? My biggest inspiration when opening my shop was my family, who had supported me since day one of my journey in the tattoo industry.

Can you share a story behind the establishment of the tattoo shop? When I first started, I had zero plans to open my own shop. I was in a single artist studio doing my own thing, then I had more contact and more people that wanted to work alongside me in my journey, so after a good discussion with my wife we decided to make that move.

Were there specific influences or experiences that led you to opening your own tattoo shop? Yes, I would have to say it was when I started getting invited to other artist owned shops (Breaking Skin Tattoo, Bridgeport OH and Black Forest Tattoo, Scottdale PA) to do guest spots I started traveling a lot outside of our little town, with the new friends I made in the industry.

Did any artists inspire the direction to open your shop? Yes, 100%. Whenever the idea came across my desk, I reached out and talked to a lot of guys that have owned their own shops and have for a while. I wanted to get the good, the bad, and the ugly from them, on all the things that they have gone through over the past years of being a shop owner. Dennis Gilbert Owner of Breaking Skin Tattoo, OH Doni Camp Owner of Black Forest Tattoo, PA Dre King Owner of Ink Kreationz, OH These three were and still are my top three contacts when it comes to anything I do in this industry and with my shop. They may not have seen it all, but they sure have a good idea of what the future holds.

How do you see your shop growing in the future? Right out the gate we opened our door with two artists (one being myself), a piercer and an apprentice working under me. I have high hopes on what’s to come for our new shop, with all the friends and family I now have in this industry. Keep your eyes open - Big Things to Come from Tattoo Cartel Company.

KSU Arrow USA

Artist-@ksuarrow_tattoo Interviewed by-Msellersink13

KSU Arrow So for starters tell me a little about yourself? Where are you born and what was it like growing up? I was born in a small village somewhere nowhere in Russia, but grew up in Moscow. I don’t think that growing up in Moscow was different than in any other countries, maybe except the ability to endure the cold. I have been drawing my whole life, ever since the day I first held a pencil in my hands. My parents were supportive, and my mom is a big fan of art, so she took me to various art museums when I was a kid. At one point, I considered becoming a film director, but it’s pretty tough in Russia. They think you have to be at least 25 years old. So, my second choice was graphic designer, and that’s what I ended up studying. When did you realize that you wanted to be a tattoo artist? I can’t say I ever “realized” it. I became a tattoo artist basically by accident. My friend Sergei Jaer started doing tattoos and I helped him with his bookings. He always told me I should try it too, so I tried - and here we are. How long have you been tattooing for and how has this journey been for you? It’s been 10 years, almost 10 years. I wouldn’t say it was easy, but it wasn’t so hard either. I traveled a lot, did tattoos in more than 20 countries, met so many nice people, learned new things, tasted variety of food. Tried many different styles and techniques. So I would say it was fun, kinda challenging sometimes - but fun.

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Your styles are really cool, for our readers what would you call the certain styles you do and how did you get into it? Since I don’t work in just one style, it’s difficult to summarize them all with one name. However, people often refer to my work as colorful and full of texture. If we were to separate them, I could probably name 4-5 styles that I do: painting reproduction, brushstrokes, embroidery, and stickers. And I often do cover-ups too. I would mention the medieval tattoos, but I feel it is pretty close to the painting reproduction, because I don’t draw it but copy medieval artists onto people’s skin. I would love to do medieval and meme tattoos more often, but unfortunately, they are not so popular.

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Is there a style of tattooing you wouldn’t do and why? Basically, anything except the styles I mentioned in the previous point. Specifically, any black or black and grey tattoos. I only do them when there is an original reference in this style, such as artist sketches or like Picasso’s “Guernica” painting. Or if we mix color and black and grey. And I don’t love to make “muted” color tattoos. I love making bright and solid tattoos, and they tend to heal more pale anyway, so it makes sense (at least for me) to make bright ink from the beginning.

Do you have any tattoos? If so, which one is your favorite, and which one was the most painful? I have several tattoos, and most of them are unfinished If you ask other artists who the worst clients are, most of them would answer: “tattoo artists”. I’m really bad with pain and I hate it. And I feel that the longer I make tattoos, the less I want to get one. But I feel it’s just a temporary feeling which will go away one day. I have a Star Wars sleeve, an abstract big piece on my leg, and a couple of small tattoos here and there. Surprisingly, my most painful one was the one on my ankle. What do you like to do for fun outside of work? Any hobbies? I am into video games. I own three consoles and a PC. In my free time, I like to play games while watching anime or a TV show. And I love to travel. I really love exploring and learning about new places. It’s like in RPG games, where you have locations with question marks that you’re eager to discover. 104

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Any big plans coming up for you? Because of Covid and things going on in my country, it has been hard for me to travel for the last couple of years. I hope it will be easier in the future. But for now, you can find me in New York or Los Angeles.

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Fabian USA

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Artist-@fabi.art.ink Interviewed by-@msellersink13

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Fabian

Where were you born and raised? Tell us a little bit about yourself and what was it like growing up? I grew up in a village in the north of Germany and currently live in a medium-sized German city called Bremen. However, New York is one of my absolute favorite cities and my biggest dream is to build a life there with my family. How long have you been tattooing for and how has the journey been for you? Even before I made the decision to become a tattoo artist 5 years ago, I spent all my money on my own tattoos and was in the studio myself whenever I could for new ink. Lucky me got the chance to become a shop manager in a popular studio in town which made me move there. Slowly but surely I started learning how to tattoo and since then far more than 100 people wear art from me on their bodies. Their whole life long. Isn’t that exciting?! Best decision ever. How is working in Germany in the Tattoo Business? Do you think it differs from the states? I didnt work in America yet, but have met many tattoo artists over the years during my stays in New York etc. and also spent time with them in the studios. My impression is that tattoo artists in America are appreciated as artists, while here in Germany one is perceived more as a service provider. Both has certainly, like everything, advantages and disadvantages, but the thought appeals to me to be able to work much more creatively in America. 112

You specialize in black and grey art, what got you into that certain style? And do you ever get to work with colors? I started with heavy blackwork, i.e. blackening a lot of surface, because I personally liked it. Over time, this became too monotonous for me and mostly you have to cover something with blackwork. But I wanted to create something new and then moved in the direction of sketchwork. My sketchworks became more and more realistic I once realized. That evolved over the years. Now I am mostly doing realistic tattoos in black and grey. However, I am also doing color tattoos every now and then upon request, to be frank.

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Who are some of your biggest influences in the art and tattoo industry? There is someone who has both lit the tattoo fire in me and awakened the dream of becoming a tattoo artist, his name is Luke Wessman from the States. Luke is a tattoo artist and I was able to watch him draw and be creative. At that time Instagram was not that big and more of a platform for vacation photos. Luke gave me the feeling that I had private lessons with him. My second role model is tattoo artist Kody Richard Adams, who never fails to impress me with his perfectly realistic yet simple tattos. He works without much distraction in the motifs, which means each individual motif gets a prominent, exclusive place and stands only for itself. This is very brave, because just no distraction takes place. What is one of the biggest accomplishments in the tattoo industry you have done? I have the feeling just in the past year to have grown a lot, which has a noticeable effect on my work. This progression towards more confidence in my abilities are a game changer for me and therefore for the tattoos I stitch. The bottom line is that I can make a living doing what I love. What are some of your hobbies outside of work? I am the singer of a metal band called Tosh. We have been around for 11 years now. We released our first music video this year and our songs are available on Apple Music & Spotify. I’m really proud of that, after all we all have families and schedules, so to still keep at it is really cool. 116

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Do you have any big plans coming up? And or in the near future?

Yes!! Maybe you have already read it between the lines, I want to go to New York with my family, live and work there. I am currently trying to get a visa and maybe it will work out. Please keep your fingers crossed.

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Leonardo Gonzalez

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Artist-@leoink_tattoos Interviewed by-@msellersink13

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Leonardo So you are currently located in Los Angeles, are you born and raised in California? Tell us a bit about yourself what was it like growing up? I have lived in Los Angeles for a year and a half, although I was born in Venezuela and spent most of my life there until I was 28. I then emigrated to Colombia, where I lived for 6 years before finally having the opportunity to move to the United States. Joined. My tattoo training was completely empirical and was based on hard study, dedication and effort. Learn the art of tattooing through various means, such as seminars, videos, and lots of practice with friends. Furthermore, I have an innate gift for drawing, painting and understanding everything related to art and its characteristics, which motivated me to continue growing in this field. Traveling and observing many artists tattooing has been a fundamental part of my growth in the world of tattooing. Inspired by his techniques and styles, he managed to achieve my objectives and goals. My greatest sources of inspiration to pursue my goals and objectives in the art world have been my beautiful children and my family, who have always encouraged me to do my best and continually grow.”

When I first heard from you, you told me that you have been tattooing for 13 years, how has your journey been so far? Approximately 12/13 years ago, I started this journey in the world of tattooing. It was a challenging path, especially in my beginnings, since my country lacked resources and getting tattoo materials was extremely difficult. Also, back then, The tattoo was not as popular as it is today. As I progressed in my career, I made the decision to stop spending money on unnecessary things and instead invest more in necessary products and materials. This was not easy, since most of my supplies had to be imported from the United States, which entailed a complicated and expensive process. One of the peculiarities of my path is that I never had a mentor or someone to teach me. I learned everything I know on my own, which made it a long and challenging path. However, I continue to persevere and constantly improve. One of the things that pushed me to improve and grow was the opportunity to be part of your magazine. “I am grateful for this opportunity and hope that my story and work inspire others in this exciting world of tattooing. Can you remember when you first got into art? If I remember correctly, in the years 2010-2011, I got involved in the world of tattooing through my best friend, who now rests in peace. At that time, he was taking his first steps in this discipline and had purchased a machine kit through Amazon. I became interested in tattooing and suggested we learn together. He graciously lent me his machines, and in exchange, I shared a percentage of each client’s income as compensation for the use of his tools. Eventually, I was able to save enough to purchase my own kit. Since then, I noticed that I had talent in my first strokes, which marked the beginning of my career in the tattoo world.

It looks like you mainly do black and gray and color realism pieces, What got you into that style? From the beginning, I was always attracted to working on color tattoos. However, as I traveled and met more artists and people in the industry, I realized the high demand for shadow tattoos. This observation motivated me to learn the shading technique to gain versatility in creating tattoos. For me, both color tattoos and shadow tattoos are the most challenging and captivating styles in the art world. Learning and mastering both techniques has been an enriching and fundamental journey in my career. What are other styles of tattooing you enjoy doing and or looking at? What attracts me most in the world of tattoos are those with a hyper-realistic style, with vibrant colors and exceptional details. I am passionate about the neatness and impeccable finish of these tattoos, and I believe that the more realistic they are, the better. In particular, hyper-realistic tattoos in warm tones capture my attention and admiration. These tattoos are true masterpieces that stand out for their quality and perfection. Who are some of your biggest influences in the tattoo and art industry? -dmitriysamohin sivak_ -mihail_kogut -o_kharin -tattoosstevebutcher -yomicoart -robertocarlosart_tattoo -emerssonp -nikkohurtado -Tu_den88

What are some of your biggest accomplishments since you have been tattooing? My greatest achievements in life have been the happiness of my family, financial stability, the opportunity to travel and meet incredible people, especially other artists. Furthermore, acquiring sponsors has been a significant achievement in my career, allowing me to continue growing in the art world. And no less important, I have had the satisfaction of fulfilling most of my dreams, which fills me with gratitude and motivation to continue moving forward. If you could Tattoo, anyone in the world who would be, and why? I would love to get tattoos with artists who specialize in neotraditional art, since this style is precisely the one that attracts me the most to decorate my body. Neotraditional captivates me with its vivid hues, distinctive style, and combination of lines and color. Although I also enjoy appreciating and tattooing in the style of realism, on my body I have a strong preference for neo-traditional art. I don’t have a specific artist in mind, as I value the diversity and talent of various tattoo artists in this style. I am excited by the idea of wearing these works of art on my skin.

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Mike Geyer USA

247Ink Mag Pro Team member

Artist-@ink_by_geyer Interviewed by-@Pamela_sellers 150

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You currently live and work in Pennsylvania, is that where you were born and raised? Yes ! I was born in wellsboro pa which is also where i did my apprenticeship in 2011. Fast forward a few years when i decided to open up my studio (the Tattoo Shoppe) in 2015 i settled on montoursville pa. I have a special love for PA . Its beautiful here . Its my home and it always will be. No matter where this industry ends up taking me and my family 152

Mike At what age did you discover your passion for art? Art has always been a huge part of my life as far back as my memory serves . But not always for the best reason. I used art at a young age to escape adverse childhood experiences (basically things that a child should not have to witness or be exposed to) But through that i fell in love with creating. Drawing, sculpting, assembly art, painting, tattooing etc . Just the desire to make something from nothing How long have you been tattooing? And tell us about your journey so far. So i started my apprenticeship in the summer of 2011. That went on for a year before i really dove into full time tattooing . I had an old school apprenticeship. I wasnt allowed to tattoo until i learned everything that went along with it and im grateful for that because ive built a very successful business because of that knowledge and experience but where i really learned from was my traveling days. In the gap between 2012 when i was on my own trying to build clientel and 2015 when i settled in my current town i traveled the U.S. guest spotting wherever i could and absorbing as much as i could. Tattooed in over 20 states along side countless amazing artists that taught me so much . In some cases what NOT to do but hey learning is learning

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It looks like you do a variety of styles, do you have a favorite style to tattoo? And if so, why is it your favorite? Yes. I tattoo in every style. But where my work has gravitated to in the last few years has been realism . Man have i fallen in love with realism tattooing ! And portrait work is part of that . The most challenging tattoo for me is a portrait so i try often to push myself out of my comfort zone and do them when i can. Coverups are also in this conversation . I love that challenge to make a tattoo disappear . The whole thought process is different . The designing of the tattoo is just as important with them as the actual tattooing is. I understand you have judged some tattoo contests at conventions, tell us a little about that. What’s it like being on that side of the judging stage? So yeah thats a whole experience in itself. The 1st time i had that honor was at the Tommy’s convention in 2022. No warning . I was asked 5 minutes before i had to be on stage judging so i just rolled with it . And apparently i did a good job because i was asked again at the new england expo that is also put on by tommys supplies and that show was packed with amazing artists. I was judging work that was done by people i idolize in this industry. Everytime i sit on the other side of that table im truly honored.

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Tell us about one of your most memorable experiences in the tattoo industry. So i have a couple things that come to mind . They might seem small to some people but the memories stay with me. The day i was judging at the new england expo i got to spend about an hour sitting outside just simply talking about life with the legend Paul Booth . It was surreal to me. I have so much respect for that man. The first time i judged a show was an amazing experience ill remember forever as well.

Do you have any long or short term goals you’d like to tell us about? So i actually keep adding to that list. Everything that was on my career bucketlist when i started 12 years ago ive already done. I never would of thought in million years id be where im at with my career. If you would of told me back then i would have sponsorships, magazine features, judge tattoo shows, have 100 awards sitting in my studio or have a studio with 4 amazing artists i would of laughed you out of the room ! I only doubted myself back then and i shouldnt of . Its cliche but DREAM BIG guys . You can speak things into existence. So it might be reaching for the stars but my biggest career goal thats on my list is to have my own signature ink set . I know. Its a long shot. But what ive learned from the past is to not be afraid to dream big !

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What are some hobbies you enjoy doing outside of work? My favorite thing to do is to spend time with my wife and 8 year old boy Sylas. I also build custom table and floor lamps out of skulls and bones . I like to skydive . Me and my wife do that together . Most people go to a movie theatre or out to a fancy dinner. We jump out of airplanes together. Adrenaline junkies !!

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Douglas Prudente

Brazil

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Artist-@douglasprudentetattoo Interviewed by-@msellersink13

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Douglas

You’re currently in Brazil, are you born and raised there? Tell us a little bit about yourself and what was it like growing up? Yes, I am. I was born and raised in Brazil, in a very simple and impoverished neighborhood. It was tough, especially because I was raised without a father. My mother had to play both roles, and it was challenging for both of us. At what age do you remember getting into art? My mother told me that I started drawing at the age of 3. I grew up with art as a refuge, both during difficult times and for fun. What made you get into tattooing? Did you have a difficult apprenticeship or an easy one? After working for a few years as a sign maker in a market, the need to meet bills and the responsibilities of adulthood made me set drawing aside. However, I realized that I wasn’t feeling fulfilled, so I rekindled my passion for drawing and remembered a teenage dream of becoming a tattoo artist. I found a course and began tattooing. My learning process was relatively easy since I already knew how to draw, but it still required a lot of dedication. You specialize in black and great realism and black and grey with some color infused, what made you get into those styles of art? I’m drawn to black and grey for its “simplicity” in using only shades and black ink to achieve realistic and impressionistic results. Lately, I’ve been experimenting with adding color to challenge myself even further. 165

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What are some of your other favorite tattoo styles to look at and or tattoo?

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I love tattooing in black and grey, but I admire all other styles as well. I believe that appreciating various styles contributes to my artistic growth.

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What is one of the most memorable moment in the tattoo industry you can remember? I believe I started tattooing at a significant time when the tattoo artist occupation transitioned from being looked down upon to how we are recognized today by society as artists and professionals.

Do you ever travel for work and if so where are some of your favorite locations? Yes, I’ve been to various states in Brazil for events and workshops. I also participated in a convention in Argentina and visited a studio in Spain that welcomes tattoo artists from around the world. What do you like to do outside of work? Hobbies and fun... In my personal life, I like to stay active. I practice Crossfit, which keeps me in shape for long tattoo sessions. Additionally, I’m passionate about all forms of art, like drawing and sculpting, but lately, I’ve been focusing on oil painting. 170

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To our beloved friend Steve Azzara your legacy and hard work will be rememberd and continued through your magazine and memories. We all think about you everday until we meet again ol friend.

Rip Steve Azzara Owner/ Founder / Mfic