Having a tattoo is like
buying a car and getting it from the best dealer. Find time to check artists’
works. Check the artist's
portfolio or see a live example. Here’s a list of Pinoy artists who made made a
big name in the industry and are being recognized in our country and also
abroad. Check out interviews and stories that I have gathered about them and you might just consider having your tattoo done by one of these artists.
Chris
Garcia
Self-taught artist living the American dream
since 1994.
As far back as early childhood in
Manila, Philippines, Chris Garcia, has always been recognized for his
exceptional artistry. But it was during his teenage years when he became
fascinated with tattoos and the culture associated with it. The idea of having
a permanent work of art on someone amazed him and fueled his desire to learn
tattooing.
A true student of
his art form, Chris strives to be versatile with his styles of tattoos.
However, as a perfectionist he has proven to be second to none in creating
portraits and realistic tattoos.
I thought that his insights and
experiences would be beneficial to readers who might be considering the
profession of tattooing or for those wanting to have a tattoo. During my e-mail interview with Chris Garcia, the
artist shared his thoughts on tattoos, greatest influences, how he enjoys his
profession and the meaning of tattoos in his life.
When did
your journey as a tattoo artist begin?My tattooing career started in 1994. My family and I
just immigrated to the US, and out of curiosity and fascination with tattoos, I
ordered a cheap tattoo kit out of a mail-order catalog on the back of a tattoo
magazine. As soon as i got the kit, I used it on myself. Then one of my friends
saw what I did, and he convinced me to tattoo him. Then other people followed,
mostly family and friends. In 1996, I was able to get a job at a Ancient Art
Tattoo Studio in Virginia, until I transferred to the Virginia Beach studio when tattooing was
legalized. I moved once more to Ocean Mystique's Ink Gallery where I remained
until leaving Virginia altogether to pursue a new adventure at Club Tattoo on
the famous Las Vegas strip. I have always been artistic though even when I was very young. I
remember spending a lot of time copying the drawings from Funny Komiks like
Niknok, Superdog, etc.
Are there any famous artists,
tattooists or not, that have influenced you down the path of your career?
My greatest influences in tattooing are usually the
other artists that I work with. I can contribute a major portion of my
development as an artist from watching other artists work and from sharing our
knowledge and ideas with each other. My motivation for constant growth though
is influenced by seeing other artists' works on tattoo magazines and on the
internet. There are so many artists out there who are doing really amazing
work, and some of the ones that I try to keep up with are Filipino artists,
like Oman Daluz and Raquel Natividad.
In finding
the right tattoo, what are the things to be considered?
The only thing to remember when choosing a tattoo is
that it's permanent. So you have to make sure that whatever tattoo design you
decide to get, make sure it is something that you will not regret in the
future. People always think that tattoos need to have a profound meaning. Well,
it's great if it does, but for me, as long as it's a design that you will enjoy
having on your body for the rest of your life, no matter how trivial, then go
for it.
With the
influx of artists in the tattoo industry, what advice can you give to those
aspiring tattoo artists?
I think anyone who aspires to be a tattoo artist
should really have a very solid artistic foundation. Practice your drawing
skills and put together a really impressive portfolio of your sketches,
illustrations, paintings, etc. If your works are really good, it wouldn't be
hard to find a reputable tattoo artist who will be willing to take you on as a
student or an apprentice.
How much
thought do you put into your ink?
I definitely put a lot of thought and time into my
tattoos before and during the actual process of tattooing. There is always a
huge pressure knowing that whatever I create will be on the person's body
permanently, that other people will see it, and that my name will be attached
to that work. Most of the time, the idea comes from the client, so my job is to
turn that idea into an image that will be pleasing to the eye, and I need to
make sure that it is something that will look good on the skin. For most
designs, it takes me anywhere from 1 hour to 5 hours to complete a drawing. If
it is a really large piece like a sleeve or a back piece, it takes me a few
days to think about how i will approach the design, and then several hours to
draw it.
When doing the actual tattoo, focus is very important
to me. I put as much focus and concentration into a tattoo as I would if i am
taking a really difficult math exam. I don't mind talking to the client while I
work, and I make sure that they are comfortable, but I do have a tendency to be
quiet while I work so that I'm able to give my full undivided attention to my
work.
What do your
tattoos mean to you?
I only have a few tattoos, but the only one that has a
real meaning is my mother's name on my forearm. My mom passed away when I was
12, and she has always been one of my greatest inspirations to work hard and be
very good in what I do. I have 4 brothers and we all have a memorial tattoo for
our mom.
If you could
tattoo one person in the world who would it be? A judgmental political entity,
a religious icon, a celebrity?
A celebrity. As an artist, I want my work to be
enjoyed and appreciated by as many people as possible. I became fascinated with
tattoos because I saw them on celebrities like Francis M and Axl Rose.
Celebrities have a great influence on the popular culture, and i think that the
people who can really appreciate the art of tattooing belong in the popular
culture.
If you could
get tattooed anywhere in the world, by anyone in the world, where and who would
you go to?
I will go to Switzerland to be tattooed by an American
tattoo artist named Filip Leu. Ever since I started tattooing, Filip has been
doing groundbreaking work. And even now, when there are so many really talented
artists doing mind-blowing tattoos, Filip's work is still untouchable.
What would you say is your favorite
part of the job?
"I
believe that i am naturally stronger at this style of tattooing because I find
it fun and challenging to capture as much detail as possible into a tattoo. I
am truly fortunate to do this for a living and the joy of knowing that I have
exceeded a client's expectations is the most rewarding part of my job."
Where do you see
the art of tattooing in 10 or 20 years from now?
It
would be really exciting to find out what tattooing will be like a decade or
two from now. I'm sure that tattoos will continue to be elevated into a real
fine art, with more artists really pushing the envelope of what can be done on
skin. Better inks that stay brighter on the skin and tattoo machines that are
much more efficient and cause very minimal trauma to the skin. Tattoos will
definitely be fully accepted in society.
Do you think it
will ever become fully accepted as an art?
There
is no doubt that tattoos will become fully accepted as an art. more and more
artists who do have formal art training from well know art universities are
getting into tattooing.
Where do you
see yourself in 10 years or more? Still tattooing?
10
years from now, I wanna see myself in my own private studio, doing the kind of
tattoos that i really enjoy to do, on clients that seek me out to get the kind
of tattoos that i'm known for. I would also like to be able to work just a
little less, enough to have more time to hangout with my family.
Where
can we find you?
Racquel Natividad
First Female Professional Tattoo Artist
in the Philippines
Rakel Natividad’s
journey began when she was 20 years old, fresh out of university. Armed with a
degree in elementary education, Rakel began to make regular visits to Manila to
review for her teaching license. Her true passion, though, is art, and it
wasn’t long before her interest was piqued by Manila’s active but still
underground tattoo scene. In secret and against her parents’ wishes, Rakel
started spending time in various tattoo shops in Recto, schooling herself in
the tools and the trade. When her husband sold his Marshall amp to fund her
first tattoo kit, Rakel’s path took a decidedly unexpected turn, her
adventurous spirit leading her to pursue tattooing instead of the more stable
education field.
It turned out to be a fortuitous decision, though there was nothing easy about
the new road she was then about to take. Back in 2001, most reputable
tattooists were based in large cities, not easily accessible from the
provinces, where Rakel lives. Even more daunting, the Philippine tattoo
community, at that time, had no female presence. Still, Rakel was firm in her
resolve and began to apprentice at the tattoo shop of respected old-timer Mel
Lacanilao, who satisfied her thirst for knowledge and prepared her to navigate
a tattoo scene that, back then, was definitely a man’s world. Tito Mel provided
Rakel not just with practical knowledge, but also a solid work ethic and
respect for her chosen craft. He became both a mentor and a friend, and Rakel
credits him with giving her the courage and motivation to strike out on her
own.
Soon after her apprenticeship ended, Rakel established her own tattoo shop in
her hometown of Santa Cruz, Laguna. She also began competing in 2002, becoming
a fixture in the Philippines’ tattoo conventions, where, for the next four
years, she was often the only female artist in competition. In the
comparatively short time that Rakel has been competing, she has won more than
twenty awards, including eight National Champion awards and one International
Champion award in Saipan. Unsurprisingly, it didn’t take long before Rakel was
invited to be a judge at the very same conventions and competitions which she
entered as a novice tattoist. In 2003, she became the first female member of
the Philippine Tattoo Artists Guild, and is now widely acknowledged as the
First Female Professional Tattoo Artist in the Philippines. Increased
word-of-mouth soon led Rakel’s work to be featured on various tattoo magazines
in the country, her female perspective being a refreshing change from the
Philippines’ traditionally male-dominated tattoo industry. Rakel then organized
The Ink Poetry Tattoo and Rock Festival in May 2007, the first tattoo convention
in Laguna and, thus far, the only tattoo convention in the country to have been
headed by a female tattoo artist. It was a resounding victory, with many
seasoned and budding tattoo artists in attendance. The success of the
convention inspired Rakel to reach out to the newer members of the tattoo
community, holding Laguna’s first tattoo seminar on November 2009, where she
imparted information regarding proper and sanitary tattoo procedures, career
development, and tattoo techniques, hoping to give the younger set the same
education and guidance that her mentors gave her. Due to public demand and to
further educate the tattoo community, Rakel is bringing her tattoo workshop to
other Philippine cities, with Manila and Davao being next on her list.
Today, Rakel is held in high esteem by both veterans and newcomers in the
tattoo community. Though she has proven herself many times over, she never
stops learning, always eager to improve the merit and quality of her work.
However remarkable her achievements have been in her relatively short career,
it is certain that Rakel will continue to redefine her role and, by extension,
the role of female artists, in the national and international tattoo
community.
Email
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· inkpoetry@yahoo.com
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Website
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