If you’re into Japanese tattooing, especially in relation to its cultural connotations, you’re gonna love this one.   Dave is a tattooer specialized in Americana and Japanese with extensive international experience. His passion for gardening - he works with the Denver Botanic Garden on cultivating their renowned Japanese garden program, as well as maintaining the trees of Hakubai Zen Temple in Boulder - brought him a deeper insight on the philosophical aspects of Horimono.   In this episode...

I have know Capex for about 15 years now, we clicked right away at a show in Finland, as we come from the same place in Italy. With his 30+ years of experience he’s one of those characters from a different time in tattooing, with working ethics, humor, resilience and love for the craft at the forefront of everything he does. I’m happy to introduce him to you and, if you ever pass by him in a show or guest spot, make sure to stop and say hi. You’ll walk away with a smile, a cool tattoo or a...

Horiten the 1st is a female traditional tattooer from Nara, Japan. In this honest and enlightening talk she shed some light on what creates authentic Irezumi, the qualities that can help in this path and the value of Horikyo’s legacy. Her words are a beautiful manifesto about the way art relates to the core identity of the culture that produced it.   Big thanks to Maur Tattooing for creating the connection.   You can follow Horiten on Instagram and get more information on horiten.net     For...

I love Zac. We met years ago during one of his guest spots and I remember him having the same qualities that characterize him today: well articulate, talented, dedicated, always trying to make every word count. The difference between then and now is that, apart from increasing even more his artistic abilities and experience, he created a publishing company that is a reference in the tattoo world: AFTERLIFE PRESS.  Beautiful books that showcase some of the most influential contemporary artists...

What makes up a successful career? It takes vision, courage, confidence and a few more ingredients. Today Big Meas, a global reference in the world of lettering, shares with us what brought him where he is today. He talks about the importance of cultivating not only the tecnical aspect but also, and perhaps more importantly, the human connection. You can find Big Meas on Instagram and at bigmeas.com   News and updates at stefbastian.com

With 30 years of tattooing under his belt and an intimate knowledge of Japanese culture, Crez is a reference in Italy for Japanese tattooing.  What I like about him the most, beside his expertise, is his genuine honesty and coherence, uncommon values that I personally treasure. In this cozy December afternoon we talked about what shaped him into the man he’s today; ethics within tattooing; how to hone your skills; the necessity of critical thinking and feedback; the importance of being open...

It’s been a privilege to sit down with Claudia De Sabe in this beautiful autumn afternoon to listen to her story and pick her brain on her own process. Over the course of this interview we learn how the beautiful work we all love her for is second only to her mindset. Unweavering work ethic, resolve and dedication are the foundations of her success, the same stuff greatness is made of.    Recorded once again Live at the Kaiserstadt convention in Aachen, I’d like to personally thank Andreas...

I’m really happy to have had the chance to chat with Swasthik, she is such a beautiful presence in the tattoo world. Known as gunga_ma, for Swasthik tattooing runs deep in her blood. Her grandma, called Paccai Kutta Ma (tattoo mama), has been sticking and poking tattoos for over 40 years. Together with the spiritual practice she inherited growing up, she has been exposed from a young age to sacred symbols and rituals that reflects into her own art. I admire her work not only for the...

Have you ever struggled with feelings of inadequacy? Self-doubt? Do you set impossible standards that bring anxiety when unmet? Dr. Sophie Mort is here to help.   Sophie is a clinical psychologist with a master’s in neuroscience, Her work with the science of habit has helped many understand the patterns of behaviour that get you in your own way. In this episode packed with practical tips, she shreds a light on how we can achieve our full potential and, especially, build a happier life.   Read...

“Influential. “Pioneer”. “Contribution”.   These are the words that you see most commonly associated with Marcus’ name in books, magazines and when talking to veteran tattooers.     A great influence, Marcus started experimenting in the 90’s, with a few others, to find a new take on subject and tecnique in tattooing. And so, Newschool was born. An innovative approach to color, design, composition, light sources that shaped the generations to come. Marcus Pacheco is definitely a name that we...

Lorena Morato is a Brazilian tattooer specialized in neotraditional. Well known not only for her tattoos but also her beautiful paintings, Lorena shares with us how she came to reinvent herself, rediscovering a new sense of authenticity which is well transmitted in her art. I have personally found great value in her journey and I’m sure you can derive a sense of direction, especially in relation to developing your own style. Plus, she’s a lovely human being.  You can find Lorena on Instagram...

Have you ever had problems with your neck, lower back, tingling fingers that lose sensitivity, wrist or elbow? Especially as tattooers we all had to deal with some of these at some point and in the worst cases we have been forced to take time off due to the pain. As with many other things, knowledge is power. If we want to keep doing what we love for a long time it’s better that we know the causes of these issues and the best practices to avoid or fix them. In this episode we talk with Jordan...

Do you like to paint? Have you ever struggled with any part of the process and wish you had some sort of guidance?   This week’s episode features Kelly Anne Powers, third generation artist and host of the Learn to Paint podcast. In her show Kelly talks to some of the best painters in the world, sharing with her audience their process, systems and insights, fruit of decades of practice.   I have really enjoyed this conversation and I believe you can find value in Kelly’s words, particularly...

Pascal Bagot is a French journalist who’s been writing for specialized press for twenty years. His passion for Japanese culture led him to get a full backpiece by Horitoshi I and cross paths with other legends such as Horiyoshi III, Gifu Horihide, Horitada and more.  In 2017 he decided to venture into the world of Akimitsu Takagi, a journey that will eventually take the form of a beautiful book entitled ‘The tattoo Writer’. For all of you out there, enthusiast of Japanese tattooing, those...

Rinto celebrated this year his 40 years career. In Holland he’s well known as one of the old timers but, if you met him, you know that his humbleness matches his experience and dedication.    Natural born storyteller, Rinto shared with us some grounding words, valuable especially to young tattooers in this age where the digital medias shape the distribution of information. Some of those things you can’t learn on your phone, they must be lived in the shop.  You can find Rinto in Burgum,...

Like many of you I have been following Timothy’s career for many years, getting lost in his beautiful impossible worlds. I’m naturally fascinated by good draftsmanship, but Tim’s paintings go beyond that.   Apart from the privilege of peeking into his studio, filled with sketches, artworks and painting supplies, I feel grateful for his insights about inspiration and the way we look at things. Observing his work you can really see how his 35 years of tattooing translate on paper his...

Eddy has been part of the tattoo Renaissance in the San Francisco area in the 90’s, together with other key figures like Freddy Corbin, Juan Puente, Scott Sylvia, Marcus Pacheco… it’s because of him that a whole trend started and evolved in countless interpretations. As the motto of this show says, “Go to the roots, not to the fruits”, we want to honor who paved the way for us. By discovering their stories we not only support them, we can also become more aware, competent and contributive as...

If you follow Shane you’re familiar with his work: bold, striking, elegant in its simplicity. His painting a reference in the industry. I recommend you to meet him and his crew if you cross them at some convention, you won’t be disappointed. What I like most of Shane is his ethics and his contagious energy, which make his tattooing 100 times better. Today was great to have a laugh with him and a chat about his upbringing, me eating ass sausage in Paris and how to put a stencil with...

Are you interested in tattoo history? Get your pen and notebook because this episode is packed with goodies. Once again live at the Aachen’s tattoo convention, I had the pleasure of sharing an afternoon with Michelle Myles from Daredevil Tattoo.  Her professional journey goes all the way back to the days of New York’s ban on tattooing. As she crossed path with some true legends in the business - she tells us of when she got tattooed by Mike Malone to mention one - she also did live and...

What do podcasts bring to the tattoo world? What to do with haters? Will Andrew produce Nick’s new career into the videoverse? And will I ever try Nick’s power barbecue?    I sat with Andrew Stortz and Nick Swartz, hosts of the two best tattoo podcasts around, to answer these and other deep philosophical questions.  Find Nick’s podcast on Instagram and Spotify Find Andrew’s podcast on Instagram and booksclosedpodcast.com

For tattooers and creatives the artistic side is not the only factor in running a successful business and giving life to our vision. Money is often a painful note that can stress us out and rob us of creative and productive energy. Ryan, tattooer and financial advisor, teaches us that it doesn’t have to be. What I find particularly valuable in Ryan’s approach is how he works on the blocks that subconsciously affect our relationship with finances, especially our rooted feelings about money....

Michael is a Danish abstract painter that has been represented at the Van Gogh Art Gallery and the danish Creative Mind Art&Design. I’ve know Michael for over ten years, through his previous job managing one of Copenhagen best art supply.  I’ve always believed that if you really wanna know more about specific paints, brushes and paper you just have to talk with the people at the desk, they’re walking encyclopedias. Michael is one of those, especially as a self taught artist I’ve...

Tattooing and everything connected to it changed profoundly in the last years: the rise of social medias; the opening of a once underground world to a wider audience, with a controversial spectrum of consequences; the distribution of information. These and more aspects of this art form are being redefined and one of them is particularly present in today’s modus operandi: technology. The traditional approach has been disrupted by the advent of iPads and Procreate.   Russ has seen this...

For this episode we found ourselves in Aachen at the Kaiserstadt Tattoo Expo, as always flawlessly organized by Andreas Coenen. The show opened with a pre-party exhibiting the life work of Bernie Luther, a mind-blowing array of flashes produced over four decades of traveling the world.  On the following day I had the pleasure of recording this interview in front of a lovely audience, which made the energy of this afternoon very special.  Bernie shared with us the recollections from  his...