Juann, a talented tattoo artist from Mexico, whose journey into the world of tattooing is both inspiring and captivating. Starting in late 2015, his love for drawing and painting guided him towards a career in tattooing, igniting a passion that would shape his life forever. This interview explores Juann's early beginnings, his diverse artistic influences, and his dedication to mastering multiple tattoo styles. He shares the story of transitioning from aspiring painter to accomplished tattoo artist under the mentorship of Zoar García, his experiences with different tattoo styles, and his love for creating unique designs that resonate with his clients. As Juann continues to evolve and leave his mark on the tattoo world, he reveals his plans for international conventions, collaborations, and his creative process that bridges the gap between art and tattooing.
1. How and when did you start in the world of tattooing?
My beginnings in tattooing were in late 2015. I was studying in upper secondary education and working in a workshop at the same time. My interest in drawing and painting started at a young age, and all my learning was self-taught. When I entered upper secondary education, I initially planned to study architecture and took some art classes, which further fueled my interest in pursuing something related to the arts. Oil painting caught my attention the most, but it was a costly career path for me and my family. One day, by chance, I was visiting downtown Mexico City, where there are many studios. It was there that I decided to get my ear piercings and luckily met Zoar García, who would become my best friend and mentor. He offered me the opportunity to be an apprentice at his studio, and I felt like the luckiest person in the world. Everyone at the studio seemed incredibly happy and relaxed, which intrigued me deeply. From that day on, that studio became my home. I left school and my job. I must mention that although my decision to leave school was not pleasing to my parents, they supported me both financially and emotionally. I spent about six months as an apprentice, but I practically lived in the studio. Tattooing became my life.
2. What inspired you to become a tattoo artist?
When I considered studying something related to painting, it was disheartening to realize it was too expensive for me. Discovering tattooing an art form where I could express everything I wanted, with the freedom and trust of people completely captivated me. Since my friend Zoar accepted me as an apprentice, I decided to focus all my time and dedication on tattooing. My life revolved around tattoos; I even dreamed about tattooing. Everything was about art. I started drawing even more, although I still didn't have any formal training in drawing or painting.
3. Your work spans several tattoo styles. What was the first style you learned?
The first style I practiced was Black & Grey, although I was eager to do New School. Over time, I became very versatile and started working with various styles like Oriental; I even worked a lot with Maori and tribal designs. Of course, I also did some watercolor tattoos, and I often had to do fine line or small tattoos. However, I always aimed to guide all my clients to achieve the best results, especially in Black & Grey.
4. How do you maintain versatility and adapt to different tattoo styles?
I believe there are many styles and options in tattooing today, and I enjoy immersing myself in styles that catch my attention. My main tattoo style is Cover Up, and I've been focused on this style for about three years. It's a great challenge to cover up a bad tattoo or a bad memory. Seeing the healing and scarification process is hard to believe. I really like using realism in grays or Black & Grey, although I couldn't describe it exactly. I like using a lot of gray colors and playing with warm and cold tones to give more contrast and detail. The Oriental style greatly helped me in terms of design and how to give movement and flow to tattoos. Being able to work on a design and make it look anatomically perfect on every body is what fascinates me. The variety of elements we can use in a tattoo is also something I love. I also enjoy working with anime; recently, I won my first prize at the Tiajuana expo in Tijuana, Mexico. It was an incredible experience after many attempts at various events. My goal as a tattoo artist is to achieve a style between grayscale and color realism, with a touch of new school. I love painting in oils and drawing with colors; it greatly helps my creative process and gives me more confidence when doing something on skin. The Oriental style has greatly helped me improve my sketches and lines. Practicing is always the best way to improve the result in tattooing.
5. Do you have a particular creative process when working on a tattoo design?
Personally, I believe the idea is the foundation of the project, both in painting and in tattooing. The way I work, which I've noticed is the most natural process for the projects I've done, is when the client comes with their idea a set of elements that express something. My job is simply to shape that idea so that the result is what the client wants. Of course, there's no such thing as something 100% original, especially in tattooing where there are archetypal and symbolic elements that are often repeated. The differentiation and uniqueness mostly lie in how things are depicted how they end up being drawn. I'm very respectful of what the client wants and seeks, and I don't think I can suggest more than how the composition of the elements that make up their idea should be. Ultimately, every suggestion has a personal aspect, and if the client wanted to tattoo something that is in my mind and corresponds to my tastes, they would choose one of my available designs. Don't get me wrong; my job is to capture what the person wants in the best possible way because in the end, it's their idea. To start any tattoo project, I usually have a chat with the person to fully understand their idea and, if necessary, suggest the best way to represent it in a drawing, respecting the aesthetics of the body, anatomy, and proportion. When it comes to my own creations, I often publish my work.
6. Do you engage in any other form of art or activity outside of tattooing to perfect your technique and creativity?
I'm painting a lot; I love painting with oils, it's my favorite technique. I've practiced with charcoal, graphite, and colored pencils, but oil painting has completely captivated me. Now my dream is to be a professional painter. Traveling to different cities and experiencing different cultures has greatly helped expand my vision and knowledge. It allows me to see tattooing from another perspective.
7. Where are you currently working? Do you have plans to travel this year as a guest artist or participate in any tattoo conventions?
I'm currently working in Tijuana, Mexico, although I also work in Mexico City. This year, I'll be attending my second international event in Naples, Italy, where I'll be a guest at the Napoli Tattoo Art International. I'm quite nervous about this event, as I consider Italy a great artistic inspiration. I'll be visiting Italy for a few days, and then I plan to travel to Germany and stay for a few weeks as a guest at a friend's studio in Erfurt. I'm not sure what will happen next, but I'm sure more travels will follow.
8. What is the best way for someone to get in touch with you?
The best way to contact me is through WhatsApp, although I also check all my emails. I like using Instagram and Facebook to showcase my work and artistic activities.
9. What plans do you have for the rest of the year?
I have planned several trips; I want to take some seminars with international artists and work in more countries to expand my artistic vision. After my trip to Europe, I'm planning to visit Japan and various countries in Asia, as I consider the international level quite high.
10. We like to offer artists a space to share whatever they wish:
I would like to thank my wife and my little son; they are always my support and inspiration. I believe some encouragement is always very important. My family (parents and siblings) have always supported me in every aspect, and I think it's necessary to thank tattooing because, in my opinion, it rescued me from a life without happiness. Now I can't see myself doing anything else but tattoos. This world is amazing; it breaks linguistic, cultural, and any other barriers. I love having friends from many countries and feeling like we've known each other forever. I hope this continues to grow and expand. It's incredible to see the current level; it inspires me to strive to improve and grow my art. Thank you all for reading and giving me this small space.
Comments