ARTIST Q&A
NBAF 2013
JOE CARPENTER
INDIGO TATTOO
You've gone through the ranks to get where you are now - from making the tea to getting an apprenticeship. How important do you think it is for a budding artist to experience that? I don't think that it's essential but it was definitely the best way for me. I found it very frustrating at times because I was always so eager to jump straight in but to rush in and make mistakes on people’s skin would not have done me or anyone else any favours!
You have truly asserted your style and are an expert in realism - how did you come to realise that was your strong point, and why do you like it so much? I have always drawn and painted realism so when I started tattooing it was the obvious choice! To be honest I enjoy doing a lot of different styles, realism just seems to come naturally and with out any stress.
You've done some guest spots - how do you think travelling has strengthened you as an artist? I love doing guest spots; you can pick up so much and learn different things from different studios, especially abroad. Te attitude towards tattooing is different in all of the studios I have worked in or guested at, so I find it very helpful to see things from different perspectives.
When doing portraits on customers you have a big responsibility for likeness - what do you think is the most challenging aspect of portrait tattooing? I have always painted portraits so I've had quite a lot of practice when it comes to likeness and values, but when I started tattooing it felt like I had to learn it all again. Tere are so many different things you need to consider with a portrait on the skin and getting used to that was quite challenging.
You're part of the Indigo, Norwich family now - how important is it to be part of a fun and nurturing studio? It’s a very relaxed atmosphere and I think that’s very important for me. I've made some good friends who I have a great time working with and I feel that I produce better work when I'm having a good time.
Finally, are you looking forward to NBAF this year? Of course! It's always a fun convention and its even better now that it's just around the corner from my house!
SHARUZEN IROLTHA
I read that you have travelled across Europe, from your home in Slovakia. How do you think the rest of Europe compares to the UK in its appreciation of tattoos? I travel a lot and what I see in the last few years is that tattoos are more and more popular everywhere. I think now there aren’t many differences between the UK and Slovakia for example. Maybe from my point of view I think people from southern Europe, like Italy, prefer more traditional tattoos compared to people from East of the Europe where people prefer more realistic or fantasy tattoos.
You have worked with a number of different disciplines and materials, from photography to painting etc - what do you think that experience has brought to you as a tattoo artist? Photography, painting and drawing help me to create better composition. Like a photographer, I can see shades and reflections of the light on the body so I can imagine it better also when I am tattooing. When I am doing painting or drawing I need to know the right way to use colours, which is very important for tattooing as well.
You also have experience as a make-up artist, and obviously see tattooing, like make-up as enhancing the body. What would you say to those who felt negative towards tattoos? I think it is a very personal opinion of each person to get or not to get a tattoo. Some people are against tattoos just because they listen to too many rumors and they are scared about hygiene for example. To those kinds of people, it helps when you explain to them how it really works. Some people are strictly against tattoos because they simply don’t see any kind of pictures on theirs or somebody else’s skin, so I just respect them.
Iroltha is a collaborative project - can you tell us more about it? Iroltha covers all things which I create along with Lesthet. Under this Project you can find a portfolio of things we are doing together, such as photography, modeling, tattoos, paintings and drawings and also merchandise.
How would you describe your work style? I describe my work style as a fantasy realism with a little bit of dark feeling.
Finally, are you looking forward to coming to the Norwich Body Art Fest? Yes of course I am! It’s gonna be my first year there and I am really looking forward to do amazing tattoos and meet a lot of fantastic people so I really can’ t wait.
NORWICHBODYARTFESTIVAL.CO.UK |05
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