Hello, Attic! Thank you so much for taking the time to answer a few questions for our readers. Please start by telling us something about yourself and your background. Hi, thank you for the interview, my name is Eugene Attic and I started my journey as a tattoo artist in 2015. I've always painted, my whole journey has been about creative disciplines. From the moment I went to high school, then I went to college for disciplines like sculpture and woodcarving. After college, I went to industrial design institute, then I went to graduate school of graphic design, and then I worked in design. So, as you can see, I drew all the way. But working in design never gave me the creative freedom I needed. From the early days, my drawings had some similarites with tattoo art and as a result, I often hear from people the question "why don't you try your hand at tattooing?" And I decided to try. And since then I have never once regretted my decision to end my career as a designer and fully immerse myself in the world of tattooing!

Q: What types of tattoos did you do as a beginner? How would you rate some of those tattoos today? Would you redo some of them?
A: Honestly, I was not much affected by passing commercial projects because practically from the first works I started to work on difficult and interesting projects, but not so confidently as I do it now. But also nonsense of course, I had time to do (how without it) for a long period I rushed from side to side, thinking what I want to do, color or black and white projects more, probably it was necessary to go throung this, because practice is knoweladge. Would I want to redo my old tattoos? I will say definitively "no", as I believe that at each stage they were relevant. It is necessary keep impoving.

Q: Who was the first person to give you confidence? What would you say to your very first client?
A: My first client was a close acquaintance, and it turned out quite well. He wasn't worried at all, unlike me. But I am very grateful to him, because every step from the past, little by little took me where I am now. I appreciate it very much, and it means a lot to me.

Q: I saw some colored tattoos a few years ago, you seem to be more into black and white tattoos now. How long did it take you to decide on a direction?
A: Actually there are quite a few color projects in my tattoo career and for a while I planned to work only with color projects, but still black and white resonated more with my soul and now I work only in black and white, but I plan to do one color project every year or two so I don't forget the process of color tattooing.

Q: Why tattoo realism? What do you like most about this style?
A: Realism for me has always been a measure of artistic professionalism, although I can work in other styles like neotraditional and others, but realism is something that gives me the opportunity to fully show my skills, and most importantly all my artistic component.

Q: I like portraits. Very creative, unique and beautifully designed, every ... tattoo. I also like how you mix some of the other styles, like graffiti and chicano style. I like how it's all very nicely integrated.
A: First of all I want to thank you for this! As the issue, is exactly what I was going for. I see so many beautiful and professionally made Chicano style works and for a long time I was moving in the same vector, but at some point I realized that they are all very similar and we need to evolve and generate something new. Now the same thoughts come to me, so I think that soon my style will again take some new shapes and I think it will be even more interesting (I hope so))

Q: Do you draw for each client? Do you use any reference images? Tell us a little bit about the creative process.
A: I used to draw a lot more than I do now. I've developed a comfortable system for myself to work on each project. Now my project is 50% reference and 50% drawing over it, so I avoid burnout.


Let's say a few words about technique,
In my technique I can not reveal something radically new and innovative, all the same hand movements, as well as other artists. The only thing I apply, is the strokes so that each new passage of the needle does not fall into the previous one, it creates this effect of fluidity and density of the tone coverage. Also it is never necessary to be squeamish about different styles in the formative stage, because it gives a huge experience in tattooing at each stage, such as dense staining, spraying, staining and others, all this is very important in the future.

Q: Being talented is already a gift, being creative and purposeful is a whole other level. It's like you've found a way to make your work look very different from a lot of other artists. I see a lot of portrait tattoos on a lot of people, but I barely remember the artist because there is nothing unique.
A: I am extremely pleased to hear such a thing, as it is one of my monumental goals of my creativity, thank you very much! And I assure that I will continue to look for ways and technical solutions to make it look unique and distinctive!

Even if the realism of tattooing can be "limiting" in a creative way, this technique can give the artist complete freedom. And that's what I see here. Your technique is admirable. How long did it take you to figure it out?

Thank you very much for those words! Yes realism has boundaries in some ways, but again it all depends on imagination, and enthusiasm to explore new boundaries that can and should be pushed, so that the style can continue to evolve and grow.

Q: What type of design do people like the most today?
A: Working with empty skin and filled areas, also everyone asks to include my light vezel stripes in the design; and of course the smoothness of the outlines of the whole composition, it's something that identifies me as an artist.

Q: Have you ever refused to get a certain tattoo? Or suggested a different design, placement?
A: Yes, I often have to change the client's mind, but in fact it is not a problem, because the artist must be able to convey his idea, but there are exceptions, and in this case, I do not take the project, because it is very important the project to be interesting for both parties. Also I have some principles my in work, and I don't do: intimate tattoos; small tattoos; and tattoos with frank satanic sense.

Q: Tattoo seminars? Just wow!!! I mean, not only are you a master of your craft, but you're also unselfishly sharing your knowledge. You couldn't be cooler! Please tell me more about the tattoo seminars, are they open to all comers?
A: Thank you so much! Yes, I recently did a group workshop and it went just fine! I already had a little experience in conducting individual seminars, but this time I decided to do everything in a new way, and the seminar was divided into two stages: 1. I fully explained all the artistic aspects, to create a visually interesting and attractive design, and in the second stage, it was the practice and the whole process of working on the skin. This gave the most positive response from the trainees and it really gave a tremendous amount of new information to those in attendance. There are a huge number of requests for individual and group seminars, but due to lack of time, I have decided to make the most detailed online seminar and I plan to release it in the next 2/3 months. It is a very difficult process to create a really high-quality and useful product, but I will try my best.

Q: What was the best part of the experience?
A: Probably the fact that I became even more convinced that I'm the right path, and if you are a motivator for many, it keeps you from standing still, it's a nice responsibility and I'm grateful for it.

Q: I've seen some very cool digital drawings. Are they for sale or is it just a hobby?
A: Thank you very much! At this time, it's just a hobby, I don't want to loose my drawing abilies. It is also like meditation for me, as in the process of drawing freehand, I can not think, but just draw by intuition. It's a cool way to distract myself.

Q: Honestly, what's the most satisfying thing about being a tattoo artist?
A: To have the possibility to completely satisfy my creative gut, meet large quantity of really different and interesting personalities. This will it expand your horizons.

Q: Where are you currently located? Please write the location of the studio and your contact e-mail.
A: In general I am a "global citizen" and I am rarely in one place, but most of the time I work in: Sochi, Surgut, St. Petersburg my email: chitaev_e.d@mail.ru

Q: Any motivational words for those who want to try their hand in this business?
A: Do it! Explore! Try it out! Never stop there! Make mistakes, that's a good experience too! And remember, only he who walks will find the way!