Hello Pier Paolo Rizzitiello! Thank you so much for taking the time to do this interview. When did you get interested in tattoo art? I got interested in tattoo art about four years ago, when my elder brother got his first tattoo. In that moment, I had an epiphany! After few months I started tattooing with a friend. He is the first person I’ve ever tattooed. That was the first time I touched a tattoo machine, but since then I can’t take my hands off it. I was mesmerized by the fact I had such responsibility in my hands.

Q: Was it hard to learn the basics?
A: Tattooing made me discover some aspect of myself, for example the fact of being meticulous. If you are a scrupulous person it’s unlikely that you will make big mistakes and, in this case, learning the basics is more stimulating. At the beginning I started building some self-confidence by learning how to draw simple figures that over time became more and more complex. This is fundamental in order to not ruin people’s skin and to get clients’ trust.

Q: Where do you find your inspiration?
A: I follow innumerable artists, illustrators, designers, painters... I actually even paint sometimes, unfortunately not as frequently as I wish to. I also like graffiti. I love surreal concepts. I make an effort to have a 360 degree view in order to improve myself.

Q: You do both color and black & grey tattoos. I love all, but I must say the color tattoos are really special. What are some of the most challenging parts to work on while doing a color portrait?
A: Thank you! Well, I prefer color tattoos, I think that color helps us to distinguish and create emotions, to express a concept. There are lots of difficulties in tattooing with colors. It’s important to use the right grade of intensity of a tone and to match the right colors in order to make the best use of the contrast. It’s also important to consider the way you deal with the work you are going to do. I think that the most important part in tattooing is not only in the execution itself but the procedure that comes before it, when I think about how I should do what the client wants.

Q: Do you sometimes take more than just one session to give the skin some time to heal and then do the final touch ups?
A: No, I prefer to complete the tattoo once I’ve started, because it allows me to have a better concentration. Nevertheless, depending of the size sometimes I take more than one session, in this case the following session is the day after. Once the work is finished I always ask the client to show up in few months or to send me some pictures. I love seeing my work again, this helps me to improve.

Q: I've heard, color tattoos are more painful for the client, even more difficult and time consuming to fully heal the skin. Is it true? What are some of you best recommendations when it comes to tattoo aftercare? What we should avoid?
A: I don’t think color tattoos are more painful for the client, we simply use a different technique. The time to heal is more or less the same, everything depends on how the skin is treated by the tattooer and the tattooed. When it comes to aftercare, I’ve tried different methods, until I got to the conclusion that the best one for me is Dermalize. I’ve always had excellent results, the skin is always protected and breathe normally. What we should avoid? To be pig headed! I think that we need to let go of the traditional treatments and trust the innovative methods and the science, but everything depends on one’s point of view.

Q: You have the privilege to work with Alex DePase. Tell me more.
A: It’s a great honor for me to work with him. Alex not only is a great artist but also a fantastic person! This is what characterised him the most. He’s always ready to give advice. He always does incredible works. He creates opportunities for him and for the others. You need to know him in order to understand how much passion he puts in his job and communicates! He is respected not only for his huge artistic talent. He is a reference point for everyone and it’s really stimulating to keep up with him. His reputation precedes him, his ambition oversteps him.

Q: Any challenges?
A: Look a ladder and point a step you can’t go upstairs in just one jump! To face and to succeed in small challenges keeps me motivated to face bigger and bigger challenges. Ambition and the will to make the most of myself are the most powerful weapon to improve.

Q: What do you like the most about being a tattoo artist?
A: In this world you are in contact with different kinds of people that sometimes have and sometimes don’t have the same line of thoughts that you do. Relating myself with this diverse professional environment, allowed me to gain knowledge of different ways of thinking and working. Real professionals don’t fear the comparison, on the contrary they are open-minded and open to dialogue in order to gather as much information as possible to improve themselves. There’s nothing more stimulating than this. I love learning, gathering information and also sharing my thoughts!

Q: If you can give advice to your younger what would that be?
A: I'm very satisfied with my career. I always try to correct my mistakes and learn from them! Looking back, there’s nothing I wouldn’t do again!

Please write your contact info and studio location.
Tattoo store: Alex De Paste store, Udine, Italy
Facebook page: Pierpaolo Rizzitiello Tattoo Artist
Instagram: @pierpaolotattoo email: pierpaolorizzitiellotattoo@gmail.com