Interview with tattoo artist Moriel Seror

  Hello Moriel Seror! Thanks for taking the time to do this interview. Please start by telling us something about yourself, how it all started? What part of the journey was the most difficult? I got my first tattoo when I was 16. Ever since then I was kind of hooked on it. I studied computer science but just being in front of the computer all day was not really my thing. After studying I worked as as graphic designer and web developer but very early into that I started my apprenticeship with my tattoo artist Yancoo tattoo. The most difficult part was and still is that I'm my worst critique. I'm never satisfied and think everyone else is better. Off course this pushes you forward but is not that good for your selfesteem sometimes. I probably have to be also my biggest fan.

Q: What type of art outside tattooing do you like the most? Any favorite artists?
A: That would be definitely sport. I train a lot. Mostly BJJ and calisthenics. I have a lot of favorite artists. Too many to count. One big inspiration I really look up to is Boris since I'm also getting tattooed by him, I'm also in close contact and we talk about all kinds of stuff. It's really interesting what someone that has been a big name in this industry and still is can tell you.

Q: What type of tattoos you use to do when you were a beginner?
A: I did pretty much everything. Which I think is very important since you can learn something from every style. I'm not sure if I really have a style. I'm still pretty diverse. Off course I like some stuff more than other but as long as I have my artistic freedom I can turn a lot of styles into my own.

Q: Tell me more about the creative process. Do you draw sketches before the session?
A: That really depends a lot on what it is. Since I used to work as a graphic designer I work a lot with photoshop. Which I mainly use for my realistic tattoos. When it's some traditional stuff I do a lot of drawings either digital or on paper and with the bio-organic I freehand a lot. Using a lot of different techniques keeps it interesting.

Q: Tattooing is a service job, what about creative freedom?
A: Tattooing is a form of self expression for the client but also for the artist. Luckily I'm in a position where my clients give me the artistic freedom. Which I really need. Sometimes when I'm designing and I feel stuck I have to restart all over again and listen less to what the client told me. I need this flow when I’m designing. Otherwise I can’t work. I think is a teamwork between the artist and the client. We need the freedom but we also have to be greatful for client that grant us this freedom. I'm always open for cool ideas from my clients and I always try to put my twist on it.

Q: I bet exploring new ways of working can be a lot of fun, but sometimes a bit of a challenge technically or maybe even creatively. Any favorite tattoo you did?
A: That’s difficult to answer because I feel like I'm learning something new every day. Creating portraits with double exposure is quite challenging because the semi transparent object can be quite difficult to create. But also to make multiple pictures that normally wouldn’t go together, look like one as if they were meant like this can be challenging. Searching for the right pictures can take forever since I always have the perfect picture in my head. That’s why I take my own pictures from time to time to get the exact look I want.

Q: I really like to see talented artists working together! It's so refreshing and fun. I can only imagine how is to work with artists like Torsten Malm and Adrian Cier. So much creativity and so much talent! Tell me more about this collaborations.
A: I met Torsten and Kätlin a couple of years ago in Venice on the convention and we clicked right away. Adrian started working in my shop around 2 years ago. So we went to a lot of conventions together and he met Torsten and Kätlin too. We had this great energy as a team. I don’t remember who had the idea to do a collab but we were all into it and when we did it was so much fun. We laughed so much. Even though it can be challenging for four artist to work together we never had any problems, because we support each other.

 Collab @adriancier @torstenmalm_tattoo and @katlinmalm_tattoo @el_mori_tattooartist

Q: Any goals?
A: Would love to have more guest artists in my studio. I haven't really done any seminars and get asked a lot if I could do one. So that’s a big plan. But I'm a perfectionist so I want to create a unique experience for the artists that would take part.

Q: Your advice for the new artists?
A: Shut up and listen. You might learn something. Be persistent but not pushy. Be kind to everyone. You never know who you are talking to and what you might get back even if it’s only a smile.