interview with tattoo artist Piotr Olejnik

  Hello Piotr Olejnik! Thank you so much for taking the time to do this interview. Please start by telling us something about yourself, how long have you been tattooing? How it all started? An idea of being a tattooist was born already in secondary school. After I left, I tried to work in many areas, just be able to earn money for equipment. It was over 10 years ago when the knowledge of tattooing was something hardly accessible. I never thought I'd be tattooing. In secondary school my friend made me a tattoo, my another friend saw that and constructed a machine. One day he came to me and asked if I could do something on his body. I think that really was the impetus, by which I felt a pleasure to try. Real tattooing started about 10 years ago, when I opened my own studio.

Q: How did you learn the basics? Did you have any help?
A: Nowadays we've got really easy access to everything. With funds we can buy equipment from lowest to highest quality. But the new artists have a big challenge because the quality of work is so high that it takes a lot of effort, talent a little bit of luck to enter in the pro scene. Although every year there are new names which can surprise you. When I was starting that wasn't so easy. I had to solder and sterilize needless by myself. There were very little companies that produced tattoo equipment. To get some knowledge on this topic you had to pay a lot or search for a long time for someone who could teach you basics for free. However, I learned on my own.

Q: You do all styles. From realism to surrealism! Every tattoo is a unique masterpiece. Tell me about the creative process. Do you have a sketchbook?
A: There are some differences in my tattoos, because I still look for new inspiration. I wouldn't stop with one style, although my favorite is surrealism. In regard to projects, I always have several prepared which I show to my clients or after we talk. I try to do the project similar to their own preferences. Of course they have to like my style. It's natural that every tattooist have his own specific style. I can't stand when people bring already made designs and want to multiply them and treat us like xerocopies. I usually don't work with them.

Q: Your color work is impressive. Do you prefer color tattooing?
A: Definitely I prefer color as you can see on most of my works. However, lastly I work a lot with black, just adding some colorful elements. For sure, I will never stop color tattooing.

Q: Tell me about your paintings. How do you get inspired?
A: Painting is very important to me. It is the second thing next to tattooing that I could do professionally. Unfortunately, because of the busy schedule, I can't devote as much time as I would like to, although I try to do that everyday. For inspiration, I look at Zdzislaw Beksinski and Tomasz Alan Kopera. He surprises me every time I see a new painting.

Q: Many "dark" themed tattoos, do you have any special reason or it's just for fun?
A: It is hard to explain. I never thought about it. Maybe it's because I watched a lot of horror movies as a child. I want my tattoos to look good either way.

Q: How important is to have good drawing skills?
A: When I started tattooing I was in a technical school so surely, I could do straight line better than something artistic. Seeing a lot of defects in my work I spend enormous amount of my free time just to perfect the drawing skills. You can't be good at tattooing without good drawing skills. I practice all the time and stil have impression that it could be better.

Q: You live and work in Kalisz, Poland. Tell me more about your tattoo studio and how we can book an appointment.
A: I work in central Poland, Kalisz, is medium size city. After ten years since the studio opened, I decided to do some significant changes. I'm currently building a new place which I want to adapt for tattooing and painting. It's two stored, which I want to divide in two parts and be able to do both things without a hoop. The studio is second home to me. Two people are working there. One responsible for client service and technical support and second for piercing, tattooing and laser removing/lightening.

www.eviltattoo.pl
tel.: +48 660 781 355
email: eviltattoopiotr@o2.pl

Q: How often do you visit tattoo conventions? 
A: From next year I hope I'll begin a convention tour. They are important for promotion, great opportunity to meet new people, make new friends and share knweledge with other professionals.

Q: Would you change something about your style?
A: I try to analyze every artwork from photos I take and search for defects and flaws to be able to fix them. I experiment all the time. With regards to themes, I'd rather stick to my style, but you never know whether I do radical changes.

  

 

Q: Any motivational words for the new artists?
A: I still feel like I'm a beginner, so I know how important motivation is. If we don't find motivation in our hearts we won't be able to do this right. Being an artist, one must be aware that constant learning is very important. In moments like winning something or doing interviews makes us happy and we feel like we did our work well and somebody appreciate us. Nothing goes to waste.