interview with tattoo artist Victor chil

  Hello Victor Chill! Thank you so much for taking the time to do this interview. Please start by telling us something about yourself and how you got into tattooing? I started with graffiti, when I was 15 years old and when I was 19 I started tattooing. One day, I asked the guy who tattooed me, Rafa, from Ronin Tattoo, how can I learn and start tattooing. He advised me about tattoo materials and places to buy it. I used to work with graffiti and with the money I bought my first machine and started tattooing.

Q: How long have you been tattooing?
A: It's been 8 years now.

Q: Do you have any favorite tattoo style?
A: Personally I like New School, because it gives me more freedom to create, but I also like realism because it relaxes me.

Q: I really love the new school tattoos... Since when the fascination for this style first began?
A: My fascination started with the Graffiti, that's where my style comes from.

Q: Do you have a sketchbook? Tell me about the creative process.
Yes, all my designs are custom made. I always start from zero. I work on the idea with the client and then I prepare the design. If the design is something very specific, I start from one or several reference images, so I can get reference of proportion, colors and measures. If it's not a very specific design, or if it's something I have already very clear in my mind, like a tattoo machine, I start from zero. I personally try to do different stuff and custom designs for every client, because it's what they look for when they come to me. And if the client let me, I try to change the idea, add details or different things to look better.

Q: Are there any type of tattoos you simply won't do?
A: I don't do covers, retouch or continue the work of other artists. The cover ups, I don't do because I work too much and I don't have enough time, so sometimes I need to chose. If I see the idea isn't feasible or it's not good enough for tattooing, I recommend and advice, but If I see the client doesn't give in, I say yes to everything.

Q: You always look for ways to improve...
A: Yes I would like to improve, but right now I don't have enough time to create new stuff. I work everyday. But next year I think about working in new styles, do something different.

 

Q: How long your clients wait for their appointment?
A: Basically they need to wait about one year, because even though I work full time, I have too much work. Fortunately I work with friends and it's a great environment at the shop.

Q: Getting a tattoo can be painful at times, especially on some extra sensitive parts of the body. How do you cheer up your clients?
A: I tell them: Take it.

Q: Any crazy experiences with them?
A: When I tattoo my friends, I shave them before tattooing, I paste it with vaseline in their face and make them a goatee.

Q: What is the best lesson you learned from your journey?
A: To appreciate and value my job.

Q: Any advice for those who are starting out?
A: My advice for those who are starting now is to work hard, continuously and a lot.