Horiten the 1st is a female traditional tattooer from Nara, Japan. In this honest and enlightening talk she shed some light on what creates authentic Irezumi, the qualities that can help in this path and the value of Horikyo’s legacy. Her words are a beautiful manifesto about the way art relates to the core identity of the culture that produced it.   Big thanks to Maur Tattooing for creating the connection.   You can follow Horiten on Instagram and get more information on horiten.net     For news, updates, classes and more please visit stefbastian.com ..read more

I love Zac. We met years ago during one of his guest spots and I remember him having the same qualities that characterize him today: well articulate, talented, dedicated, always trying to make every word count. The difference between then and now is that, apart from increasing even more his artistic abilities and experience, he created a publishing company that is a reference in the tattoo world: AFTERLIFE PRESS.  Beautiful books that showcase some of the most influential contemporary artists while sharing the art and philosophy behind these accomplished professionals. All done with exqui ..read more

What makes up a successful career? It takes vision, courage, confidence and a few more ingredients. Today Big Meas, a global reference in the world of lettering, shares with us what brought him where he is today. He talks about the importance of cultivating not only the tecnical aspect but also, and perhaps more importantly, the human connection. You can find Big Meas on Instagram and at bigmeas.com   News and updates at stefbastian.com ..read more

With 30 years of tattooing under his belt and an intimate knowledge of Japanese culture, Crez is a reference in Italy for Japanese tattooing.  What I like about him the most, beside his expertise, is his genuine honesty and coherence, uncommon values that I personally treasure. In this cozy December afternoon we talked about what shaped him into the man he’s today; ethics within tattooing; how to hone your skills; the necessity of critical thinking and feedback; the importance of being open to progress.  The voice of people like Crez carries the weight of lived experiences, I hope ..read more

It’s been a privilege to sit down with Claudia De Sabe in this beautiful autumn afternoon to listen to her story and pick her brain on her own process. Over the course of this interview we learn how the beautiful work we all love her for is second only to her mindset. Unweavering work ethic, resolve and dedication are the foundations of her success, the same stuff greatness is made of.    Recorded once again Live at the Kaiserstadt convention in Aachen, I’d like to personally thank Andreas Coenen for putting together my favourite show on the planet.    Follow Claudia on In ..read more

I’m really happy to have had the chance to chat with Swasthik, she is such a beautiful presence in the tattoo world.   Known in the tattoo world as gunga_ma, for Swasthik tattooing runs deep in her blood. Her grandma, called Paccai Kutta Ma (tattoo mama), has been sticking and poking tattoos for over 40 years. Together with the spiritual practice she inherited growing up, she has been exposed from a young age to sacred symbols and rituals that reflects into her own art. I admire her work not only for the craftsmanship, creativity and dedication behind it but also and especially for the sp ..read more

“Influential. “Pioneer”. “Contribution”.   These are the words that you see most commonly associated with Marcus’ name in books, magazines and when talking to veteran tattooers.     A great influence, Marcus started experimenting in the 90’s, with a few others, to find a new take on subject and tecnique in tattooing. And so, Newschool was born. An innovative approach to color, design, composition, light sources that shaped the generations to come. Marcus Pacheco is definitely a name that we need to know as tattooers because is thanks to people like him that today we can do certa ..read more

Lorena Morato is a Brazilian tattooer specialized in neotraditional. Well known not only for her tattoos but also her beautiful paintings, Lorena shares with us how she came to reinvent herself, rediscovering a new sense of authenticity which is well transmitted in her art. I have personally found great value in her journey and I’m sure you can derive a sense of direction, especially in relation to developing your own style. Plus, she’s a lovely human being.  You can find Lorena on Instagram and at her shop Golden times atelier in Cologne, Germany ..read more

Do you like to paint? Have you ever struggled with any part of the process and wish you had some sort of guidance?   This week’s episode features Kelly Anne Powers, third generation artist and host of the Learn to Paint podcast. In her show Kelly talks to some of the best painters in the world, sharing with her audience their process, systems and insights, fruit of decades of practice.   I have really enjoyed this conversation and I believe you can find value in Kelly’s words, particularly when she explains the difference between skills and style and the importance of habit over insp ..read more

Pascal Bagot is a French journalist who’s been writing for specialized press for twenty years. His passion for Japanese culture led him to get a full backpiece by Horitoshi I and cross paths with other legends such as Horiyoshi III, Gifu Horihide, Horitada, Shige and more.  In 2017 he decided to venture into the world of Akimitsu Takagi, a journey that will eventually take the form of a beautiful book entitled ‘The tattoo Writer’. For all of you out there, enthusiast of Japanese tattooing, those pictures are amazing. You can find Pascal on Instagram and thetattoowriter.com See Pascal’s ..read more