Tatouage Magazine Interview Nikko
A master of color portraits, Nikko Hurtado paid a visit to Avignon in May 2012 to share some of his knowledge to a crowd of tattoo artists who had come from all over France to follow his teachings. He also had time to push ink for a few lucky clients. We met the modest tattooist in the hope of finding out a bit more about him and his stunning work.
From his Black Anchor Collective studio in Hesperia, California, the 31 year-old artist has been able to carve a solid reputation in today’s tattooing world.
Whether they represent everyday people or famous pop culture icons, the faces that he’s been carving for the last ten years always look realistic and very alive. After having spent the last few months on the road, Nikko’s next stop was Avignon, France, where he was invited by Stéphane Chaudesaigues to host a seminar with Chaudesaigues’ Tatouage & Partage association (www.tatouage-partage.com). For two days, he would share his knowledge with eager tattoo professionals who had come from near and far to meet him and learn from the young master. Seats were limited, but a few lucky tattooists had a chance to look on and ask questions as Hurtado worked.
Tatouage Magazine: Was this your first seminar?
Nikko Hurtado: No, but it’s the first time that I tattooed while teaching, and this was a two-day event. It made me a little nervous, but as long as people are interested in what I have to share, all is well.
TM: What was your first contact with tattoos?
NH: My grandfather had ink on his knuckles and forearms. I liked that as a kid, but I waited until I was 21 before getting inked.
TM: Were you into drawing as a kid?
NH: I’ve been into art since I was this high (he shows how high). I would reproduce what I saw in comic books. Later, in high school, I took art classes, but I didn’t go to art school after that.
TM: So you got into tattooing as a teenager?
NH: I was into it, but most tattoo artists I would meet weren’t very friendly. And then, a friend of mine offered me to work with him in the studio he had just opened. I jumped on that opportunity and this is where my love for tattooing really took off. It changed my life.
TM: How did you end up specializing in portrait work?
NH: People kept asking me for portraits; they were the ones pushing me to do that. I like tattooing other things too, but always in a realistic style.
TM: Who are your favorite subjects for portraits?
NH: I like it when clients ask me to tattoo the image of a loved one. I also like doing movie stars and musicians.
TM: Which celebrity do they ask for the most? Marilyn Monroe?
NH: Yeah, and Elvis too, or Batman, Edward Cisorhands…
TM: Is there a face you would particularly be interested in doing?
NH: I am sure that there are many, but I can’t think of one off the top of my head. More than inking the face of actors, I like to do the characters they play on screen. I also love doing glamour shots from the 30s and 40s.
TM: Do you stick to reproducing someone’s face or do you add your grain of salt?
NH: It depends on what the client is after; whether they want an accurate rendition or they want me to alter the image. We always discuss that before I get started.
TM: Do you enjoy the challenge of doing realistic portraits?
NH: It’s always a challenge of course, but it isn’t as hard as it seems since I work from an existing image. You don’t have to think too hard to create art that’s already there. It’s not like doing a large Japanese piece you have to compose from scratch.
TM: Why did you favor color over black and grey?
NH: Clients were asking me for color portraits. I didn’t set out to work in color; it just came to me over time.
TM: How did you manage to master the use of color?
NH: You just have to practice to get the hang of it. Color is much harder and it’s not getting any easier for me either.
TM: So you feel like you still have something to learn?
NH: Oh yes. Everyone can always learn something new. You can learn tech stuff from other artists; things you never even thought of before. You have to observe what other artists do.
TM: Who did you idolize when you started tattooing?
NH: Stéphane Chaudesaigues, Paul Booth, Robert Hernandez… All the greats.
TM: Do you have favorite painters too?
NH: I like European painters like Rembrandt, Caravage, Raphaël…
TM: Do you paint?
NH: Yes, it’s a logical evolution from tattooing. Both disciplines are very demanding when it comes to the amount of work you have to put into them.
TM: You’re obviously not afraid of hard work.
NH: I certainly worked a lot to get to where I am, but I also observed the work of other tattooists and that helped me progress. I asked a lot of questions too.
TM: Would you advise beginners to ask a lot of questions?
NH: Absolutely. You should never stop asking questions! As I was saying earlier, there’s always a lot to learn by standing beside a good artist.
TM: When you see how many great tattooists work today, do you get the feeling that we might be in a golden age of tattooing?
NH: I don’t know. Many great things are happening today in the world of tattooing, but let’s not forget that we wouldn’t be here today without the work of our elders, the trailblazers. Too many young tattooists seem to forget that without these roots, none of us would be doing this job.
TM: Do you find it too easy to start a tattoo career today?
NH: It’s easier than ever, but it still requires a lot of work. However, there are so many of us in this business today that if you want to succeed, you really have to stand out on your own.
