Ramon Nieves: From Self-Taught Tattoo Artist to Surprising the World with His Skin Art.
Although today we can see various types of tattoos created by different tattoo artists, many based in the United States or even Europe, its important to recognize that Mexico and Latin America also have artists who impress with what they can do by putting their art on skin.
One of them is Ramon Nieves, originally from Venezuela, who discovered his passion for tattooing during his adolescence and now leaves many people in awe when they see his work. Ramon spoke with Excelsior, and heres more about him.
The Story of Ramon Nieves
The story of Ramon Nieves is a testament to perseverance and passion. This young artist, who left his native Venezuela at 17, has traveled a long path both geographically and professionally.
“It was a beautiful process that shaped me as an adult. It was a process where I forged my adulthood, as I left Venezuela when I was about 17, then I went to Colombia, from Colombia to Santiago, Chile, and from Santiago to the United States. I spent about 6 years in Santiago, and Ive been here for 1 year,” Nieves explains.
The constant change of scenery not only shaped his personality but also led him to discover new cultures and experiences that influence his art today.
Ramon remembers how a friend from his art school was his first reference in the tattoo world.
“In art school, a friend started tattooing, so I guess that was my first approach to tattoos, the first person I had close to me. I think thats where the spark started, seeing what could be achieved with a tattoo on skin and the responsibility it carries. I think all of that piqued my curiosity because I cant say I loved it at first sight. It was more about curiosity, and over time, as I studied and started doing it, I fell in love with it.”
Although at first, he had to face the challenge of talking to his parents and telling them he wanted to start tattooing, his passion for tattoos prevailed.
“The difficult part back then was talking to my parents about the idea of starting to tattoo, but they supported me, despite the taboo surrounding tattoos. I think nowadays its much easier to talk about tattoos than it was maybe 11 years ago.”
Self-Taught Learning: From YouTube to the Studio
In an era when information about tattoos was limited, Nieves turned to YouTube to take his first steps.
“Thanks to all this technology and social media, in my case, when I started, YouTube was the closest thing I could find for tattoo tutorials or beginner-level classes. So I started searching for videos and followed the guidance from what I was watching. Luckily, there were several explanatory videos that gave you tips on how to calibrate the machine you were using or which needle they recommended for making a line or shading. It was all trial and error.”
His learning progressed quickly when he managed to integrate into a studio.
“About a year and a half later, I started working with colleagues in a studio. Thats when things changed a bit because I was getting more information from the outside: ‘I have a friend who does it this way, and I do it this way. Look at how this works.’ The information started coming faster, and I had it there every day.”
The Development of a Personal Style
Over the years, Ramon found his passion in surrealism.
“The tattoo world is flooded with so many styles (…). I think my inclination toward surrealism has been there since art school, which is also what Ive been drawing. So, I think thats where the visual comfort came from or the visual appeal that attracted me to those images. At first, I did everything: lettering, mandalas, traditional. I simply translated it into tattoos.”
For Nieves, the challenge of creating a tattoo goes beyond technique.
“Each tattoo has its own challenge because you’re facing a person, and in this case, its a canvas that has life. The idea of a person combined with your style and artistic proposal is a brainstorming session between two people. Thats where you create the connection with the other person.”
The Evolution of Tattooing as Art
Ramon celebrates the social progress of tattooing, which has moved from being a taboo to being recognized as a form of art.
“Nowadays, weve seen football players, actors, and many famous people with tattoos. So, tattoos have moved from being something marginal to something luxurious. Having a tattoo is a luxury, its art on your skin, and its art that will last your entire life (…). I think in a few years, well even see them in museums.”
However, he acknowledges that some cultural and religious barriers still persist.
“There are religions where, socially, within those religions, tattoos may remain forbidden for a long time because they believe the body is a temple of God.”
Advice for Beginners in Tattooing
Finally, Ramon shared some advice for those who want to start tattooing.
“Lots of discipline, staying focused on your goal, and being clear about what you want to do. It’s better to have one specific focus and concentrate on that to maybe see results in a shorter time (…). You also need to do it with a lot of love and care and understand that the person coming into the studio might be experiencing something life-changing.”
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