Giacomo Russo • Dark Narratives Forged in Discipline

Giacomo Russo is a tattoo artist shaped by discipline, self-reliance, and an unwavering commitment to growth. Born and raised in Naples, Italy, he entered the tattoo world without formal guidance, building his path through persistence and instinct. What began as a personal struggle to learn the craft evolved into a lifelong pursuit of refinement—one that continues to define both his work and his mindset today.

Over the years, Giacomo has developed a distinctive approach rooted in dark black and grey tattooing. His work explores themes of pain, resilience, and transformation, translating deeply personal experiences into powerful visual narratives. Rather than following trends, he focuses on authenticity—creating pieces that resonate emotionally and stand as lasting reminders of strength for those who wear them.

As the founder of Mentality Tattoo Shop, he has also built more than just a studio—he has created an environment driven by unity, respect, and shared ambition. Whether through his art, his philosophy, or his leadership, Giacomo continues to push boundaries, proving that tattooing is not just a craft, but a way of thinking, living, and evolving.

Let’s step into his world.

• How would you like to introduce yourself?

My name is Giacomo Russo. I’m 31 years old, born and raised in Naples, Italy. I’ve been tattooing since 2011, so this year marks my 15th year in the tattoo industry.

• Where can your customers find you?

I’m the owner of Mentality Tattoo Shop, which I opened in 2013 in Casoria, near Naples.

• How would you describe the current tattoo scene in a world city like Napoli?

The tattoo scene in Naples is highly competitive. There’s a lot of work for everyone because culturally we’re very inclined to “wear” tattoos. There are many highly skilled professional artists, and even on a national level, Italy has several names that stand out worldwide.

• How would you define yourself in one word?

Determined. Determination is what never let me quit—it’s what kept me pushing toward my goals no matter what.

• Where did your fascination for tattoos come from?

I’ve always had a strong passion for drawing. Starting out in tattooing was tough because I didn’t have the resources to learn or pay for courses, so I taught myself everything. Looking back, that struggle gave me the fuel to constantly improve and grow over the years.

• What does tattooing mean to you personally?

Today, I see it as both expression and meditation. Expression because it allows me to transform my life experiences into meaningful projects—for myself and for my clients. Meditation because staying focused for hours every day forces you to live in the present and concentrate only on what you’re doing in that exact moment.

• At what point in your life did you decide to become a professional tattoo artist?

After COVID. During lockdown, I had time to stop and really look at my work. I analyzed myself, first mentally and then technically. After that, I was hit by an incredible wave of passion and the desire to grow. I decided to dedicate every moment of my day to tattooing—and the progress I’ve made since proves it was the right path.

• How did your family react when you started your career in tattooing?

At the beginning, my family didn’t agree with my choice. They wanted me to follow a traditional path—study, graduate, and build a more conventional career. My mother literally cried every day at first, until she eventually accepted that this is what I truly wanted in my life.

• Did you go through an apprenticeship? How was that experience?

I didn’t have the chance to do a proper apprenticeship. I faced rejection and closed doors from studios I admired—and honestly, they had their reasons, because my attitude at the time wasn’t aligned with the tattoo world. But that pushed me to rely on myself. I ended up opening my own studio at just 18 years old.

• What did your first tattoo look like?

My very first tattoo was on my grandmother. It sounds crazy, but she was the first person who truly believed in me. It was a colorful butterfly on her arm—great memories.

• Do you usually do guest spots?

Not very often. I only do a few selected guest spots because I’m fully booked at my studio, and it’s hard to find a free week to organize one. But I’m definitely open to doing more in the future.

• As a tattoo artist, what does your daily working routine look like?

My day usually starts with boxing training—I find it very effective for managing stress, not just in work but in life in general. Around 10:30 AM, I go to the studio and get ready for my client. Sometimes I design the tattoo together with the client in real time, so we can align all the meanings without ever crossing that fine line that goes beyond their request.

Once I start tattooing, I like to talk with the client and really get to know them. I’m a very curious person, and I enjoy listening to people’s experiences. With the right filters, I believe this is a powerful way to grow as a human being. I usually finish around 8:00 PM, and after that I take some time for myself to relax.

• What is one surprising aspect of being a tattoo artist?

That no day is ever the same. I’ve never had the feeling of reliving the exact same day twice. There’s always something new to explore—whether it’s a project, a detail, or even just a different shade.

What’s surprising is that there’s no real finish line in tattooing. And that’s exactly what makes you feel alive and grateful for what we do.

• How do you determine the price of a tattoo?

Over the years, I’ve carefully refined this aspect. At the beginning, I adapted to the market, adjusting my prices as I reached new milestones. Today, I work with a fixed session rate.

This avoids unnecessary comparisons between clients and keeps everything clear and fair. A fixed, honest price removes confusion and prevents problems.

• What’s the most challenging aspect of being a tattoo artist in 2026?

Social media. I almost see it as a kind of cancer in society—not just in tattooing. I see many artists struggling because they’re not influential online.

But in my opinion, the most powerful and reliable tool has always been word of mouth. I’m not interested in having millions of followers or doing commercial tattoos just because they’re trending. I’d rather tattoo what I truly believe in, for a smaller but more selective audience.

• What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a tattoo artist?

Living by your own rules, not someone else’s. Of course there are pros and cons, but I truly believe we have one of the most beautiful jobs in the world.

We have the freedom to express ourselves however we want, when we want, and with the people we choose.

• What tools and machines do you prefer to use?

For the past couple of years, I’ve been using a pen machine by Emillion Irons. I find it very versatile, especially for the kind of soft shading I like to achieve. It also has adjustable hertz, so if I want a stronger approach, I can easily adapt the settings.

• What’s your number one aftercare advice for clients?

Keep it simple. Wash the tattoo and apply a very small amount of cream—not obsessively. Sometimes using too much product can actually make things worse.

• How would you define your current tattoo style, and how did you end up focusing on it?

My current style is dark black and grey. I like to work a lot with shadows and darker subjects. At the beginning, it wasn’t easy to establish myself in this style, especially in Naples where there’s a strong Christian cultural influence.

I don’t create demonic subjects—I represent pain and darkness through intense, raw imagery. Today, around 90% of my clients come to me specifically asking for this dark style.

• Please walk us through your process when you start a new tattoo for your customers.

I usually start by understanding something about the client’s life—some real meaning they want to represent. From there, it’s my job to combine references and reinterpret them through my own vision.

Most of my clients are people who want to be reborn after a difficult period, or people who have already gone through it but don’t want to forget. They use tattoos as a reminder—to push themselves to be stronger.

I observe a lot. I try to put myself in their situation and immerse myself in their emotions to understand what kind of image naturally comes to mind. Then I move to the iPad and start sketching freely.

Once the concept is done, I adapt everything to the rules of tattooing—anatomy, flow, and movement—so the piece fits perfectly on the person wearing it.

• How do you stay creatively inspired?

I observe a lot. I don’t just look at images—I try to feel situations. Inspiration comes from understanding emotions deeply, not just from references.

When I have clarity in my mind, the ideas flow naturally onto the iPad.

• How do you balance client requests with your artistic vision?

Most of the time, clients already come to me because they’re aligned with my artistic vision. The real balance is understanding how far they’re willing to go.

Not everyone is comfortable with darker imagery on their skin, but when it comes to meaning, they almost always trust the process.

• Are there any tattoo styles you’d like to explore more?

Recently, I started studying painting because I’d like to introduce some color into my work. But I think that will come in a few years.

Right now, I still love black and grey too much—but every now and then, it’s good to evolve.

• What’s the most underrated tattoo style?

In my opinion, Japanese tattooing. I believe it’s one of the most difficult styles.

You need strong artistic fundamentals, a deep understanding of anatomy, culture, symbolism, and composition. On top of that, technically, you need perfect lines, clean shading, and solid color saturation.

It’s probably the most complete style in tattooing.

• What’s the most overrated tattoo style?

I don’t think there’s an overrated style.

Working with many professionals and seeing different approaches, I’ve learned that every style requires a high level of study—even the ones that seem simple at first.

For example, fine line—one of the most discussed styles in recent years—requires extremely precise and clean lines. It’s much harder than people think.

That’s why I believe you should always look at tattooing from a 360-degree perspective.

• Are there any tattoos you prefer not to do?

I no longer do commercial tattoos.

There was a time when I tattooed around 20 lions in a single month. At some point, I felt completely sick of it. Since then, I’ve decided not to do any tattoo that doesn’t come from a real creative process.

If it doesn’t come from me, I don’t do it.

• Do you have sponsors? If yes, what could you tell us about them?

Yes, I work with several sponsors.

Raw Pigments for black inks and shading—I consider them among the best on the market, especially once healed.

Proton for stencil products—excellent quality.

Emillion Irons for machines—I was already using their products before becoming sponsored.

And After Tattoo for aftercare.

• As a tattoo artist, what kind of tattoo ethics is really important to you?

Respect comes first—for colleagues, for the craft, and above all for the client.

I often talk with younger clients who come in with ideas that are ethically questionable. I try to make them think and guide them toward something better. As a tattoo artist, I feel a responsibility to lead the client toward something unique and meaningful.

In my studio, there are no copies, no political statements, no nonsense. You have to be serious and show respect for the art of tattooing.

• What’s your favorite way to keep learning?

I observe a lot—especially the people I work with. Not just how they tattoo, but how they think and move.

You never stop learning. Sometimes even an apprentice can say something that shifts your perspective. You can learn from anything—from people, from the street, from everyday life. There’s an infinite amount of inspiration if you’re paying attention.

• Do you like to teach or mentor upcoming artists?

Yes, but mostly on a mental level.

In recent years, tattooing has evolved a lot technically—today, reaching a high technical level is possible for many. But if you’re not mentally ready, you’ll only ever be a good executor.

The real difference comes from what happens before the machine and the ink.

• What’s the best piece of advice you ever received to improve your tattooing technique?

Relax your shoulders, keep your feet grounded, and act as if you have unlimited time.

That mindset allows you to work calmly, stay focused, and ultimately improve the quality of your work.

• How do you stay at the top of your game?

By keeping things simple and balanced.

You need to balance your personal life and your work. The more distracted your mind is, the harder it becomes to create and tattoo with clarity.

Simplicity is the key.

• What do you think separates a good tattoo artist from a great one?

The ability to take risks.

Those who dare, win. When you become too rigid and overly technical, you limit yourself. The best artists in the world are the ones who dared to push boundaries and create things you wouldn’t expect to see.

That’s the real difference.

• How do you feel about the growing acceptance of tattoos in society?

I think we’re finally living in a world that’s more free from judgment. At the beginning of my career, I remember people looking down not only on tattoo artists, but especially on people with tattoos.

Today, it’s become normal—and that’s evolution. Everyone should be free to express themselves however they want, and tattooing is a powerful way to do that.

• What’s the biggest misconception that customers may have about tattoos?

Clients often underestimate what’s behind a tattoo project.

They don’t realize the level of knowledge and skill required even before the machine touches the skin.

• What’s the biggest trend in tattooing you have noticed in the last 5 years?

If we’re talking about styles, definitely micro-realism and fine line.

They’re less demanding visually, easier for people to wear, and that’s why they’ve become so popular.

• What’s your view on the rise of AI in tattooing?

AI should be seen as a tool for evolution. It’s similar to when wireless machines or the iPad first came into the industry—it’s part of progress.

In my opinion, if used correctly—especially to refine light, shadows, or add dynamics to an idea you’ve already developed—it can be a valuable asset.

At first, it can feel intimidating, like any new technology. But with the right mindset, it can only help us grow.

• What would you change about the tattoo industry?

I’d like to see artists focus more on their own path instead of constantly watching others.

Too often, this creates toxic competition that doesn’t help anyone’s career. I strongly believe in unity between tattoo artists—constructive exchange is far more valuable than envy.

That’s what I think is still missing.

• Do you work on other projects within the tattoo industry?

Right now, we’re fully focused on tattooing. But in the future, I see us opening a Mentality Academy.

• Do you do other forms of art besides tattooing?

Yes, we also work on drawing and painting within the studio, together with the team.

And outside of art, I practice boxing—which I consider a noble discipline that helps me stay balanced.

• Who are the people you admire the most within the tattoo community?

I could make an endless list of names.

But more than specific artists, I admire those who approach tattooing with passion, while still maintaining a sense of balance and lightness.

• What’s your experience at tattoo conventions so far?

I have only good memories from conventions. For me, it’s a way to disconnect, get carried away by passion, and at the same time challenge yourself.

When we go to conventions, we’re often around 20 artists from the same studio. We stay together, eat together, have fun—it’s a chance to build strong bonds even outside of work.

We’re more like a family than just colleagues.

• How do you usually prepare for a tattoo convention?

I choose a client who gives me full creative freedom. Then I prepare a project that I personally want to tattoo, and over the days leading up to the convention, I keep refining it to make sure it feels unique and not predictable.

• What’s your primary reason to attend a tattoo convention?

At the beginning, it was all about winning at any cost.

Now, I enjoy the atmosphere—the connection with friends and artists from other studios. It’s about sharing moments, having fun, and feeling part of something bigger.

• Have you ever participated in tattoo contests?

Yes, I’ve taken part in several contests and won around twenty awards, many of them first place.

In the past, I was hungry for victory. Today, I approach it in a much more relaxed way.

• How do you think tattoo conventions could improve for both artists and the public?

This might sound strange coming from me, but I think contests sometimes take away from the real atmosphere of conventions.

Visitors often struggle to find artists available, so over time they’ve become more like spectators. In the past, people went to conventions to meet international artists and get a piece from them. Now, most artists are too busy competing.

Something has changed, and I think there should be a better balance.

• Was there any event in particular that really boosted your career?

More than a specific event, I would say both victories and defeats shaped my path.

Especially the losses—they taught me to take things more lightly and helped me grow, both as an artist and as a person.

• Is there any tattoo that you have created in your career that you are particularly proud of?

I remember doing a tattoo on a client’s side during a convention. I won first place in black and grey—one of my first major awards—and I came very close to Best of Show.

It was an incredible emotion, something I’ll never forget.

• What is your greatest accomplishment as a tattoo artist?

My greatest accomplishment is building a studio made of professional tattoo artists who are united, with the shared goal of growing and supporting each other.

I’m very proud of the artists at Mentality Tattoo Shop.

• What advice would you offer to someone considering a career as a tattoo artist?

Be ready to sacrifice if you want to stand out.

Let passion take over—because if you truly live through passion, the process will never feel like a burden.

• What are your goals or dreams for the near future?

I don’t have specific goals to reveal right now. There are projects I’d like to develop, but it’s still too early to talk about them.

• What legacy do you want to leave as a tattoo artist?

I want to become a reference point for tattoo artists who are just starting out—just like other artists were for me when I began.

I want people to understand that anything is possible if you truly want it.

• To close this awesome interview, what’s your last message to our readers?

Long live the tattoo world.

Don’t be afraid to feel different—you are unique, just like the tattoos you’re going to wear.