Today, we are delighted to highlight Zynnka Mo, a Croatian born artist with a distinct artistic vision that seamlessly combines Color Realism with Surrealism. Although her initial ambition was to become a painter, the universe “gifted and led” her to tattooing, where she now lives a creative life, fueled by art, with her husband, David, who is also an acclaimed tattoo artist.
For the readers who are not familiar with you, how would you introduce yourself?
My name is Zynnka Mo, I am coming from Croatia, living in Slovenia (in Šenčur). I am an island girl with big imagination. Living and creating mostly in Slovenia where I live now together with my husband David Stritoff, as we often work collaborations and create together at our studio. From my early days I have been creating and doing different kind of arts where I have been totally lost from the material world and living in my own world where I was truly alive and feeling safe being me.
Somehow I knew one day I will live from the art but my vision was different in that moment, I was dreaming to have a studio for painting and graphic art but never thought about tattoos. But I have been gifted and leaded by the Universe to get me right there. Living a life I desired, but in more advanced way, for which I am so grateful. I cannot say the path was made of flowers and grass, but I am so grateful. As I met my husband just can say the life and the art got some new spark new level.
When the love enters the life it is visible in every area of life specially in art which we live in daily basis. Everything we do is an art. And we almost everything do together, creating working, nature tours, hiking….
Where did your fascination for tattoos really come from?
Fascination for tattoos? Hmm, good question. In early days it was just being different and living some kind of authenticity, being a rebel, but it was just a teenage story as most of teenagers get through. Today is something deeper and something I can talk about for hours. It is about the energy, connections, what you give to clients, what kind of energy you put into their tattoos.
What kind of art you made specially for them, what intention this tattoo is carrying, fascination about being a creator of particular art and being a bridge that connects client with some parts of themselves. People rarely go away as same persons. That is what is fascinating about tattoos and being tattoo artist.
At what point in your life, did you decide to became a professional tattoo artist?
2015 was the year of change for me. As I was at my beginnings and being a piercer in my own studio where I had few business partners there but nothing was right, that year even became worst, even disaster, everything fell down, two of them left the business left their bills and I was omg what to do now?
But in a few days, I found a new place, started all over again, slowly leaving piercing and doing more tattoos. And then working on my first convention, getting first rewards… that is it. When you choose your self, everything is choosing you.
How would you describe the tattoo scene in Slovenia these days?
Tattoo scene in Slovenia (and also in Croatia) is pretty good, there is a lot of good artist there, most of them working b/g, not so much color realistic artists, also there is a lot of garage “artists”, clients choose mostly by price range, but the thing is how much you value yourself. Everybody has eyes.
How would you define your current tattoo style and how did you end up focusing on it?
My currently tattoo style is Color realism, Surrealism, where I like to add some geometric or graphic art. In the beginning it was basic as most artist started doing basic small tattoos, but as time was going on I was creating more complex tattoos, wanting to add more things that can be more attracted to clients or to my eye.
Please walk us through your process when you start a new tattoo for your customers.
When starting new project it looks like this: client comes for consultations, when we meet we first feel the energy and start conversation about design and placement.
Sometimes it goes easy but sometimes energies are not so smooth, the client has a vision of tattoo and he is not ready to take advice or surrender to us as we know our job. Then it is a problem. Well it is not a problem it is more like disagreement, so it is better not to take this project, but it is rare. Mostly we have a good and easy communication and design falls with ease.
After on the appointment day, it is like a ritual or like a family lunch, client comes, everything is ready, we prepare them, stencil, drying, making tattoo, with nice music, a little bit of communication, laughter, peace, silence, mixed emotions…. personal stories.… sometimes we have to use mental games for people that cannot take pain anymore, but it is also a part of a process, making them go through that challenges and being there for them and for ourselves.
What’s the most challenging aspect of being a tattoo artist in 2025?
I think today in 2025 it is not about being original or authentic, it’s more about to be more into marketing; more followers more seen in the social networks… no matter what you do.
Is your art really beautiful or numbers are the main thing?
Most of the people (new clients) works that way. Sadly, people invest in things like purses and shoes and throw them after 6 months but when tattoos are a life investments, they are counting pennies.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a tattoo artist?
The most rewarding aspect for me personally of being a tattoo artist is to travel and work in different parts of the world, being creative and making people happy.
Since you mentioned travelling: what’s your experience at tattoo conventions so far?
I have mostly good experiences at tattoo conventions so far. Well there also were some experiences that weren’t as planned but if you set it up in your mind like it had to be that way it is okay.
Did you ever participate at any tattoo contest?
Yes I did a lot of contests, alone and last few years together with my husband, I won a lot of prices and now we won together a lot of prices.
What’s your primary reason to attend a tattoo convention?
The primary reason of visiting tattoo conventions for me or us is to show our art, attract new clients and connect to other artists, exchange experiences; it’s not about competing, that is a thing that has not be the primary reason. Lot of times you can be disappointed if it is. That is irrelevant, you go to show the world the art you are making, stories that you are telling through tattoos, but competing is something that can be rewarded but it shouldn’t.
You know for somebody you can be the best but for another somebody else is their the best. The most important thing is to give the best from you and let it go. What happens, happens. The clients happiness and spreading words are the rewards too! And you cannot always win.
How do you think tattoo conventions could improve for the artists and the public?
I think nowadays conventions are more like industries, and most artists are there just for competition. I think there is no more gathering between artists and experience exchange as it used be. Yes there is but not as much as I don’t know 10 years ago. Especially younger generations.
What’s your favorite tattoo convention so far? And why?
I don’t know which one I can say is the best for me, each one is good experience, each of them is a guide line, what we (I mean David & me) can tolerate, where are our limits , where we would like to be or not.
What advice would you offer to someone considering a career as a tattoo artist?
For someone who is on the beginning or considering to be a tattoo artist I can say there is two opposite groups of things, commitment and practice and in the other side, being humble and do not go over your possibilities. I think it’s most important to work with all of your heart, to stay real and honest about possibilities, to be real about the stage where you are and of course to be real in your progress.
Who are the people you admire the most within the tattoo community?
Today there is a lot of great artist in the world but I just can’t look just the pieces they do, I look what kind of persons are what energy they radiate. So beside my husband I really can say the Malms are great, simple and good people, great artists, somehow I feel them similar to David and me.
What’s your biggest accomplishment as a tattoo artist?
Biggest accomplishment for me being a tattoo artist is not the prices from conventions or being known, is staying loyal to myself. Doing good job, having amazing clients who really appreciate our work, and of course creating from the heart with David and having fun in everything we do.
How do you stay at the top of your game?
Staying at the top of my game is always looking for some new inspirations, new approaches, new knowledge, making guest spots and participate conventions I think it’s very important. You are dead at the point where you think you know enough.
Do you do other forms of art besides tattooing?
Yes some other forms of art like paining, not as much as David but I hope in near future will be more time for it too.
Do you have a sponsor? If so, what could you tell us about your sponsors?
Yes we have sponsor, Xtreeme Tattoo Ink, one of the leading companies in tattoo ink industries, we are so grateful for being sponsored by them, and Printcil quite new brand of stencil printing solution applications, every their update is more amazing. I am really grateful.
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