Alina Mos • A Female Neo-Japanese Tattoo Artist

A few weeks ago we got to meet a Russian artist named Alina Mos and her lovely and delicate tattoos did catch our attention. Which led to a conversation to learn more about her.

For the readers who are not familiar with you, how would you introduce yourself?
Hi! My full name is Alina Moskinova. I’m from Russia, but I’ve lived in Spain for the last 8 years.

How & when did you start tattooing?
I started as an apprentice in a studio in Valencia (Vieja Escuela Tattoo) when I was 19, but my apprenticeship didn’t last very long. After a few months, I started tattooing realism as a resident artist. I know that it’s quite fast, but in that moment, for me, it was so exciting to see that someone was giving me the opportunity to start working and living from the art of tattooing.

I was not bad at realism, but I wanted to do something different; I wanted to do something that people could recognize me by, something I could create from zero. Then I began to walk away from realism to something more Neo-traditional… and then something more traditional. And here I am!

Interesting!! So how would you define your tattoo style now?
It’s hard for me to define my style of tattooing. I would say that it’s kind of a neo-traditional style, but with traditional and Japanese influences. Neo-Japanese perhaps? I don’t know, haha.

What do tattoos symbolize for you?
For me, it’s the purest form of art. I always compare tattoos to the paintings of famous artists like Picasso, Caravaggio, or anyone else. They are unique, and nobody will have a copy of the tattoos you have.

Where are you based?
Currently, I work in the studio that my husband and I own in Guardamar del Segura (Alicante), named Overlook Tattoo.

What’s the main source of inspiration for your tattoos?
The things that inspire me are a lot, starting with books, paintings, and even movies.

What’s the most challenging aspect of being a tattoo artist in 2023?
The most challenging aspect is that nowadays, there are a lot of good tattoo artists around the world. All is already invented, so it’s really hard to stand out.

Also, I think that a person who would like to start tattooing today will have some difficulty getting lost and understanding what tattooing really means! I see that there are so many people who start tattooing thinking that it will make them famous and rich, forgetting about the art behind tattooing. You really have to love it, to be a good tattoo artist, at least in my opinion. On the other hand, being a tattoo artist gives you a lot of freedom to discover the world, other countries, new people, etc. That’s crazy to be able to travel and work at the same time.

What’s your experience at tattoo conventions so far?
I’ve never been to one (LOL). I mean, I’ve never worked in one, but this year I’m going to go to the Barcelona Tattoo Expo and I’m really excited!

What advice would you offer to someone considering a career as a tattoo artist?
That’s very typical, but I’d recommend drawing a lot. That’s the basement of everything. To analyze another tattoo artist’s works and see how they work, how they draw…

Who are the people you admire the most within the tattoo community?
I love so much the work of Claudia Desabe, Taymon, Miss Orange, and a lot more.

You seem to have quite a few sponsors. What can you tell us about them?
Oh yes, I work, and I’m sponsored by Radiant Colors, Tsunami Needles and Proton Stencil. I’m so happy and proud to work with them.

Your greatest passion besides tattooing?
I love painting. And I love watching movies, as I also get a lot of inspiration for my tattoos.

What are your goals/dreams for the future?
I’d love to keep improving my technique and my drawing skills. I think there’s no end to this; you always have something to learn. I’d love to travel more, explore US and maybe visit more Asian countries.

Anything else you would like to tell our readers?
I think no! I just wanted to say that I’m really happy to be in your magazine!