Join us as Raul De La O – with 12 years in the tattoo profession shares his journey, offering valuable lessons on art for the next generation and the inspiration behind the artist who leave his mark on the tattoo industry.
For the readers who are not familiar with you, how would you introduce yourself?
I’m Raúl de la O, tattoo artist with 12 years experience. My style is Anime/Cartoon/Comic. I started as an apprentice in a studio in the center of my city, where I learned several techniques and I found the style I wanted to work on. Later I set up a studio with a partner until I got a portfolio of clients and opened my own studio in San Vicente del Raspeig, Alicante. I’ve traveled to many cities around the world participating in conventions and serving as a jury member, and I would like to travel the whole world to showing my work.
Where did your fascination for tattoos come from?
I have always been passionate about the arts. As a child, I took oil painting classes and started tattooing friends and family. I left the army to dedicate myself fully to the world of tattooing since I am passionate about being able to make my clients’ wishes come true in something that is for life. I leave a part of myself in every tattoo I create.
At what point in your life, you became a professional tattoo artist?
Before tattooing, I was a soldier, but I decided to take a new path dedicating myself to taking advantage of something that I am good at and allows me a better quality of life. It hasn’t been easy, since they have been years of much sacrifice and perseverance to get to where I am today. When I look back, I see that it was really worth all the effort during these 12 years of profession.
Where are you based?
I have my own studio in San Vicente del Raspeig, a town next to the city of Alicante. I also travel several times a year to Germany, and in the future, I hope to work in the United States as well.
How would you describe the tattoo scene in your country these days?
I think the tattoo world has evolved a lot in recent years. When I started, being a tattoo artist was not a profession that was well seen, just like having many tattoos. Fortunately, this has changed and is considered an art like any other. If there are children who want to be tattoo artists when they grow up and there are more and more young people who are starting in this profession (More and more young people aspire to become tattoo artists). I also think that Spain in particular is not the place where more value is given to this profession economically, since there is more and more demand and more supply of people who tattoo.
How would you define your tattoo style?
My style is Anime/Cartoon/Comic in color. I enjoy creating unique designs while respecting the original image of the creator of the character. I always try to make my works as canonical as possible.
What’s the main source of inspiration for your tattoos?
As I said, I always take all the reference images of the same anime or comic, to give the client the security that he will carry his favorite character forever, not a character that looks like this character.
What’s the most challenging aspect of being a tattoo artist in 2024?
I think the most important thing today is apart from doing a good job, you have to be very active and skillful with social networks, since they are the main showcase for our customers. As I say sometimes, we are tattoo artists, but we also have to be creators of quality content to attract an audience and differentiate ourselves from other artists.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a tattoo artist?
For me, seeing my client’s satisfied face when I finish the piece, the customers who repeat with you, and those customers who end up being friends. Personally, I like to create a bond with customers since we spend hours together. I also always try to offer a complete experience for clients, taking care of all the details of my studio, and personalized attention with each of them.
What’s your experience at tattoo conventions so far?
I’ve attended many conventions. I started traveling through all the cities in Spain and as I gained recognition as an artist I started to travel and teaching in other cities and other countries. Over the years, I’ve won awards and prestige not only in my country, and I have also attended as a jury in several important international conventions such as the Urban in Rome. On a personal level, I am very competitive. When I attend conventions, I always give my best. Despite attending many conventions, my nerves never go away, and when I win an award I feel the same joy as always as the first time.
What’s your best memory out of any tattoo convention you have been to so far?
One of the best memories I have was my first prize at the convention in my city, Alicante. I went up to collect the prize with my daughters, and it was a very emotional moment since all my family and friends were there to support me. On the other hand, I also have many anecdotes of conventions in which we have attended several friends from work, and we have had many good times together after a long day of tattooing.
What’s your primary reason to attend a tattoo convention?
The first reason: To win. As I mentioned before, whenever I go to a convention, I try to win since it is something physical that rewards my effort and my work, and it is an honor that a jury chooses your work as the best. The second thing is the experience that entails; traveling, visiting other places, seeing work colleagues and having a good time together. I also love seeing other styles and works, even if they’re different from my own.
How do you think tattoo conventions could improve for the artists and the public?
This is something that will always happen. I have attended many conventions as I always try to keep the best of the organization of each of them. In my opinion, the perfect convention doesn’t exist, but I do believe that over the years this will change.I believe artists should collaborate more with organizers, since we – artists pay money for our stands and there are also no benefits for us in terms of food/drink. In my case, we often spend 12 hours or more inside the enclosure.
What’s your favorite tattoo convention so far? And why?
My favorite tattoo convention, until now, is Urban Land in Rome. I have been attending that convention for 5 years; first as a contestant and then as a jury. It’s my favorite for several reasons:
First of all, the organization, I think it’s one of the best convention organizations I’ve attended.
And secondly, I love Rome. Even though I’ve been there for several years, I never get tired of returning.
What advice would you offer to someone considering a career as a tattoo artist?
This is a question I get from many followers, and my answer is always very clear; you have to set yourself a goal and sacrifice everything it takes to reach it, otherwise, you will stay by the way and you will not be an artist, you will only be a person who tattoos.
Who are the people you admire the most within the tattoo community?
Adrienn Kern and Ignacz Bence, It seems to me that both have a very good technique separately, and when they collaborate, they always produce an impeccable job.
What’s your biggest accomplishment as a tattoo artist?
There are several things that make me proud of my career. First, my prizes, I remember each one of them. Second, customers who have been tattooing with me for years and electing me as their trusted artist. Something that fills me with pride is also seeing how my daughters say: “My dad is a tattoo artist, and he is the best”.
How do you stay at the top of your game?
I think I’m always in full evolution. I try to reinvent myself and give my best in every job I do. I don’t like to stop, I work from Monday to Saturday, even some Sundays, I keep going out of conventions and traveling to other countries to work and be better known.
Do you do other forms of art besides tattooing?
I have a project in mind that I am still shaping to offer a good service. This way I hope in a while to be able to have some more free time to spend it with my family.
What are your goals or dreams for the near future?
I have always achieved every goal I have set for myself. My goal now is to go to work in the United States to continue showing my work outside my country.
Do you have a sponsor? If so, what could you tell us about your sponsors?
I collaborate with the best product brands. Vlad Blad for my machines, Kwadron for needles, Radiant for inks and Proton for everything necessary during the tattoo process (stencil, soap, butter) This is also something that fills me with pride, seeing that the brands are interested in my work and want to collaborate with me. In a way, collaborating with the best brands also gives you prestige, apart from the facilities they give you to try all the products.
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