We were lucky to catch up with Dmytro Shcherbakov recently and have shared our conversation below.

Dmytro, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

I started tattooing while studying architecture in Warsaw. At that time, tattooing became a way to combine everything I was passionate about – drawing, composition, and turning ideas into visual form. In the beginning, I worked in many different styles and techniques because I was searching for what truly felt natural to me as an artist. That process helped me understand my own direction.

Nine years ago, there wasn’t as much accessible information or mentorship as there is today, so most of my knowledge came from personal experience, experimentation, and learning through mistakes. Today, beginner artists have far more opportunities to learn faster, but I still believe it’s important to start with the right foundation and quality information. That’s one of the reasons why I enjoy teaching through webinars and masterclasses, and why I wrote my educational book Skin Not Paper: The Modern Tattoo Guide, where I organized my experience into a practical system for tattoo artists.

I think the most essential skills in tattooing are understanding skin through real practice, strong artistic fundamentals, and knowledge of sterility and safety. Beyond that, it’s also important to develop taste, visual awareness, communication skills, business understanding, and the ability to evolve with trends without losing your identity as an artist.

Looking back, the biggest obstacle for me in the early years was self-doubt. Once you overcome that fear and start trusting your vision while continuing to work hard, growth becomes much faster.

Dmytro, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Dmytro Shcherbakov, also known as ASPHALT TATTOO. I’m an international tattoo artist originally from Ukraine, and throughout my career I’ve worked across multiple countries including Poland, Ukraine, Latvia, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands. For the last two years I lived and worked in the United States, and currently I’m working across Europe again, continuing to collaborate with clients internationally.

I specialize in bold, stylized tattoos with a strong focus on body-adapted composition. My approach blends graphic structure with raw emotional energy, creating designs that feel natural on the body and continue to age well over time. My primary styles include graphic and neo-tribal tattooing, along with projects inspired by Japanese aesthetics and anime culture.

One of the most important things for me as an artist is individuality. I develop every project specifically for each client, without repeating my own designs or copying the work of other artists. I believe tattooing should reflect personality and create a strong connection between the artwork and the person wearing it.

Beyond tattooing itself, I’m also involved in education within the industry. I’m the author of Skin Not Paper: The Modern Tattoo Guide, a professional educational guide for tattoo artists, and I regularly conduct webinars and masterclasses where I share my experience and approach to modern tattooing.

During my career, I’ve received multiple awards at tattoo conventions in the United States and had the honor of serving as a judge at major conventions including the Villain Arts Chicago Tattoo Arts Festival 2025, Villain Arts Tampa Tattoo Arts Festival 2025, and Villain Arts San Antonio Tattoo Arts Festival 2025.

Another unique experience in my career was being invited as a tattoo artist for Tomorrowland in both 2022 and 2023, where I worked at the tattoo location throughout the entire festival. Being part of such a globally recognized event and connecting with people from all over the world was incredibly inspiring both creatively and personally.

What I’m most proud of is building an international client base and having people travel from other states and countries specifically to work with me. For me, that level of trust means more than any award. I always try to keep evolving creatively while staying authentic to my own artistic vision and approach.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding part of being an artist is when clients come back again and again, and when they bring their friends or people close to them. That kind of loyalty represents real trust in you as an artist and in your vision. I value that much more than numbers or social media attention. To me, long-term trust and recognition from people who wear your work every day is one of the most meaningful things you can achieve in this industry.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

One of the main directions in my creative journey is a constant drive to evolve and never stay in one place creatively. I’m always exploring new approaches to composition, structure, and how tattoos can interact with the body in a more natural and expressive way.
A very important part of what I do is creating something that brings real value and emotion to people. A tattoo is permanent, so being able to give someone a piece that makes them happy, confident, or connected to their own story is something I take seriously and value a lot.
I’m also motivated by the idea of developing modern tattooing as a part of contemporary art, without strict boundaries or limitations. I believe the industry is still growing and changing, and I want my work to contribute to that evolution, both visually and conceptually.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.asphalt-ttt.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asphalt_ttt