We were lucky to catch up with Aldo Romero recently and have shared our conversation below.
Aldo , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.
I realized early on that my mental process was very visual and graphic. From a young age I instinctively began trying to replicate what I saw—textures, shapes, lines. I wasn’t necessarily interested in anything else; I just needed to understand how things worked.
In my final year of high school, drawing caricatures of our teachers became the coolest thing to do, and I was pretty good at it. At the same time, I had taken a few vocational tests, and while the options were limited, most pointed toward graphic design or communication science. I wasn’t sure what path to take, but I knew I had to make a decision soon.
My older sister had a serious conversation with me about my options. It was after that talk that I decided to try Graphic Design. But once I started the program, I realized that something didn’t feel right. I wanted to dive deeper into the why and how of art, to explore its purpose and understand why it’s so essential. That’s when I knew I needed to pursue a more profound artistic path. So I enrolled in the fine arts program at my university.
Aldo , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
My name is Aldo Romero Scattolon, and I’m a tattoo artist and a professional sculptor originally from Lima, Peru, I’ve been tattooing professionally for over six years, and while I wouldn’t say I specialize in any one style, I remain open to my clients’ vision. I believe that as long as the design makes sense within the “language” of tattoos—solid lines, contrast, and color saturation—I can adapt my skills to deliver a wide range of styles.
I moved to Baltimore about 9 year ago and stared working in the food industry for a couple of years while trying to figure out how to pursue my artistic passions. One day, I saw a Craigslist ad looking for a tattoo artist with at least five years of experience who could speak Spanish. At the time, I only had one of those qualifications, but I knew it was what I wanted to do. So, I submitted my portfolio. They took me in, and I had the opportunity to prove myself—first as an apprentice, and then as a full-fledged tattoo artist.
I believe in building strong, positive relationships with my clients. I create a safe and judgement-free space so my clients feel comfortable exchanging ideas and developing a concept. At the end of the day, everyone wants a unique, cool design. My job is to help shape those thoughts, advise where necessary, and bring them to life.
I’m always expanding my knowledge and developing my skills. That’s why I’ve been focusing more on areas like color realism, black and grey horror and anatomy studies looking to move in the future to larger-scale compositions and body suits.
It might be hard to say what sets me apart, but my research into artists like Hokusai, Rodin, Witkin, and Francis Bacon has deeply influenced my work and pushed me to constantly evolve. I strive to stay adaptable to create unique pieces that reflect both my clients’ visions and my own artistic journey.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
As I mentioned earlier, I am a professional sculptor. In my early days as an artist, I sold a couple of sculptures to prominent art collectors in Peru and received an honorary mention in a national sculpting competition. However, while art school teaches you how to express yourself, it does not teach you how to make a living from it.
At this time, I was barely making any money with my clay sculptures and often found myself spending more on materials than I was earning. Despite this, my wife and I decided to take a risk and move to the U.S. Starting over in a new country, learning a new language, and rebuilding my career was the biggest challenge I’ve ever faced. After several years of working odd jobs to make ends meet, I applied for a tattoo apprenticeship, which ultimately changed my life.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
For me, creativity comes from observation and the enjoyment of any activity. Art is like brushing your teeth. The more you do it, the better you are at it. Like anything in life if you wanna learn how to do things you have to observe and understand the process. You become a master of your own interests. Once you know the rules, you can bend them to your will to create new things.
The most rewarding part is the sense of accomplishment that comes with the process itself. It’s not just about the end result, but about learning and being present in the moment.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @Este_ink @esteterrestre
