We were lucky to catch up with Marco Cerretelli recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Marco, thanks for joining us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I started tattooing 31 years ago in Italy while I was in the military. I’m basically self taught because back in those days,in Italy, nobody was offering any type of apprenticeship.
I figured out things just by looking at tattoo magazines or just trying different approaches.
It was hard and frustrating but little by little and with the help of other tattooers that were in my same situation,I was able to learn more about the equipment and techniques.
Passion and tenacity were my driving forces.
Creativity and ingenuity helped me figure out stuff that otherwise nobody was gonna teach me.
I wouldn’t change anything though because I’m proud that I developed artistically through hardships.
It’s almost a badge of honor,
I’m proud to belong to a generation of tattooers that knows the basics of this profession (how to build a tattoo machine, how to make needles, how to make colors, how to make stencil by hand, etc) and proud to be part of the last generation that holds deep respect for all the artists that came before and paved the way for all of us.

Marco, 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?

I got into tattooing in 1992 while serving in the Italian army. I always had a passion for art, in all his forms.
I graduated from the Academy of Arts in Florence Italy.
Tattooing felt like a magical thing, so fascinating and mysterious.
My curious nature made me want to explore and eventually I fell in love with this incredible form of art.
I’ve been doing it ever since, in different cities and in different countries, with great passion and deep respect.
Respect for the art and respect for my clients, because clearly without them , I wouldn’t be where I am, doing what I love.

Have you ever had to pivot?

A pivotal point in my career is definitely the decision to move to America from Italy in 2002. It was hard to leave the comfort and security of the country I grew up in, to pursue my dreams somewhere far away and that I had no familiarity with.
It was a necessary step though because in Italy the tattoo business wasn’t offering many opportunities, especially for a creative growth.
That’s why, armed with my tattoo machine and a suitcase full of dreams, I moved to New York first and eventually to Los Angeles.
That decision clearly changed my life.
It hadn’t been always easy or a smooth ride but it gave me the opportunity to make a name for myself, and I’ll be always thankful for that.

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

My mission since day one was to make my clients happy. As simple as that.
A good tattooer doesn’t tattoo exclusively for himself or to feed his/her ego.
A good tattooer does it keeping in mind that the client is gonna walk around with something indelible for the rest of his/her life…and act accordingly.
I’m fortunate that people are willing to let me “mark” them with my art.
I wouldn’t be doing what I love if it weren’t for my clients entrusting me with their skin.

That’s why my creative journey has to include the client in it.
That’s why besides learning artistic skills, I had to learn effective ways to communicate with clients, listen to their questions and concerns and at the same time I learned to guide them and advise them on what work best as far as image, size, and placement.

Contact Info:

• Website: marcocerretelli.com
• Instagram: @ marcocerretelli
• Linkedin: marcocerretelli