We were lucky to catch up with Michel Ramirez recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Michel thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?
I’ve always known I would pursue a creative path, art has always been a part of my life. The first time I held a tattoo machine was a monumental starting point to my career. I was 16 at the time, accompanying my brother to his tattoo session to begin his sleeve. Up until that point, I had known about tattooing but never had perspective into the life of an artist. Walking in to the studio for the first time brought me a feeling of familiarity and comfort. It almost felt unreal. Seeing the whole process from showing the design, to applying the stencil, to then tattooing it, was so interesting. That moment opened up a whole new perspective on what I could accomplish as a creative. After a few hours in and stories shared, the tattoo artist at the session allowed me to apply a few lines onto my brother – though I admit they were horribly shaky, that was the moment I knew I would pursue becoming a tattoo artist. So much power in your hand, yet precision and balance are key.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
My name is Michel Ramirez, I’m 28 years old from Leon, Guanajuato Mexico and I am a self-taught tattoo artist. I’ve been practicing my work for the past 6 years and predominately focus on fine-line, black and grey illustrative-realism tattoos. My designs are influenced by my day-to-day life and I’m constantly inspired by other amazing artists around the world. I bought my first tattoo machine while living in Mexico in 2017, right before moving to Denver the following year.
My style of tattooing, along with my artwork, has evolved immensely. Each tattoo is better than the last. Each session is an opportunity to expand my knowledge. Contrast is a big focus in my work. My use of solid-black ink next to open skin allows the eye to consume details that would typically be lost in a more saturated tattoo. That, along with soft shading, brings everything together to create a beautiful tattoo.
I’m proud of the skills I have learned and are constantly evolving; Making each tattoo better than the last. This is a dream I’ve had for so long and I am enjoying each and every moment in this journey.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
In the industry I am in, the relationships you create and all the places you can visit while being able to share my creations is really rewarding. We are all individual artist but at the end of the day we have each others back, whether its to give advice or tips or sharing the space to guest at their studio, that to me is rewarding enough.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
A goal I have is to open my own studio. That drives me to keep moving forward and stay consistent. Having my own space is always great and I can invite artist to work with me.
Contact Info:
- Website: michramireztattoo.com
- Instagram: @michramireztattoo
Image Credits
Michel Ramirez