Our interview with Laura Egea, a talented tattoo artist whose work seamlessly blends intricate detail with bold, expressive designs. Splitting her time between Spain and the USA, Laura draws inspiration from both cultures, creating art that resonates with a diverse audience.

Dulce & Banana:
What inspired you to become a tattoo artist and how did your journey in this field

begin?
Laura Egea: Since I learned to use paints at a very young age, I have always drawn and painted, with oil being my favorite technique, which I started to use at the age of seven. It was during my university degree in fine arts that I began tattooing, as well as another of the techniques I already knew. I find it magical to be able to create works on living canvases, as it is a way of keeping art alive.
D.B.: How would you describe your signature style and what makes your work unique?
L.E.: Many people put it in terms of color realism, but it is true that I do not focus so much on realism, but rather I always give it a fantasy or even illustration aspect, so that stories can always be told and give rise to different interpretations when you see my tattoos. The use of color (sometimes very complicated color ranges) is what defines my work the most. It doesn’t have to be garish colors, but I also often focus on more neutral or tertiary colors, playing with both harmonic and complementary colors. I like to emphasize organic figures and, in the case of faces, always make the look express a feeling beyond. The fact that the tattoo adapts to the anatomy of each person is something intrinsic in my pieces and that plays an important role when it comes to defining and enhancing the physical form, as well as the intention of intuiting the personality, values and symbolism of the person wearing the tattoo.

Laura Egea tattoo artist

D.B.: Are there specific artists or artistic movements that influence your tattoo designs?

L.E.:
Of course, every artistic work has many and very diverse influences. From romantic and symbolic paintings to abstract expressionists and urban art, through to avant-garde art such as impressionist painters, or even oriental art such as Japanese prints or their ornamental motifs on ceramics. I mean that of course I have been influenced and am also influenced by countless artists whom I admire and of course I hope that my work also influences others. It is the basis of the evolution of art.
D.B.: How does Spanish culture or heritage influence your work, if it does?
L.E.: Spain is a country in which a diversity of cultures have historically come together, so that the approach to art and the arts in general has changed over the centuries and also depending on each territory according to the cultures that were in force. For example, I love architecture, and Spain is very rich in terms of the diversity of styles and techniques in this field, so I guess that having been in contact with different styles in one way or another has made me open my mind when it comes to exploring different techniques and knowing how to appreciate the beauty of different styles and then using and mixing them depending on how I want to focus my work. However, there are many other countries and many other cultures, such as Asian culture, that influence me a lot when it comes to making designs. I am currently working in the United States, where I am also being influenced by its own cultural heritage. In the end, every corner of the world is full of inspiration!

Laura Egea tattoo artist

 

D.B.: What advice would you give to someone who is getting their first tattoo?
L.E.: First of all, find an artist that you like and let the professional advise you. A talented artist with years of experience will always be a good advisor when it comes to selecting the first piece you are going to engrave on your skin, he will offer you different options and will make sure that everything is harmonious with the body shape and the character of the person.

D.B.: Do you have any type of favorite design or theme that you love to create for clients?
L.E.: Well, I love nature, its organic shapes and the effects of light on them, so making designs that include animals, flowers or plants is something I really like, although I love including fantasy female faces, I love anatomy, so including faces in which I can include diverse expressions is something I really enjoy.

Laura Egea tattoo artist

D.B.: What challenges do you face as a tattoo artist and how do you overcome them?

L.E.:
In this profession, each tattoo is already a challenge in itself, since I always want to invent and do something unique and different for each of my clients. To do this, you have to use a lot of imagination, inventiveness and above all, many hours of work!!
D.B.: How can you stay inspired and continue to evolve creatively in such a competitive field?
L.E.: I suppose it’s because I’m passionate about my work… I’ve always wanted to be a painter for as long as I can remember, and I’ve achieved it! So the fact that I can dedicate myself to what I like every day is already quite an inspiration! The good thing about art is that you never stop learning, so there are always small continuous achievements that feed your inspiration with new approaches and keep you always alive to create new
pieces.

Laura Egea tattoo artist

D.B.: What is the most significant or memorable tattoo you have created?
L.E.: I couldn’t say which one is the most significant, since I put all my effort into each one and always try to do it as well as possible. While it is true that the tattoos that give me creative freedom are usually the best and most successful, there are times when setting limitations is counterproductive to creating a great piece.
D.B.: How do you think the future of tattooing will evolve in terms of styles, techniques or social perceptions?
L.E.: Well, as I mentioned before, art is something that never stops being recreated, evolving and perfecting. On many occasions it is unpredictable what may happen or what styles may lead to, but I suppose that styles are infinite and that social perception of them is increasingly more open and inclusive. After all, tattooing is an artistic way of expressing oneself and standing out, and even of building one’s own identity, since the tattoo is part of the person forever, it is part of their being.