Dino

When a tattoo artist is first starting out, they try a bit of everything to find the style they like best. Some find their way to colorful realism while others migrate toward saturated blackwork. South Korea’s Dino traveled to conventions around the world on a quest to find his signature style and wound up falling in love with one of the oldest and most revered tattoo styles on the planet—Japanese.

Now, he’s a renowned artist based in Los Angeles who’s putting his own spin on the genre. We sat down with Dino while he was visiting Inked NYC to discuss his earliest inspirations, how he found Japanese tattooing and why he’s drawn to the color red.

Who was the first artist to inspire you?
I was inspired by Horimaroo, a Korean tattoo artist. He’s taught me and helped me become who I am today. We used to sketch together and he gave me a lot of advice that I’ve studied since. Horimaroo’s work is very traditional yet sophisticated Japanese style. I still keep in touch with him and he always motivates me. He is a great mentor.

Did you have a traditional apprenticeship or are you self-taught?
I studied alone. When I started studying, I watched many videos on YouTube and Instagram. I also tattooed myself, my wife and my friends. Unfortunately, tattooing is still illegal in Korea and for that reason, I was not able to learn tattooing thoroughly. Therefore, I’ve traveled to many countries in order to learn from other tattoo artists.

How did you create your signature tattoo style?
I always think deeply about what I do. I’ve been to many conventions to absorb other artists’ skills in order to make my own style. Horimaroo has been a great adviser to me and I’m trying hard to learn and experience something new. I’m still eager to learn more about tattooing and to move forward and become a better me.

How has your style changed over time?
To be honest, my style was American traditional at the beginning. I wasn’t so good at drawing, so I thought it was easy for me to start there. Then I started doing blackwork to focus on details.

I went to many conventions and through contests I fell in love with Japanese style tattooing. I was fascinated by the scale of Japanese tattooing and I tried to mix my own style with the Japanese style. I’m looking forward to seeing how it will be developed in five to 10 years.

Why do you gravitate to the color red?
I love using bold, contrasting colors. When I visited a convention in London a few years ago, I found my signature style as soon as I saw a model with a bodysuit. The model had a very bold contrast of colors in her tattoos and it caught my eye. I realized I wanted to make my style not only stand out, but also be beautiful. And the answer to that was using the color red. I personally think red is very beautiful and powerful. When it comes to using black simultaneously, it conveys a sense of energy and strength.

What’s the key to executing a perfect dragon tattoo?
I’d like to make my dragons more classic, but also have a sophisticated design. I still have a long way to go, so I study a lot by searching other artists’ work and painting in other styles. I also find a lot of inspiration from traditional Japanese ukiyo-e paintings. I like to study how they draw dragons, express details and create a dynamic atmosphere.

What’s your favorite part of the tattoo process?
I love the moment when I use red after all the black shading is done. The effect of the bold contrast of color when the red color is done is beautiful. I’m also happy when my work satisfies my clients. My tattoos are always a collaboration between my ideas and the client’s. We are working together in order to create the perfect tattoo.