Anthony Deligio

If Anthony Deligio was a better-behaved child he may have never become a tattoo artist. You see, when young Deligio would act up, his mother would send him to his room to contemplate what he had done. That was when he started drawing with pencil and paper. And while we can’t verify whether he learned his lesson from the punishment, it’s clear he found a passion that he parlayed into a successful career. We spoke with Deligio about his love of black-and-grey, the gorgeous payasas he tattoos and more.

When did you first develop an interest in art?

I started drawing when I was 7. For punishment my mom would send me to my room and that’s how I passed the time.

When did you first become interested in tattoos?

I became interested in tattoos when I got my first one at 15.

How did you go about becoming a tattoo artist? Did you have an apprenticeship?

My apprenticeship came pretty randomly. I was just looking to buy supplies and the main artist from the shop asked me where I tattoo. I told him at home, because that was the truth at the time. So he offered me an apprenticeship after I showed him some of my work, and I took it.

What led you to black-and-grey? Did you work in other styles first?

I think I’m more drawn to black-and-grey because when I was younger I would just use pencils for shading instead of colored pencils.

Have you ever considered working in color?

Because of the style I was inspired by I’m not that into color tattoos. But I’m not opposed to doing them. I do love doing a neo-traditional color tattoo here and there.

We’re really impressed by your payasas. Can you tell us about creating them?

I love creating the clown girls because I’ve always been attracted to that style of art and I get to mix some evil vibes with a pretty face.

What’s something you haven’t tattooed a lot that you’d like to do more of?

I would definitely like to do more horror tattoos.

What is your favorite subject matter to work with?

My favorite subject matter would probably be flowers or mandalas. There are so many different ways to approach them with many outcomes.

Who are some of your biggest artistic influences?

I think influences in life are constantly changing as people grow, but when I first got into tattooing I was following artists like Mister Cartoon and Bob Tyrell because they were doing the style of tattoos I wanted to do.

Can you walk us through your process of creating a tattoo?

Being that it’s almost 2023, mostly everything I design is on the iPad, using apps like ProCreate.

What are some of the unique challenges when working in micro realism?

Micro realism gives you a good challenge, because you have to get all the details in on a smaller scale while also not compromising the healing of the tattoo.

You’ve worked on some pretty famous folks in your career, including 6ix 9ine and Ski Mask the Slump God. Is there added pressure when tattooing well-known clients since you know your work is going to be widely seen?

It puts a little pressure knowing your tattoo will be seen everywhere, but it also gives you more of a reason to do a good job because it’s the best free advertising you can do!

If you weren’t tattooing, what would you like to do for a career?

If I wasn’t tattooing for a career I would love to be riding freestyle motocross.

Where do you see your art going in the future?

Hopefully someday I will see my art in a tattoo museum, that’s my version of getting my jersey hung in the Hall of Fame.