We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Hans Serpa a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hans, so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.
It’s simple, really. I’m always thinking of creating something small, or big and important, or useful, it doesn’t matter to me.
It happens sometimes in my sleep. I wake up with ideas and I worry that I will forget them, so I write them down.
Before a painting or a tattoo I like to put some ideas into words. Like what emotions I want to show in the piece, what colors could bring me close to the feeling I want to represent.
My work in general seems free flowing and it is in many ways, but before the tattoo or painting there’s a lot of thinking and planning.
In every form of art I try to get the most refined outcome, but it’s a never ending task. As soon as you get close it escapes out of your hands.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I was born and raised in Nicaragua, the land of lakes and volcanoes.
At about 16 I moved to a neighboring country to live with relatives and continue my studies. After some time I went back home to go to university and study medicine.
I still find it fascinating, but I never finished medical school.
I always enjoyed painting so much.
It was my vehicle of escape.
When friends asked me if I wanted to be an artist I always said no because that would destroy everything. When it’s a job you sacrifice your freedom to create.
Now I think I found the balance, though. I always make sure that I take the projects that are my style.
I never studied art. At least not at any school or under anybody. I discovered my own style little by little and I’m still searching for something that has no name.
I did learn empirically about a great many artists like Kandiski, Marcel Duchamp, and many others… those were my teachers.
After many travels I moved to California, then Miami for a couple years.
Then I visited Europe for the first time. A good friend once said
-Hans that trip will change you!
I think he was right.
the architecture and the food gave me something more to incorporate into my work.
I travel sometimes to Europe doing tattoo conventions and visiting friends, especially the North of France and Belgium.
Then I came to Utah/SLC in 2019 and it’s my favorite place to be.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
The most important tool to have for me is the love of art in general.
Charles Bukowski explained it beautifully in his poem
Style
……“ Bullfighting can be an art
Boxing can be an art
Loving can be an art
Opening a can of sardines can be an art…”
understanding the tattoo is just a medium not different to any other one. I still do drawings for fun for me, without the need to show or sell.
I consider myself an artist who does tattoos and not the other way around.
There’s a difference.
The second is: I don’t listen to negative critiques of my work. But the most dangerous are the good critiques, they will stop the real growth. I just listen to my heart.
The third one is changing always. There’s something new to add every time. I make little changes like a science experiment, step back and analyse it and repeat, making notes to every little change so I can go back with certanties.
I will advise anyone trying to learn tattoos to never let go of the artist within.
Have the feeling that you are an apprentice even after 20 years of experience, that will keep your senses open to learn more.
When you start tattooing everything is new.
Before, you just drew or painted in your room, and it was a solo process. Intimate and pure. Never stop that relationship between your inner artist and you.
Don’t abandon him/her.
When you start to have other artists helping and giving you advice, that’s good.
You need to learn the rules completely in every style and then you can bend the rules.
How would you describe your ideal client?
I like when a client comes with some ideas about the tattoo project, but I love when they have no ideas!
That way we can create together a unique concept from scratch. I usually meet with my clients in person so I can have a better feeling, and with simple questions the drawing is created.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @hansserpatattoo
- Facebook: Hans serpa
