Born in 1990, she got her high school diploma in fine arts in Padua (Italy). Her style, when it comes to tattooing, is made of simple and clean lines, geometry, and she gets inspiration, mainly, from what she sees on this wonderful island. She is a resident tattoo artist at The Mark Slave Tattoo Studio. It is clear that art runs through her veins, since she is also the singer in a high-level jazz quartet. We are now interviewing La Maggie Ink …
La Maggie Ink, Tattoo artist at The Mark Slave Tattoo Studio
How long have you been in the tattoo world and how did you start?
I started when I was 22, and just like almost everything in life, it happened because the destiny wanted it so. I was studying architecture and what I particularly liked was drawing, devoting time to lines; little by little I started to focus on illustration more and more and one day a friend suggested bringing a drawing onto the skin, trying with needles and see how it felt. That’s when I started tattooing myself and discovered this was my path, the art of tattooing. At the same time, I studied hygiene and health standards to get the certificate to make tattoos (both in Italy and Spain). Then I moved from one tattoo studio to another another until I arrived in Fuerteventura 5 years ago. Since 2015 I am a resident tattooist at The Mark Slave Tattoo Studio in Corralejo.
What are your preferences when tattooing?
I do believe that artists (either writers, musicians, painters…) get inspired by what they feel and see, and I see so much beauty on this island… That’s what flows into my style whilst tattooing, with no colour, in lines, geometric shapes… Sure these simple and clean lines that define my art are the result of the time I spent studying architecture, when I learnt a lot about drawing and proportions.
How’s the creative process when starting to tattoo?
It is extremely important that you have a clear idea of what you would like to get tattooed on your skin, a tattoo is something that lasts forever and this may be the most complicated task. This is why it is important to communicate and talk with customers so as to understand and come to a result they like, to know what it has to reflect. We come to a drawing, which also depends on where and how customers want it, and we adapt it to the position and shape of their bodies in order for it to so it really matches them. It is important that customers let the tattooist advise them, since sometimes they have a very clear idea, but it needs adjustments, the skin is not like a sheet of paper.
And what about music? It is more than a passion…
I’ve been singing for as long as I remember. It used to be a passion but now it is my way of life as well. I moved to Milan and later on to Rome because by then, in the conservatory of my city, there were no jazz singing courses, and that has always been the style I felt more identified with. In Fuerteventura I had the chance to meet these great music professionals —with whom I created Cuarteto Ventura Sound—, three artists who share the stage with me every week in Gran Hotel Atlantis Bahía Real and in the different events we have the option to chance in. (Silvio Lopez —piano and saxophone—, Isidro Ramirez —bass and double bass—, Jose Nobrega —percussions—).
