In our March issue, we’re proud to feature Albert Michael as our cover artist. A talented tattoo artist from Germany, Albert specializes in black and grey realism, earning recognition for his meticulous attention to detail and lifelike shading. Join us as we gain insights on his artistic journey and the creative process that sets him apart.
Can you start by introducing yourself and sharing how you began your career as a tattoo artist?
Hey, I’m Albert Michael, 32 years old, based in Germany. My career as a tattoo artist began in October 2014 after I moved to Germany. I started tattooing because I had no other life options. I lost my job in Italy, and I didn’t know what to do with my life.
You specialize in black and gray realism. What draws you to this style, and why did you choose it?
I specialize in black and grey because it’s actually what I always wanted. But before I came to this point, I experimented with all types of styles, from new school to dotwork to mandala. But in the end, I accepted that black and grey is my way, and I just had to go for it.
You’ve created many impressive large-scale projects covering big body areas. Can you explain what you mean by your motto, “I dress people with tattoos”?
Yeah, black and grey on a big scale is my highlight point. I call myself a Skin Designer because I love to dress people with tattoos. This gives me a sense of satisfaction and confidence in what I’m doing.
Tattoos are more than just images on the skin—they often represent personal experiences and life stories. How do you approach this deeper aspect of tattooing?
The last two years of my life have made me understand that a cool tattoo design on the skin is no longer necessarily my main goal, but interpreting people’s personal stories in the form of a tattoo gives me much more motivation and the desire to delve deeper into this path.
How do you design large-scale tattoo projects? Can you walk us through your creative process?
For sure! First, I need to have a deep talk with the client and get some personal information that could help with my creativity process. Then I take a photo of the body area, and after that, I check how many flow possibilities I have for that place. Next, I start looking for elements to complete my composition. I put some highlights and shadows, then add some flow to it, and then I’m ready for the rumble.
Do you have a favourite or particularly memorable tattoo you’ve done? What makes it special to you?
There are a lot of awesome experiences with clients—almost every day feels like another day, another story to tell. It’s important for us, as tattoo artists, to recognize and accept that what we give to the clients is forever, and that’s why every tattoo we create should be memorable.
Are there any exciting plans or upcoming projects in your career that you’d like to share?
There are a couple of crazy large-scale projects coming up, and that’s giving me a lot of excitement! And about plans, yeah, I’ve got a lot of futuristic plans for my career, but I’m learning that it’s better to keep them to myself, let them happen first, and then talk about them.
You’re a multi-talented artist, and we’ve seen music production featured in your profile. Can you tell us more about that?
Music for me is a little bit like tattoos— a forever thing. Even when the days are really busy, I always try to find the time to produce some new music tracks.
How do you like to spend your free time to recharge and find inspiration?
I spend my time with my family. Sometimes we drive somewhere over the weekend, but mostly, it doesn’t matter where we are and what we do—it only matters that we’re together. My family is my biggest inspiration. With them and for them, I do everything I do—even this interview.
