Andrea Afferni is one of the best tattoo artists world-renowned for incredible realism and portraits on skin.
At 36 years old, his style is 100% realism. Everything originates from a real photo: portraits, wildlife, famous people, landscapes, sculptures. His pictorial technique and his shading in black & gray have influenced the original use of ink on skin. His style derives from pencil drawings on paper and traditional oil painting because he was a pupil of one of the greatest painters of the twentieth century, Master Alberto Lanteri, a portrait painter of Pope John Paul II and Queen Elizabeth.
In 2003, his work deviated from the common rules of tattooing, and he invented the ‘Magnetic Style’ to express a more ‘futuristic and modern’ approach to central and traditional real subjects with a geometric frame of lights and shades.
In 2010, he was named the Best Portrait Tattoo Artist in Italy and one of the Best Portrait Tattoo Artists in the world by the English pioneer Lal Hardy, in the book “The Mammoth Book of Tattoo Art.” Andrea Afferni has won many awards and has been interviewed in more than 40 international magazines and art books, including ‘Under the Skin of Rock ‘n Roll’ with tattoos based on famous portraits of rock icons, in the book ‘Tattoo Realistica,’ ‘TATTOO Best of Artists,’ ‘Tattoos Bright Colors’ Book, and ‘Tattoo’ Book by Logos.
In 2011, he was interviewed on Italia1’s “Studio Aperto” during the news segment with a dedicated feature entitled “Real Paintings on the Skin.” In 2010, Andrea Afferni was the first tattoo artist in Italy to host the first seminar on the technique of realistic tattooing and portrait work in black and gray during an Italian Tattoo Convention. He was also one of the first tattoo artists in Italy to conduct face-to-face seminars for other professional tattoo artists in his private atelier in the north of Italy. Since then, other artists have been inspired by his teaching program.
Today, he conducts his seminars at major events on all continents, including America, Asia, Australia, and Europe, alongside the world’s best tattoo artists. He is a master for future generations, and you can meet Andrea Afferni, watch his work, and attend his seminars at tattoo conventions worldwide.
