Sponsored Artist of the Month – Eliot Kohek

From his very own crypt of a private studio in Annecy, France, Eliot Kohek is creating dark black and grey tattoos which blur the line between realism and surrealism.

From mastering skulls to creating twisted interpretations of gods, warriors and monsters - as well as the occasional realistic panda piece – Eliot has created plenty of killer artwork in black and grey.

We had a chat with Eliot about how he became a tattoo artist, how to create realistic skulls, and his artistic intentions for the future.

What was your life like before becoming a tattoo artist?

I started tattooing just after I finished my license in something totally different - heating engineering!

What is your art background?

I’ve always liked to draw but I didn’t study drawing, or start tattooing with any academic approach. I developed my understanding of it through practicing tattooing.

How would you describe your tattoo style?

Dark realism or surrealism.

Do you ever feel boxed into your signature style, or do you still love it?

I’m still learning a lot to improve my style, so I don’t feel boxed in by it.

What studio are you working at and who’s there with you?

I have a discreet private shop in Annecy, and Ruby Pay has been working with me for a few months.

Where do you find inspiration?

Instagram shows me fabulous art every day. It can be very inspiring when you use it well!

How do you plan out your designs?

With maximum freedom! I have the chance to be able to select very open clients who like my style and trust in me. I never show the design before D-day thanks to them!

What elements do you most like incorporating into your work?

Skulls first; then I like old architecture, vanity, nature, animals - and horror stuff of course!

What’s the secret behind tattooing great skulls?

Understanding the form in 3D, good lighting, sharp textures, and blur to create a focal point.

What tattoo equipment do you use?

Cheyenne pens and cartridges.

What inks and washes do you use to create your dark tones?

Pure black, greywash sets and white inks. For the brands, it depends.

Do you ever incorporate colour into your tattoos?

I’ve tried it of course, but I feel that I don’t need it for my dark style of artwork.

How have you been affected by the EU REACH regulations?

For black and grey artists it’s much more easy than for colour artists!

If you could do a collaboration with any artist in the world, who would it be?

Hard to say, there’s so much talent out there right now!

How do you get great pictures and videos for social media?

It takes a lot of time to find the right settings and make my video coherent with the same flow every time, but I love to make great content. I use an iPhone and of course a polarised lens for fresh tattoos.

Can you tell us about how you worked with Xbox on a tattoo to promote Gears of War 5?

Nothing special, they just contacted me to make a design for them, and then to make the design as a tattoo also. What an honour! I was unable to go to the event physically though, as it was in the US.

Which tattoo artists do you most admire?

I admire so many, but the artist who inspires me the most is Nickö Metalink - he did most of my tattoos.

Have you won any awards you’d like to brag about?

Not especially,awards are cool but not so important.

What’s fun to do in Annecy?

Beautiful lakes, mountains and nature - Annecy is one of the best French cities to live in! Everybody wants to move here, but it's getting too crowded now - so please, don’t come!

Are your hobbies and interests as dark as your tattoo work?

I still have a few white walls in my apartment.

What does the future hold for Eliot Kohek?

I want to apply my artistic vision to a medium other than skin; teach people who want to learn my tattoo techniques and help them to develop their own style; and make an album of a kind of dark electro music, which I’m currently working on!