From illustration to tattooing, Barcelona's Briel Medina specialised early on in newschool, a style that allows him to satisfy his graphic culture derived from cartoons, but also his search for originality and his sense of experimentation.
Have you always drawn Briel?
For as long as I can remember, I can't remember showing up with anything but a pencil in my hand. When I started drawing seriously, my early years were totally self-taught - as I think anyone in my situation would be. But after high school I went to a school for comics and illustration, and that's where I defined my style and learned to refine my technique.
What graphic worlds did you grow up with?
My first influences were the animated series of the 1980s. I loved drawing Super Mouse (Mighty Mouse). But I was also very influenced by the Asterix the Gaul films (French comics) and later by American comics, French-Belgian comics and anime.
How did you get into tattooing?
I've always had it in my head, but it wasn't until I was a teenager, around 13-14, that I became aware of it, through music. I always listened to metal music and the musicians were all very tattooed. So I wanted to have some too.
Didn't you think of turning to metal references, skulls and heroic-fantasy monsters?
I did think about getting all those skulls and demons tattooed but I started tattooing a bit later and in the meantime my tattooing tastes had evolved. I have an arm and half a leg in the blackwork style, but what I like most is the newschool style. In the future, I'm not ruling out merging these two styles in my own work.
Can you sum up your journey so far?
I actually started tattooing quite late, in 2016. I got into this discipline by chance. I was working as a freelance illustrator in advertising and an acquaintance offered me a job as a drawing teacher in a tattoo school here in Barcelona. After giving several classes I finally accepted. It was then that I was offered the chance to learn to tattoo. After three years of testing studios, I am now in one that I consider to be one of the best in Barcelona: Gypsy Garden Tattoo.
Let's talk about your tattoos. Expressions, perspectives, lighting, the newschool style is technically demanding. What are the aspects you prefer to work on?
For me, all aspects of the design are very important. That's why I spend as much time as I need on each of them. I usually work on a project until I feel that I could wear it on my own body, without feeling self-conscious.
How long does it take you on average to design a tattoo project?
It depends on the size, but an average flash design can take me three to four hours. For larger, more elaborate designs it usually takes two to three days. When I work on a commission, I start by visualising the idea I want to capture, trying to get all the details I want to appear in the image in my head. Then I take a blank sheet of paper and start drawing all the lines that will be used to structure the design. Then I clean up the lines.
How do you feel about a blank page?
Before I get to that point, I try to be very clear on all aspects of the design. Once I've reached that stage, it's less of a challenge.
A good tattoo is first of all a good exchange with the client?
I always try to work on my designs 100% with him but, in the end, it's the tattoo artist's hand that makes the difference. That's what the client expects, that his tattoo is as original as possible, that's why he chooses us.
I wonder if everyone realises how much work goes into the design phase. Do you think that newschool suffers from a certain lack of recognition in this respect?
It's obvious that people are not aware of it, whether it's newschool or Neo Traditional or realism for example, but a lot of customers are looking for originality in their tattoos. Anyway I think this lack of recognition is mainly due to a lack of knowledge.
Talking to other newschool artists, it seems that the style is less popular at the moment. Do you see this too?
I can confirm that. Partly because of what I said, but I also believe that it's all about cycles and what's not in fashion today will be tomorrow.
Creatively, how do you keep yourself fresh?
I usually try to keep up with the latest trends in tattooing. From an artistic point of view, everything brings something to me, whether it's an album cover, a movie or a couple fighting in the underground. For me, the important thing is to keep my brain active and my hand warm.
Do you have any special techniques for keeping your hand "hot", as you say?
I have a daily discipline of at least two hours of drawing. For my creativity, I read a lot, I look and try to document myself in order to keep the references I might need. Anything that comes into my hands or into my eyes is likely to become part of my mental encyclopaedia.
Alongside your colour work, you have an instagram account dedicated to black and white. Why do you do this?
They are two different ways of expressing feelings and I feel the same pleasure with colour as with black and white. But it's also, as I said, a way to connect with metal culture and immerse myself in its imagery of demons, monsters, skulls, etc., which I have internalized. Plus, I love classic tattoo designs.
What metal bands do you listen to?
The bands I listened to the most in my teenage years - and still do - are Sepultura, Pantera, Slayer, KORN, Deftones, Limp Bizkit, Meshuggah, Whitechapel, to give you an idea. But I think the music you listen to has nothing to do with the style of drawing you develop. So the illustrators in that milieu have not had any influence on me. My references are all from the newschool and blackwork scene. I can't give you any names in particular because it's the style itself that I like.
Do you have other forms of artistic expression than drawing and tattooing?
Does cooking count? Seriously, as an illustrator what I like most is drawing, changing techniques and concepts applied to drawing. They help me to disconnect.
How is the tattoo culture in Barcelona at the moment?
I think that the tattoo artists we have in Barcelona and in Spain in general, represent very well the tattoo culture we live in, although it is true that the new trends are weighing a bit on this profession. Many clients don't like tattoos, they just want to be tattooed. + IG : @briel_medina_art Gypsy Garden Tattoo Carrer del Tenor Masini, 22, 08028 Barcelona, Espagne
