29 Nov “I find inspiration where most people don’t look – in textures, cracks, old objects, interesting faces,” interview with tattoo artist Anton Martiushev

Tattoo artist Anton Martiushev (@the_marra_) is based in Los Angeles, California, and specialises in black and grey realism with a dark, cinematic mood. He’s drawn to images with mystery and tension – faces that look right at you, mystical elements and masks. We chatted to him as he travels across the United States for guest spots and tattoo conventions...

How long have you been tattooing and how did you get to where you are today?

I’ve been tattooing for about 12 years. I never had a traditional apprenticeship. I started in a small town in Russia, teaching myself everything step by step. I was obsessed with drawing and realism, so from the very beginning I tried to push each new tattoo a little further than the previous one. Every piece was a lesson: how to control contrast, how to read the reference, how to make the image sit well on the body.

By the time I moved to Saint Petersburg, I already had a solid base and a clear direction in black and grey realism. I wasn’t starting from zero; I brought real experience with me. But working in a strong studio environment added another layer of growth. Being surrounded by good artists, watching how they build compositions, solve technical problems and communicate with clients helped me sharpen my own approach. You grow differently when you’re not alone.

So my path is a mix of being self-taught and later learning through the collective energy of a professional studio. That combination – personal obsession with practice plus the influence of a strong team – is what eventually brought me to where I am today.

What made you want to become a tattoo artist? Was there a moment that stands out?

I’ve been drawing since I was a kid – copying pictures from books, album covers, anything I could find. When I discovered tattoos, it felt like all that drawing could suddenly live on skin.

There wasn’t one dramatic “movie moment,” it was more like an obsession that slowly took over. I realised I was thinking about tattooing all day, every day. At some point it became obvious: this is what I want to do with my life, not as a side hobby but as a profession.

How would you describe your style?

I specialise in black and grey realism with a dark, cinematic mood. I’m drawn to images with mystery and tension: faces, hands, Japanese masks, religious and mythological elements, dramatic lighting – tattoos that feel like a still frame from a movie.

From the beginning I loved copying photos as realistically as possible, and that naturally led me into black and grey realism. Over time, my work became more focused on contrast, atmosphere and storytelling, and less on just “copying” a picture.

I’ve experimented with colour, but my heart is in black and grey – it fits the mood I want to create.

What inspires your work?

I’m inspired by real life and visual culture: nature, movies, classical art, religious iconography, Japanese culture, architecture, photography, sculpture. I like to find inspiration where most people don’t look – in textures, cracks, old objects, interesting faces.

How can clients work with you?

The best way to work with me is to come with a clear idea of the story and mood, but be open about how exactly it will look on the body. I mainly focus on larger projects – sleeves, backs and big standalone pieces.

My process usually looks like this:

First, we talk through the concept, symbolism and placement.

Then I prepare the design in advance before the session – I build the composition, work with references and interpret the client’s idea in my own style. Often I use multiple images or my own mask photos as a base, but I never just copy one picture.

On the day of the appointment, we try the design on the body, adjust the size and flow, and if needed I change or refine details so it fits the anatomy and the client’s proportions perfectly.

The client’s idea is the foundation, and my job is to translate it into my dark, realistic style and build something that works visually, technically and specifically on their body. Trust between artist and client is the most important part of that process.

Are you doing any guest spots?

Yes. Right now I’m mainly travelling within the United States, working in different states and at various conventions, while keeping Los Angeles as my home base. I announce upcoming guest spots on my Instagram, so that’s the best place to stay updated and book a session.

You create trophies and masks – can you tell us about this?

Alongside tattooing, I create Japanese-inspired masks by hand – hannya, geisha, tengu and other characters it’s called J.Nendo. What began as a personal art project slowly grew into a separate direction of my career.

Anton’s prize masks for tattoo convention in France

At some point, tattoo convention organisers started reaching out to me. They’d seen my masks online and asked if we could collaborate – with me providing custom prizes for their shows. Since then I’ve brought my handmade trophies to different parts of the world – to France, Israel, Texas and New York – and presented them on stage to the winning artists. That’s how I became a sponsor for several conventions: I create handmade trophies specifically for their event, and then come in person to deliver and present them to the winners. I really believe tattoo artists deserve high-quality, meaningful awards for what they create under pressure at conventions.

Tattoo artists who won Anton’s prize ‘geisha mask’ at a tattoo convention.

 How does your artwork compare to your tattoos?

The masks and trophies complement my tattooing through a shared visual language: dramatic expressions, strong light and shadow, textures and storytelling. When I sculpt a mask, I’m thinking in 3D – about volume, planes and how light hits the form.

When I tattoo, I use the same way of thinking to create depth and energy on the skin. It all feels like one universe: the dark, cinematic world from my tattoos, but translated into physical objects that can live on a wall or on a convention stage as a prize.

Anton with his model Egor. Together they won Best of Show in France. 

Do you have a favorite tattoo you’ve done?

It’s hard for me to pick one favourite – I honestly love my projects because the ideas clients bring are all completely different. Every piece has its own story and energy.

If I had to highlight something, I’d say I’m especially drawn to my mystical, Japanese-inspired and horror-themed work – pieces with masks, dark symbolism and a strong cinematic mood. 

What’s on your “wanna-do” list?

I’d love to do more big dark fantasy projects – full backs, sleeves and larger concepts where we can really build a whole world on the body. I’m especially interested in pieces that mix Japanese masks,  strange characters and a slightly horror, cinematic atmosphere.

Any time a client says, “I like your dark world, do your thing,” and gives me enough freedom and sessions to create something ambitious in that direction – that’s exactly what I want to do more of.

Is there a tattoo experience that really stands out?

Conventions definitely create the most intense memories for me – long sessions, big pieces under pressure, people constantly walking by and watching you work. Winning Best of Show or taking prizes with strong collaborations really stands out, because you see your work judged next to a lot of great pieces.

Another thing that made a big impression on me was being invited as a judge. I’ve had the honour to judge at events like Marmaris Tattoo Festival in Turkey, Israel Tattoo Convention in Tel Aviv, Epinal Tattoo Show in France, Austin Tattoo Invitational, Golden State Tattoo Expo in California, and The New York Tattoo Convention.

Standing on the other side, carefully analysing other artists’ work and helping decide the winners, feels like a big responsibility and a sign of trust from the industry – those moments stay with you for a long time.

Can you tell us about your own tattoo collection?

Most of my tattoos are black and grey and each one marks a different stage of my life. I have two full sleeves done by a well-known Russian artist Futurblack (@futrblacktattoo) – he’s a very talented guy and a good friend, and I’m hoping one day to get my leg done by him as well.

My whole back is tattooed by another friend from Russia, Nikita (@nrrote). That piece is very special to me, both as a work of art and as a reminder of the time we spent working on it together.

I also started a black and grey realism project on my leg with another artist about six years ago – and I still don’t know when I’ll be able to finally finish it with him. For me, my tattoos are like a visual diary and a connection to the artists I respect. I’m not trying to “complete” my collection quickly; I let it grow naturally as life and travels unfold.

What do you do when you’re not tattooing?

I divide my time between the gym and training – staying physically strong helps with long sessions. I am also working on my masks and trophies for conventions. Otherwise I am developing my book about using AI in tattooing and planning my future educational programme for artists. I’m still at the very beginning of the process, so there’s no release date yet. I hope it won’t take too long, but this is something you shouldn’t rush. My goal is to help people generate images correctly using my personally developed prompt — a system that helps create visuals in my style.

Even when I’m “off,” I’m usually doing something connected to art or the tattoo world in some way.

What’s been your proudest moment?

I’d say it’s a combination of things rather than one moment:

Moving from a small town in Russia to building a career in Los Angeles.

Being invited as a judge at major tattoo conventions around the world.

Seeing my handmade masks on stage as awards for other artists.

And hearing that people recognise my work instantly from just one dark, “mystery” piece.

All of that together makes me feel like I’m on the right path – and it motivates me to keep pushing my style and giving something back to the tattoo community.

Thank you Anton for chatting to us and being part of Things & Ink! Follow Anton on Instagram to see more tattoos and guest spot updates.

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