Gozdi: modesty comes first
If an artist's greatness were measured by modesty, Damian Gozdur would be off the scale. He has been tattooing for over a decade, builds models, plays guitar and paints. Yet he never feels good enough to show any of it off. It is time someone did that for him. Fellow artists and tattoo enthusiasts have known and appreciated him for years. If you are only discovering tattooing, you may not have heard of Gozdi: he avoids social media like the plague. He has no urge to chase publicity, fame or anything else. He does not need to. You should be the ones eager to meet him! Meet Gozdi!
*Magdalena Krakowiak TATTOOFEST MAGAZYN
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Gozdi, what rock have you been living under? After eleven years of a pretty successful career, you still had not appeared in Tattoofest?!
I recently joked with my girlfriend that you would invite me only after interviewing every tattoo artist in Poland and running out of things to write about. Seriously, though, I probably just do not attract much attention. I do not get involved publicly, rarely attend conventions, and my social media is just a gallery of tattoos. Sometimes I post pictures of dogs. I will admit that being interviewed in Tattoofest used to be a little dream of mine.
I thought you would say aliens had abducted you or something (laughs). I was hoping we could talk about them, because until recently you were an Ancient Aliens fan, like me. But I know you have moved on. You change interests quite often. In tattooing, for example, you are working in your second style, or perhaps your third, counting the calligraphy along the way. Why the switch from cartoons to traditional tattoos?
Aliens did abduct me, but they forbade me to talk about it, so I will not. I still like Ancient Aliens, but do not watch it because we have no cable TV. Now I enjoy paranormal phenomena caught on camera. As for styles, I did cartoons for quite a few years. I briefly got into lettering, but found it terribly boring. In early 2018 I switched to American traditional because I was burnt out and bored, and there was not much demand for cartoons anyway. I thought those designs were too wild and childish to appeal to everyone. Old school was more widespread and respected, so more people might want it: we like what we already know. I decided to try, and the change was great!
I feel much more comfortable with traditional, and enjoy the work more because many people who come to me love that style. Learning to draw and tattoo old school was also a lot of fun. I felt the same excitement as when I took my first steps in 2009. I chose old school because I had loved that aesthetic from the start of my tattooing journey.
Models, pizza, mastery and teaching
Why did you stop making models? Several tattoo artists have told me how versatile you are and how wonderful your models used to be. I never got to see them, but everyone who did says it is a real shame you stopped.
A lot of people ask, because they liked the dioramas. The biggest pleasure and goal was probably learning to make them from nothing. I used whatever was at hand; no element came from a ready-made modelling kit. There were two artists I considered masters and really admired. Both noticed my work and followed my profile. I joke that I achieved everything I could once they liked my pieces, so I stopped building. Now I focus on painting and sometimes practise bass guitar when inspiration strikes.
So you give something up once you master it?
I would love to achieve mastery in something one day, but so far I am only perfect at eating pizza. Drawing and painting are my main passions. Other interests come and eventually go. Some return after years, but tend not to stay permanently.
Eating pizza takes skill too! I would add another talent to that long list: you are a great teacher. You taught your girlfriend to draw and tattoo, with impressive results. Coco Sparkle progressed so much that I interviewed her a year ago, and her famous little Baphomet sits on my leg. Have you considered sharing your knowledge with other aspiring tattoo artists?
Your Baphomet is great! Coco never listened to me and always said, "I will do it my way," whenever I offered advice. I am very proud of Magda. Her tattoos are amazing and keep improving. She also works hard, draws every day, handles social media brilliantly and stays in touch with her audience. As for helping beginners, I gladly do when someone asks. I help and offer advice as much as I can. But I have not considered doing it on a larger or commercial scale because I do not feel qualified enough. If a passionate person wanted to learn old-school drawing and tattooing from me, I would probably agree, but that has never happened.
Changes in the industry and bold ideas
You can probably expect a flood of apprenticeship requests now. With your knowledge and experience, you could run seminars too! But I understand that, as an introvert, you prefer staying on the sidelines to being in the spotlight. There are advantages: you get a good view from there. What have you observed in eleven years of tattooing? How has that world changed over the decade?
Oh no, that question is too difficult to answer without sounding like a boomer. A lot has changed. Good tattoos used to be enough to attract clients. Today it is hard without an active online presence. New tattoo artists are appearing everywhere because getting started is easier, so competition has grown too. I think motivations have changed as well: perhaps less passion and more desire for money and fame. Many new tattoo styles have become popular and set trends. I feel we used to do more colour work, whereas now there is more black. One positive change is clients' awareness. People are interested in tattoos, know more, are more open-minded and have bolder ideas. They more often give the artist free rein or choose ready-made designs. Our work has become easier too, thanks to tablets, stencil printers and tattoo machines that need little maintenance.
What counts as a bold idea for someone who has been in the industry and seen so much? What was the boldest one you have worked on?
For me, tattooing someone's face is definitely a bold idea. I have never understood designs showing realistic penises and vaginas, though. Sometimes I try to think of the strangest or boldest tattoo I have done, but nothing comes to mind. I wish I had an interesting story because people often ask during sessions, but I have probably never done anything truly extreme. I have never had a particularly outrageous situation with a client either. Everything is fairly normal, without any excesses. All rather boring.
Dogs, painting and California: Gozdi's world
It cannot be that bad. If you have no extreme stories but want to keep a client entertained, you can always tell them about your dogs. Magda told me to ask about them, actually (laughs). I do not know exactly what she had in mind, so perhaps just say a few words about them.
Dogs are my life. Luna is a small mongrel and the oldest of the group. She is fourteen, but enjoys playing and being stroked. Lola is a pug and retired model who has just turned nine. Her favourite things are eating pizza and chasing Luna off the bed. A long-haired chihuahua called Pumpkin recently joined us. She has the sharpest little teeth and loves barking at everything. I hope she grows out of it. The girls have strong personalities and terrorise the neighbourhood, but at home they are sweet and loving. I dream of adopting another dog, preferably a greyhound. You can never have too many dogs.
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True. They even appear in your latest interest, painting. You have probably been waiting to talk about that, so now is your chance! Your paintings remind me of 1950s America, just like the tattoos you do now. Are you interested in that period's culture, or do you simply like the aesthetic?
I am glad that atmosphere comes through, because I want the paintings to be a journey through place and time. I love the United States, especially California. Sun-drenched palms, swimming pools and classic cars are my thing. I really like the vintage atmosphere: the style, design, art and architecture of mid-century modern. I used to own a 1963 Chevrolet myself. But pin-ups and rockabilly do not appeal to me. I am now learning to paint dogs, and would like them to become the main subject of my work.
A Polish Edward Hopper, but with dogs! You know that if you want that kind of career, you need to sell paintings rather than keep them at home? (laughs) Perhaps start with an exhibition, since you take painting so seriously?
Hopper is a real artist, and I am just an amateur. I am not selling what I have painted yet because I am collecting pieces for an exhibition, provided I find somewhere willing to show them. It is a little dream of mine. Unfortunately, I paint slowly because after work I often lack the energy to sit at the easel. But I take it very seriously, and painting is all I think about at the moment.
Modesty, stress and Trudne sprawy
Why are you so modest? Why is it difficult to admit you are good at something? My cultural studies professor often said that art is whatever someone considers art. What, in your opinion, distinguishes a real artist from an amateur?
Maybe I am good, but my work, whether tattoos or paintings, is nothing exceptional. In my opinion, a real artist can turn ordinary things into extraordinary ones and has solid visual skills they use consciously. That sets them apart from an amateur.
And you do not have those skills?!
I do, but they are not strong enough. (laughs)
You are definitely too hard on yourself. Yet you plan to pursue painting seriously. Finally, I would like you to deny the rumours that you intend to give up tattooing for it! You will not, will you?
Tattooing is very stressful for me, and that affects my health. Perhaps it would be easier if I could do only tattoos in my own style. Instead of worrying, I would rather stay home with the dogs and draw or paint while watching Trudne sprawy. But that is probably unrealistic, so I will likely keep tattooing for many years.
Instagram: @damian.gozdur
Facebook: @Damian * Gozdi * Gozdur