The hero of our interview is a tattoo artist with 20 years of experience, Kirill Putiatin. His journey began in the small town of Omutninsk, where his first experiments were made with homemade machines. Today, he combines tattooing and painting, runs the Good Luck Tattoo studio in the center of St. Petersburg, and develops his own brand of tattoo equipment and supplies.
Kirill’s experience is an example of how consistent growth and openness to new directions shape a professional with a truly broad vision of tattooing.
— Kirill, can you tell us about your path into the world of tattooing?
— My creative journey began in the small town of Omutninsk in the Kirov region. Since childhood, I was fascinated by drawing, inspired by my grandfather and father, who practiced decorative arts: woodcarving, embossing, and creating decorative panels. In art school, I first encountered a systematic approach to creativity and began developing my skills in a structured way.
In my hometown, I often saw people with classic Russian prison tattoos, which were characteristic of that area. I was fascinated by the aesthetics and individuality of these images on the skin.
At that time, I made my first steps in tattooing: assembling homemade machines and trying to work manually using the “pishnya” technique — a needle clamped between four matches and wrapped with thread to hold the ink.
Later, I moved to Kirov to study as a graphic artist. There, I immersed myself in the local underground music community and met practicing tattoo artists. Thanks to them, I deepened my knowledge, and the popularity of tattoos in this environment allowed me to gain experience.
The next stage was moving to St. Petersburg, where I studied design and attended international tattoo conventions for the first time. There, I bought professional equipment and met world-class tattoo artists, which gave me a powerful boost in development.
— Your portfolio covers several directions — from realism to organic. Why did you decide to expand horizontally instead of focusing on one style?
— In my work, I experiment with different styles. I was once passionate about organic and biomechanical tattooing, where I mastered the art of harmoniously placing designs on the body, taking anatomy and shape into account.
«Working in different styles allows me to create tattoos rich in diverse effects and leads to eclectic combinations of techniques, giving birth to something new.»
Later, I began studying classical painting and drawing, which inspired me to explore decorative and realistic directions in tattooing.
I see an analogy with painters who created portraits, landscapes, and still lifes, yet their style was always recognizable — in their color palette, brushstroke manner, tonal accents, and composition. This is a path of creative exploration: perhaps over time, I will focus on one style, but for now, I prefer this approach and constant growth.
— Tell us about projects that stand out in your memory.
— For example, for my friend, a talented drummer, I created a full chest tattoo featuring Pokémon playing musical instruments. Thanks to his trust, I was able to fully realize my vision, and the result was impressive.
«I am especially fond of large-scale projects where the client trusts me and gives full creative freedom.»
I also value sleeve projects in the bio-organic style — each work is unique, carefully designed, and precise.
— In 2011, you opened Good Luck Tattoo. What does this studio mean to you?
Working in my own space is much more comfortable and productive: here, I can create an atmosphere where both artists and clients feel at ease. Over the years, many true professionals have been part of my team, and I am grateful to each of them for our shared time together.
At different times, the team included up to eight artists, and now we work as a duo with my longtime friend and outstanding artist Sergey Voinov. We are both members of the “Association of Russian Professional Tattooists” and have been dedicated for many years to professionalism and growth.
— Besides the studio, you also run your own tattoo supply shop. How do you manage to balance creativity and business?
Alongside the studio, I founded Good Luck Tattoo Supply, a tattoo equipment shop. Under this brand, we have developed several equipment lines and produce unique products for the tattoo industry, including needles, cartridges, aftercare cosmetics, and various consumables.
This requires a lot of time and energy, which reduces my personal time. To optimize processes, I am currently moving the shop to marketplaces, which helps speed up operations and increase efficiency.
— Painting also plays a role in your life. How important is it?
— In recent years, painting has become an important part of my life, complementing and enriching my tattooing creativity. Several times a week, I attend a private workshop led by Artyom Nosov, one of the best contemporary classical portraitists, in my opinion. There, we study the academic approach to art, honed for centuries within the walls of the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts, working on portrait and figure.
«Some of my paintings are already in private collections in Germany, Ireland, and Russia.»
I participated in several group exhibitions and had one solo professional show. My plans are to develop this direction further, organizing larger exhibitions of my paintings, improving my skills, and discovering more sources of inspiration.
In addition, I paint many landscapes — both in my hometown and during travels. I always carry my sketchbook, paints, and canvases to fully capture the beauty of places and preserve vivid, detailed memories.
— You have extensive experience participating in conventions. What moments do you recall most often?
— Participating in tattoo conventions was an important part of my life for many years. Before the pandemic, I attended them every 2–3 months, taking part in major international events such as Brussels Tattoo Convention, Empire State Tattoo Expo, NYC Tattoo Convention, Milano Tattoo Convention, Berlin Tattoo Convention, Beijing Tattoo Convention, and many others.
Among my achievements are the Best of the Day award at the Empire State Tattoo Expo in New York, 1st place in the New School category at the Hong Kong convention, many awards from Russian conventions including Saint Petersburg Tattoo Festival, Moscow Tattoo Festival, and Moscow Tattoo Convention, as well as prizes from some Asian conventions.
Later, I began judging at conventions in St. Petersburg, Moscow, Krasnodar, and several international events. For me, conventions are a unique opportunity to connect with colleagues from around the world, follow new trends in the industry, and draw inspiration from people just as passionately devoted to their craft. This motivates me to keep moving forward and growing.
— Finally, what are your plans?
— My goal is to leave a mark in art, bringing beauty and creativity to a global level through my works. I also dream of developing an original style that unites tattooing and painting into an innovative format, inspiring a new generation of artists worldwide.
Kirill is open to working with clients from different countries and values the trust placed in his vision. You can book with him directly via Instagram or Telegram, and the waiting time is usually no more than 1–2 months.
In his work, he is especially inspired by projects where there is room for an artistic approach and bold decisions. This allows him to create tattoos that remain meaningful both for the artist and the client — as true works of art.
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