Meet Mark Castellanos, a tattoo artist who brings a distinctive touch to the popular blend of anime and tattoo From his early ambitions in high school to his unique identity as 'Demonknggengar,' this Q&A explores his journey.
Q: Why did Mark started Tattooing?
A: I started tattooing because it was a dream I had since high school. I loved tattoos growing up, admiring the beauty and representation they bring to the person wearing them regardless of the tattoo. Also, just being able to see awesome fun art on the body made me want to be able to bring that to life for others.
I even used to give fake tattoos in school for how much I wanted to become a tattoo artist. I wanted to become an artist for the people who felt that a traditional artist would not do it justice, I became an anime artist to bring amazingly awesome characters or subject material to life, be it from anime or video games or comics you name it.
Q: How Mark Got His Artist Name
A: The "demonking" comes from isekai anime which is a genre in which someone gets sent from one world to another, in these worlds there is usually someone known as a demon lord or demon king. I think of social media as another world so I became a demon king “haha” as for the Gengar part of my name, it comes from Gengar which is my favorite ghost-type pokemon, and also a bit of Pokemon knowledge they are the 94th Pokemon in the og 150 and 94 happens to be the year I was born 1994. So I took my love for anime and Pokemon and boom demonknggengar came to be.
Q: Motivation for Tattooing
A: I want to say what motivated me the most to mix the two was just the idea of being able to take these amazingly beautiful stories of fiction and turn them from just on the screen to your skin. I'm certain that so many people love a cartoon or just something that usually isn't seen as a tattoo, and I want to be able to break that chain. I want to make anime tattoos and other nerdy cultures get the traction and respect they deserve because to me so much anime has helped me through my toughest obstacles like loss, self-confidence, and loneliness just to name a few.
It also made me realize just how many others feel the same way and I want them to know that they aren't alone and if they want to get something from an anime or a video game or cartoon they can get it without a drop of judgment. I want to help motivate others in the same boat and show that us nerds are a community and I just want to help bring us together.
Q: Favorite Tattoo Reaction and Story
A: I have had so many amazingly awesome reactions for the tattoos I've done, but I have to say the one that stuck out the most to me was when I did a Naruto Uzumaki tattoo for a client whose family member passed and they loved Naruto, so after the tattoo was done and seeing the joyful tears and love my client had for it filled me with a burning ambition to keep bringing that joy and happiness to my clients through my work.
Q: Can you share a heartwarming or funny story related to a client's anime tattoo?
A: Definitely, there was a client, this one time who came in for a small tattoo and as we were talking through the session I brought up One Piece, and they said they weren't interested in the anime. By the end of the tattoo, they were willing to give the anime a try after how much I praised it. Fast forward to now they have a new One Piece tattoo from me and have now fallen in love with the anime. It's such a One Piece fan thing but I can't help but laugh when someone doesn't want to watch One Piece just to fall in love with it.
Q: Can you walk us through your creative process from idea to finished tattoo?
A: So normally, when a client reaches out for a tattoo I'd always ask a couple of questions to see their vision of the tattoo, and after the info is given I'll do some research into what the client asked for and incorporate it into the design as well as including my own touch being added in the design or how I technically approach the tattoo to be it with the way I shade, or line weights, or colors I want to use for certain projects.
As for doing the tattoo, after that process and they come in for the tattoo, I show them the design and of course, if changes are needed I'll comply because this is my client's tattoo not mine, unless I need to step in with the knowledge of the craft to help my client understand my process if needed, and finally I make sure to create a safe environment for my clients so they know they are welcomed and accepted regardless of the tattoo design. And at the end of the tattoo, I bow and thank my client for supporting me and my business, wishing them good graces and reminding them I'll be here ready to bring their tattoo ideas to life.
Q: Is there anything about your journey that people usually find interesting or crazy?
A: I've heard it more times than I can count that the tattoos I do are not considered "real" tattoos. Though my clients use their hard-earned income as well as sitting for the tattoo. For these awesome clients to get these awesome meaningful tattoos and for someone to sit there and say yeah that's not a legit tattoo not knowing anything behind the design is truly insane. Of course, I do want to add that what is crazy, is the chance I've been given to meet so many amazingly awesome, talented, kind, and overall fantastic people, be it clients or other artists. I've made friends with clients and artists from different places and being able to connect through being nerdy is crazy and I can't wait to meet more amazingly awesome people in my career.
