Certified Artist 2026

Julia Penza

Color Realism Elevated by Gold — Where Luxury Meets Precision

Interview

How did your journey into tattooing begin, and what first inspired you to transform your artistic passion into a tattoo career?

My journey into tattooing began almost by chance. At first, I wasn’t actively pursuing a career as a tattoo artist; I simply wanted to learn new skills and explore something different without expecting it to become my profession.

One day, I came across a random Facebook advertisement from a tattoo artist offering an opportunity to learn. What started as curiosity quickly turned into something much deeper, and I realized that tattooing was a path I wanted to commit to long term.

In your first five years of tattooing, which experiences or turning points had the greatest impact on your artistic development?

The progression of my career happened quite quickly. Within my first two years of gaining experience, I began participating in tattoo conventions and started receiving recognition through awards.

Being able to choose my own competition designs played a crucial role in shaping my artistic direction. It gave me the freedom to experiment and gradually develop a distinctive visual language that people began to recognize as my personal style.

You describe your signature style as color realism enhanced with golden elements. How did this distinctive visual language emerge in your work?

At the beginning of my career, I explored a wide variety of styles because I enjoy versatility as an artist. During that time, I occasionally incorporated gold accents into some of my designs.

Over time, clients started responding very positively to the golden elements, and they gradually became more prominent in my work. These compositions feel particularly personal because they reflect my own aesthetic preferences. While this style has become part of my artistic signature, I still enjoy working across many styles and remain open to tattoos of any complexity.

What fascinates you most about color realism, and how do the golden accents influence the atmosphere of your work?

Color realism represents one of the most technically demanding styles in tattooing, and that challenge is something I truly enjoy.

The addition of golden elements introduces a sense of luxury and visual richness. It allows the tattoo to feel more refined and atmospheric, giving the design an almost opulent quality.

How would you describe your artistic identity today?

Today, I see my artistic identity as a balance between realism and luxury-inspired expression, particularly through the use of gold.

Realistic imagery keeps my work grounded, while gold adds a layer of elegance and mystery. In a way, I think of my approach similarly to how a fashion stylist uses jewelry to elevate an outfit. Gold becomes the element that enhances and transforms the realism into something more unique and expressive.

Can you walk us through your creative process when designing a custom tattoo?

Because I work in different styles, my design process can vary. However, many of the designs that shaped my signature style were originally created for tattoo competitions.

For these projects, I often choose complex compositions involving rich textures and vibrant color. Usually, everything starts with a general theme and a visual image that forms in my mind. From there, I begin searching for reference materials that help refine the concept.

Sometimes this stage takes longer than the actual creation of the design itself. Today, AI tools can help generate visuals that are close to the idea I have in mind, which can speed up the reference stage. However, AI only assists with the early exploration phase and never replaces the full design process. Every design still requires careful manual refinement.

In many cases, completing a design can take several days as I continuously adjust details until everything feels balanced and cohesive.

When working with vibrant colors and detailed realism, what technical aspects are most important?

Many technical decisions depend both on the design itself and the characteristics of the client’s skin.

The complexity of the design influences needle configurations and the techniques required to achieve smooth gradients and precise details. At the same time, the client’s skin affects decisions regarding needle depth, pigment saturation, and sometimes even the color palette.

Balancing all of these elements is essential for achieving clarity, visual harmony, and long-term durability.

You work between Florida and California and collaborate with different studios. How has this lifestyle influenced your artistic growth?

Working in different studios has significantly broadened my perspective as an artist. Each studio has its own atmosphere, workflow, and strengths, which makes every collaboration a valuable experience.

Clients from different regions also bring different expectations and aesthetic preferences. Traveling and working between locations has helped me adapt quickly, understand a wider variety of clients, and expand my professional network.

How do you approach collaboration with clients?

In many cases, clients come to me specifically for my artistic vision. Because I openly share my work and process on Instagram, they usually already have a clear understanding of my style.

Clients often arrive with an idea or concept but are generally open to my interpretation. This trust allows us to work together in a way that transforms their ideas into tattoos that feel both meaningful and visually powerful.

Looking toward the future, what goals or projects would you like to pursue?

In the coming years, I would like to expand my professional reach, increase international recognition of my work, and participate in more tattoo conventions outside the United States.

A few years ago, I also filed a patent for a new tattoo needle configuration that I developed. The application is currently under examination, and I am managing the process independently. I hope the patent will be approved soon so I can move forward with attracting investors and beginning production.

Another important goal is education. At the moment, I teach private tattoo lessons, but in the future I would like to establish my own tattoo school and organize group classes to share my experience with a wider community of artists.