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Pro Team Artist Interview: Álvaro “Alvarito” Alonso
Álvaro Alonso – Alvarito to everyone who knows him – never planned on becoming a tattoo artist. Then, one night in 2012, a friend put a tattoo machine in his hands.
He switched it on and felt something he’d never felt before.
A Revolution Needles Pro Team member and co-owner of Mano Eléctrica Tattoo in Sitges, Alvarito sat down with us to talk about an unexpected beginning, the studios that shaped him, and what keeps the work sharp after more than a decade in the chair.
How Alvarito Got Started in Tattooing
He didn’t grow up dreaming of tattoo machines. But he did grow up drawing.
I discovered tattooing by chance. A friend who had started tattooing showed me how to assemble a machine, and from the moment I turned it on, I felt it was something special and powerful – something I’d never felt before. I’d always been connected to drawing and art, first at school and later in painting and drawing academies. Getting to know machines, needles, inks and skin was like a breath of fresh air. A new medium with infinite possibilities.
It drove me crazy.
So he went all in – every spare hour, every euro he’d saved.
I invested all my time and savings in learning – buying new machines and materials, getting better. The progress was very fast. Tattoo by tattoo, day by day. I wanted more, and I wanted to keep learning.
The Studios That Raised Him
Alvarito came up the old way – in busy shops, elbow to elbow with other artists. His first professional chair came in 2014, at Malibu Tattoo in Sitges.
Mares was my first boss and gave me the opportunity to start in a professional studio, alongside Brian Flores. Those were the best years of my career – learning a lot and discovering all kinds of techniques and materials. It was a studio with a lot of traffic, where I had to tattoo every style. I tried everything, and I began to define my own style.
After almost four years, it was time for Barcelona.
I went to Sacrifice to keep learning and growing. I spent two great years there, meeting incredible friends and artists who are still family to this day. I started working more internationally and traveling to other countries, which helped me continue learning and improving. Afterward, I moved to Bhorn Tattoo, also in Barcelona, where I spent almost five years meeting artists from all over the world who passed through the studio.
The studios changed, but many of the people stayed.
After seven years working in Barcelona, he and Brian Flores decided to open a studio of their own in Sitges.
Along with Brian Flores, I set up our own studio, Mano Eléctrica Tattoo, back in Sitges, where I’ve lived for ten years. Toni Donaire, Alex Dörfler, Brian Flores, our apprentice Miku and I all work together. It’s a new place with a fresh, renewed atmosphere. We feel motivated and happy, and we keep learning from each other every single day.
What Inspires Alvarito’s Style
The work is neo-traditional at its core, but Alvarito borrows freely.
Neo-traditional is where I grew up, but my main influences run from traditional to Japanese, and even tribal. I draw inspiration from those styles and adapt them to the way I work. I feel very inspired by Asian culture and all its aesthetics, and I reflect that in my tattoos.
At the heart of his work is a strong foundation.
Solid tattoos, with a good base of black and line work, and a color palette I’ve been working on for years. That’s exactly why Revolution Needles matter so much to me – everything becomes easier.
What Alvarito Loves to Tattoo
A handful of images keep pulling him back to the drawing board.
My favorite things to tattoo range from skulls, female faces and snakes to any representation of gods or figures from Asian mythology, wherever they come from. I find them very interesting aesthetically, and very tattooable.
Scale doesn’t matter much to him.
I really enjoy big projects as much as one-day pieces or smaller work. Any idea is welcome, as long as I can give it a personal, different touch.
Staying Creative After Twelve Years
After twelve years, staying fresh comes down to where he looks for inspiration.
I try to draw inspiration from everything around me, from music to any form of art. I don’t consume much tattoo work similar to my own – in fact, I get inspired by completely different things. Staying alert and keeping a learning attitude is key to staying motivated and continuing to grow.
Joining the Revolution Needles Pro Team
Revolution has been part of Alvarito’s setup far longer than the Pro Team badge.
Revolution Needles has supported my work since my time at Malibu, more than seven years ago. I’ve done hundreds of tattoos with their needles, and they’ve undoubtedly been a fundamental tool in my work. Having good materials you can trust, and the support of the whole Revolution family, is incredible. I’m always grateful.
Being part of the Pro Team has become more than just professional. The close, familiar relationship I’ve always had with Pedro and Revolution makes me feel at home. Having the best tools on the market at your fingertips makes everything easier. I feel grateful and motivated to be part of it – especially now, with the launch of the cartridges. They’re amazing.
Alvarito builds his work around clean lines, solid black and controlled color, so every needle in his setup has a clear job.
For line work, he splits the job between two cartridges: a 7 Round Liner for tight, precise
outlines, and a 9 Straight Liner when a line needs more weight behind it. Together, they give his neo-traditional pieces the strong structure they’re built on.
For color and smooth transitions, he switches to 13 and 15 Soft Edge Magnums, both with long tapers. Their rounded configuration lets him pack color efficiently while keeping his blends soft and his gradients clean.
With Revolution’s new cartridges in hand, the workflow becomes even more streamlined – the same solid foundation he’s known for, with less standing between the idea and the skin.
Explore Alvarito’s Favorite Tattoo Needle Setup.
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