Meeting with Dob{r}man
After several years at the head of LVL Studio, Fabien Landry alias Dob{r}man turned towards to the tattoo. For two years, he learned the cogs of the job at Zero Turbo, and now comes to the end of his training. Comfortably installed in our living room, we chatted with him to try to learn more about this change of direction, but also his relationship with an environment that is increasingly democratized…
Hi Fabien! First question: can you introduce yourself, tell us a little about your background?
I went to Pivaut school in Nantes at the age of fifteen, I was quite young. I left in 1997 and chose my nickname “Dob{R}man” just after this time. Then I worked three or four years in for an agency, and after a while I got tired of having someone above me. So I decided to go freelance.
You joined the Pivaut school early! Where did you get this passion for graphic arts?
The desire has always been very present. My parents noticed at a very young age that I had the capacity, I didn’t go over the lines when colouring in at nursery (laughs). So, from the age of six years old I started taking night classes after school. I was really good in drawing. I had a teacher that I ended up having at the Pivaut school and who was my mentor, Mr. Masselin.
In recent years you have started doing tattoos. How did you fall into this?
It’s been over fifteen years now that I have been doing graphics and illustration. I needed to have a new medium. I wanted to change without changing, that meant that I could continue to draw but do it differently. It’s super rewarding because I feel I have started over and I am learning lots of stuff constantly. Several things led me to tattooing, especially having had the opportunity to meet Rocky and Marie Turbo Zero and also the guys from Bleu Noir who made me do an exhibition at theirs, who encouraged me and this made me want to it. In addition to meetings, I was in the middle of tattooing for a long time with my bands and my various connections. All this led me gradually to this fascinating profession.
So you’re a tattoo artist at Turbo Zero. Why did you choose to work there?
Turbo Zero was through Rocky. He took me on as an apprentice 2 years ago, and taught me the technique, what to do, the machine settings and some of his ways of working too. He gave me advice and still does today. In the beginning you don’t touch the machines for a few months, you watch how it goes, you learn little by little. You test stuff on yourself, you start to mess around on your thigh and then you start. After a while it starts to come, and you will always have some friends who are takers for free tattoos.
Two years ago you did an exhibition called “My heart burns for you” which was exposed in Bleu Noir and Turbo Zero. Can you tell us a bit about this? And what was your relationship with the world of the tattoo at this point?
It was already a bit down the tattooing path, even though at the time I was not really into it. Regarding the detail, the contrast on my illustrations and all the thinking behind what goes onto the skin, I didn’t have all codes back then. But I still did this show because it allowed me get to know Paris and at Bleu Noir I hit it off with the whole team. It also allowed me to be a guest at theirs earlier this year.
How would you describe your style?
I have spent a lot of years making things full and untied. These are wide, refined and sharp drawings. I was very aggressive with my work and worked a lot on Illustrator. Eventually, tattooing transformed me and everything I had done during a few years, because I had to adapt to skin. Fine lines can be fun to do, but this is still a time consuming action. So I reworked my fine lines by adapting to the needle sizes I use to tattoo. I draw in another way. For now I’m doing line work, point and black shading. So it’s something quite simple but effective. But I’m going to get onto colour too. With tattooing the advantage is that I can return to my studies and try stuff out. After two years you have more or less finished learning, so now it’s up to me now …
In the last two years have you had any pretty strange requests for a tattoo?
I made a little Japanese-style mirror with a vulva at the centre of the back of the thigh, it’s not something that I thought I would sell but the guy actually wanted it! I was quite happy on this one.
In recent years tattooing has been made a lot more accessible in France. What do you think about this?
It all depends on which side you put yourself on. On the one hand you have Tin-Tin, for example. He is highly publicized, he created a tattoo artist union (SNAT) and did much to democratize the world of tattooing particularly in France. There was a very positive evolution with all that, but also a negative aspect. Unfortunately, we lost everything on the underground side. The soul of the tattoo has disappeared gradually. Today people often ask for the same things. Is a small word on the wrist marked “darling” done on a whim a tattoo? I do not think so, but then this is only my opinion. For me, tattooing goes much further than that. This is a real approach with personal codes and periods of life to engrave.
And on the other hand there is Filip Leu. This is THE undisputed master of Japanese tattoo. He learned it over there and has made an impressive curriculum. He has also contributed in his own way to the evolution and development of tattooing, more discreetly, more authentically perhaps. There is a real approach. Before tattoos people would look for him. Now everything is accessible. I cannot be against this either because I’m in this world now and I’m starting to live, but the approach was different before all this democratization. The “bad boy” side was cool because it allowed you to filter. Tattoo artists were left with a little less demand, but much more interesting work to do. Tattoos have slowly arrived in France because we are always a little resistant, the look is about people’s appearance, as soon as there is a little thing that changes this we pull a face. This has begun to change. The social aspect doesn’t correspond that much with tattoos. Tattoos will become a hobby for everyone and people will be more and more tattooed. Democratization has been launched. I think the current problem is that people have everything all laid on a plate. They don’t really look, they follow a mass, a fashion, they copy the stars, people on the TV. Still, despite all that, I think there will always be people who want beautiful interesting projects, and that’s the principal.
What do you think of reality TV shows on tattooing for example in the United States? (Master Ink, LA Ink)
It’s a Yanky show, like the NBA. It’s a bit overplayed, candidates are always carefully chosen, tattoo artists are not always famous, but you can learn some tricks in passing … After the US, the size of the tattoo is different … Everyone is tattooed , trucker, banker.
What would you recommend to someone who wants to get a tattoo for the first time?
I would advise getting it done in a shop and choose their tattoo artist well. Go and look at their books with their work before explaining the project. You should learn about their style, because now that’s what matters. Before tattoos were a flash, the guy came in and chose an Indian head among others and presto! Now we have reached a different level artistically, it’s amazing, there’s plenty of choice. Tattoos are a bit like having that special feeling. If you love a particular style, you could cross the world to find that tattoo artist. It is a special relationship.
Who would you like to get tattooed by?
There are plenty! (laughs). In fact, I would go back to Vincent Bizzaroid Tattoo who is now in Quebec Glamor Tattoo. I’ve had the idea for a while now. As I have been a complete basketball fan since I was a kid, my tattoo would be a NBA scene of cheerleaders, and buildings, with a guy who dunks, throughout my entire leg. The Chicago way. After this my desires will then depend on future meetings … I still have room!
What tattoo are you working on now?
Right now I’m working on a design for a cover, I have to “hide” a little swallow with a fish on a shoulder blade. A cover is actually a tattoo that has already been done, more or less old, that you have to cover. It’s part of the trade. A lot of people do them, for simple reasons: it is still expensive to get a tattoo removed and it hurts. There are many people who prefer to cover their old one rather than go get it removed by laser.
Beside tattoos you also do music. You played in several bands and now you’re a drummer in the band The Guardogs. Can you can tell us a little more about your group and your news?
There are five of us and we all have dog names: German Shepherd, Pinscher, Caniche Abricot, Bobtail and me Dob{r}man. It’s stoner rock, its Californian. We released a double EP 8 titles in the beginning of 2015 and made a small tour in Brittany recently. In a year and a half with the group it was the first time that we left Nantes, but that is just beginning. We are preparing on a date in Paris soon. But our new thing is, the Helltruck (organized by the two guitarists of the group). This is an extension of Hellfest. We will put a truck in the supermarket car park in Clisson, and there will be seven groups that will play on the stage from 13h to 19h. It looks really good!
You participated in the expo Planchettes a little while ago. What made you want to work with OLOW?
First of all, I like the clothing brand and the support / material that was chosen really interested me, I love working on wood. I have often painted on skateboards and this is rather pleasant. I chose to make a samurai head cut off because it was the start of my delirium tattoo and I love Japanese culture. I used and explored this part of the world a lot in my work. And the Japanese wooden board made sense …
Small question that has been bothering me, why choose “Doberman” as your name?
When I got out of school I worked for an agency named Abacab, I stayed there for a year. They were doing CD pockets and cultural majority. At the first restaurant, they asked me to sign the contract. I finished my meal twice as fast as them because I was super hungry that day (laughs). And they said, “You eat like a mutt, what’s going on? Kind of like a Doberman! “And boom. The word was out. I made my first business card with this agency.
Thank you to Fabien.
Find all news on Dob{R}man on Facebook, Instagram and on his official site.
– L. K –
