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ABOUT ME

Bio

Hi there!

My name is Santa. I am a Montevideo-born Barcelonian artist living in Hove and working in Brighton.

I am an illustrator, designer and photographer who also makes ephemeral artwork: permanent tattoos. Contradictory? I don't think so! :)

 

All my pieces intend to catch and reflect a bit of our soul, making each project (no mater the media I am working with) a unique artistic product every time.

Sometimes I draw with ink on a canvas, or I use air-dry clay to express myself, but most of the times I use people's skin to portray my art.

I believe I create pretty things, but no matter the surface I use, they are above all powerful and meaningful things. And that's the most fulfilling part of what I do, because I get to communicate feelings, concepts and ideas through a canvas, or somebody's skin.

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Regarding that, I like reflecting in my work our common inner fears, desires and hopes, playing with the shapes, colours and images to convey a message that will be living on/with the person's body for life.
That message one day, like all ephemeral things and like life itself, will disappear. And this is the beauty and poetry of the skin art form: it makes a clear statement that everything in The Creation is in constant change, and that nothing lasts forever. Just like us.

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Talking now about my professional background, after working for a long time as a graphic designer, my way into the tattoo world started in 2008 under the teaching of Eduardo Sasía (Montevideo).
Over the years I have condensed all my knowledge about design, tattooing and my passion for drawing into a very personal style, so the Graphic Art and Organized Chaos are today my main creative outlet and the end of the search for my personal expression as an artist.

My first contact with fine art was during my early ages. My mother, a professional tapestry artist, introduced me to the first steps of the drawing techniques.

After that I took lessons in atelliers in Montevideo, Madrid and Barcelona, made exhibitions, worked on various illustration projects, and won some art contests along the way.

I also studied a Communications degree and I worked as a graphic designer and photographer for companies such as L'Oreal, Coca Cola, Nike, Madpoint, Freeriderzine, Coup de Fouet, Descord and El Pais Cultural, among others.

In 2002, I left Montevideo to establish myself in Barcelona, where I lived for almost 12 years.

At present, I have settled my private studio in Brighton (UK), where I currently work and express my creativity drawing and tattooing.



And that's it! I hope you enjoy seeing my work.

Cheers!
Santa Perpetua :)

Contact

CONTACT

Please, use this form to enquire about tattooing rates, designs, art commissions, just to say hi or to arrange an appointment to have a consultation.

Notice that I ALWAYS reply emails. If you don't get my response within a week, please check your spam, unwanted or trash folder.

 

santaperpetuagraphicart@gmail.com

Brighton, England, United Kingdom.

 

Success! Message received :)

Canvas Art
CANVAS ART
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WAITING FOR THE SPRING series + TERRACOTTA LANDSCAPES diorama series
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When Covid kicked in 2020 and the whole world was in lock down, like many of us, I felt really low.

But one day I see that little bird pecking outside my window, and that defenceless and tiny creature somehow made me realize that strenght and freedom might be within me. That I could "wait for the spring to come" in a constructive way.

 

So I started drawing them, feeding them and observing their interactions. Paying so close attention to these tiny beings opened a colorful world to me. I became obsessed with these creatures, the way they change with the symphony of seasons, and thanks to that I felt my freedom back through their little wings of ink and paper. In a world of decline and decay, with the dark shadow of environmental collapse over us, honoring the cute little things that still remain in Nature is essential to stay alive.

Waiting for the Spring I

BLACK PAINTINGS series
 

These are my latest large format drawings, and I'd say my most "intimate" works.

Through them I explore family relationships, fears, concerns and demons; all "dark" topics that, despite being so personal, still are common to us all.

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After drawing quite obscure subjects during my whole life, and because the Great Master Francisco de Goya has been always a big source of inspiration and knowledge, I humbly named this series after his final years of genious work.

Generations: family portrait
Untitled I
The Three Mothers

 

More Canvas Art here...



ART COMMISSIONS:
santaperpetuagraphicart@gmail.com

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Aftercare
AFTERCARE

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Before having a tattoo done it’s essential you know your responsibilities, so the piece heals and remains properly.

 

No matter how accurate a tattoo artist works, you need to take care of your tattoo in order to make sure the piece is going to heal and last.

Caring for a new tattoo is your responsibility from the very moment you get out of the tattooist's chair, right through the rest of your life.

 

The tattoo aftercare is perhaps the most important aspect of your tattoo journey. Post tattoo care should not be taken lightly - you need to know how to take care of a tattoo as best as possible. It is vital that you treat your new tattoo care routine with the respect it requires in order for your ink to look as crisp, sharp and colorful as it possibly can for as long as you’re alive. Correct aftercare procedures ensure that the tattooed area of skin remains infection free in an environment that is perfectly set up to ensure that healing proceeds to happen as quickly and efficiently as possible.

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Initial Tattoo Aftercare - The Most Important Stage

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The time in which tattoo aftercare is at its most important is directly after getting the tattoo, right through until about 3 weeks afterwards when the top layers of your skin have completely healed. This time-frame is when the risk of infection is at its greatest, and is also when a tattoo’s appearance can get easily ruined through poor/lack of aftercare.

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1 - Removing Your Tattoo Bandage/Wrap

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Generally, it’s regarded safe for you to remove your medical wrapping (Dermalize) after 24/72 hours as long as you’re able to clean your tattoo immediately after removal.

 

GENTLY remove the wrap under the warm water shower carefully peeling off the second skin used by your artist.

 

After you’ve removed your wrap, your tattoo is likely to be covered in a thick gooey layer of blood, plasma, ink and lymph fluid. Don't panic! That is completely normal.

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2 - Initial Clean - Tattoo Aftercare Instructions For Your Wash And Moisturising

 

Before cleaning your tattoo, you will want to clean your hands thoroughly to kill any bacteria present.

Proceed to gently cup lukewarm water over the area, wetting the area with your palm and fingers, NOT a rough/dirty wash towel/cloth. Ensure the water is not hot.

Once the area is wet, rub a good amount of clear/fragrance free mild antibacterial soap over the area and proceed to try and get all of the gooey and dried bits of blood and ink off of the surface. After a thorough but gentle cleanse of the area with soap, cup some more lukewarm water over the area to ensure that all remaining soap is washed away.

After washing is complete, you can either let your tattoo air-dry or you can pat it dry with a paper towel. DO NOT RUB OR SCRUB your tattoo with as this can rub some ink out of the area, always pat dry.

Once the area is COMPLETELY dry you will want to very lightly rub in some sort of specialized ointment/lotion to moisturize the area and help with healing. You will only want a very thin layer to cover the tattoo.

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Summing up:

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  • Clean your hands thoroughly, you don’t want any bacteria getting into the raw tattooed area.

  • Run the tap until the water is lukewarm, NOT hot. Cup the water with your hand and very gently wet the area with your palm/fingers.

  • Rub a fragrance-free mild soap over the area and make sure as much excess ink/blood/plasma has been washed away.

  • Use more water to wash away any leftover soap.

  • Allow the tattoo to dry completely, either through air drying or with a paper towel - not a dirty rough wash cloth though. Always PAT dry, do not SCRUB.

  • Apply a very thin layer of ointment to help moisturize the area and help with healing.

 

Repeat this whole routine three times a day until your tattoo heals or turns itchy. DON'T CLEAN IT MORE THAN THREE TIMES A DAY!!. The whole healing process can take, of course depending on the person, one to four weeks aprox. If you become obsessively over cleaning your tattoo, you are not giving the skin the necessary time space to grow up again in order to heal properly.

It is also absolutely necessary that, after one week of aftercare procedure, or when you tattoo turns itchy, that you complete the routine using a highly nourishing cream. Your tattooist is going to recommend the apropriated brand for achieving the best healing results.

 

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What NOT to do while your Tattoo is Healing

 

  • Pick the Scabs - After a few days, your tattoo may begin to scab over. These scabs should not be picked or pulled off under any circumstance.

  • Pick Off Peeling Skin - Once your tattoo has finished the scabbing phase, the skin will begin the peel and flake away. This flaky skin, no-matter how inviting, should not be played with, picked, or peeled off.

  • Scratch your Tattoo - This is probably the most important rule of all when it comes to caring for a new tattoo.

  • Submerge your Tattoo in Water - Most bodies of water harbour many different kinds of nasty germs and bacteria. Stay away from swimming with a new tattoo or bathing in any type of water for at least three weeks.

  • Expose your Tattoo to the Sun - If you didn't already know this, the sun is the #1 tattoo killer. You must keep your tattoo covered at all times if going outside in warm weather, and you should do that for the first six months after your tattoo is done. During the important initial healing stage, the sun can swell and blister a tattoo, trigger skin rashes as well as prolong the healing times and fade the ink, so stay away from the big circle in the sky (and sunbeds too for that matter, they are just as bad in terms of UV production).

  • Re-wrap your Tattoo - Unless specifically advised by your artist, you mustn't re-wrap your tattoo once the initial wrap has been removed. Your tattoo needs to breath in order to heal properly.

  • Smother the Tattoo in Lotion/Ointment - As with the re-wrapping, if you put too much aftercare cream/lotion onto the tattoo, the thick layer of product is going to prevent the area from getting enough air and oxygen, which will affect the quality of healing. Your should only apply a very thin, barely shiny layer of lotion to your tattoo.

  • Use Petroleum-Based Products - Most of these product types are very dense and heavy. Even applying a thin layer can prevent your tattoo from breathing properly.