Meet Tural: From Architecture to Neo-Traditional Tattoo Art
Makhyaddinov Tural Kahraman ogly, born in 1994 in the small Russian town of Ivanovo, is a 30-year-old tattoo artist with a fascinating and unexpected journey into the world of tattooing. His creative path began long before he ever picked up a tattoo machine.
A Childhood Fueled by Creativity
Tural has always been artistically inclined. As a child, he spent his time drawing, sculpting, creating graffiti, playing in a rock band, and swimming competitively. Eventually, his interests led him to study architecture — a prestigious field that allowed him to channel his ideas into tangible creations.
Artistic Roots in the Family
Though neither of his parents pursued art professionally, creativity ran in the family. His mother was a talented illustrator, and his father dabbled in tattooing when he was younger. While art wasn’t seen as a viable career back then, the spark was clearly there from the beginning.
A Twist in the Journey: From Dentistry to Tattooing
After three years of architecture, Tural made a bold decision: he left the field to study dentistry. While living in a student dorm, word got out about his artistic background, and people started asking if he could tattoo. He decided to give it a try — and that’s where it all began. What started as small, experimental tattoos quickly grew into a deep passion.
A Lifelong Student of the Craft
Even today, Tural is dedicated to refining his art. He constantly studies both tattooing techniques and academic drawing, always seeking new ways to merge the two. His drive comes from the endless potential to grow as an artist and create more meaningful, expressive work.
Neo-Traditional with a Dark Fantasy Twist
Tural’s style can be described as neo-traditional classic — a flexible and expressive approach that allows room for experimentation and storytelling. He’s heavily inspired by dark fantasy themes, Souls-like video games, medieval myths, and old engravings. Concepts like chaos, decay, and the passage of time often appear in his work, adding a philosophical layer to his art.
From Concept to Skin: Tural’s Design Process
Every tattoo begins with an idea. Tural starts by developing a concept, then builds a composition that flows with the anatomy of the body. He carefully plans how elements interact, applies tonal values to define contrast, and finally adds color and fine details. The result is a piece that not only looks striking but also moves in harmony with the body.
Mastering the Hardest Technique: Solid Color Packing
One of the biggest challenges in Tural’s learning process was achieving smooth, even color fills. It took a long time to understand how to get the results he wanted. Now, after trial and error, he confidently uses color to bring depth and emotion to his designs.
Details Make the Difference
For Tural, every detail matters. Even the so-called secondary elements — the background shapes, textures, and shadows — play a crucial role in setting the mood and supporting the focal point. These small components give the artwork depth, meaning, and atmosphere.
Growing Through the Foundations
Tural believes that great tattoos are built on three core principles: composition, contrast, and anatomical placement. Mastering these fundamentals is key to creating living, breathing art that resonates. His artistic evolution is rooted in these ideas, and he’s determined to keep pushing their boundaries.
Tural’s journey is a perfect example of how diverse experiences — from architecture to dentistry — can shape a truly unique tattoo artist. Discover his work and explore the depth behind every design on his artist page.
