Today we’d like to introduce you to Ettore Bechis.
Hi Ettore, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I was born in Turin, Italy, and grew up in an artistic environment from a young age. My father was a rock blues musician who played guitar and harmonica and sang. But he didn’t stop there—he was also very skilled at drawing and sculpting. Thanks to him, I was always surrounded by art and culture, with a strong American influence. I started drawing and painting at an early age, and this passion stayed with me even during my military service, where I painted a huge mural in the barracks.
At 23, I began my career as a set designer in tourist resorts, and from there, I opened my first art studio. I painted furniture in a country style and created Trompe l’oeil in villas. After this experience, I moved on to work as a set designer for Italian television. In 2002, I got into the world of tattooing, a passion that quickly grew, so much so that in 2010, I opened my first tattoo studio in Italy.
In 2014, I obtained an O-1 visa as an artist and moved to the United States. In 2017, after receiving my Green Card, I opened my first studio in Miami Beach. I still vividly remember that tiny office on the second floor of 6948 Collins Avenue in North Beach. It was so small that if you stretched out your arms, you could touch both walls. There were no windows, no place to sit, and if there was more than one client, they had to wait in the hallway. It was embarrassing, but I knew that you have to start somewhere. After a year, I moved to the adjacent office, which was larger and had two windows, one of which offered a glimpse of the sea. At that moment, I truly felt like I had made it.
During the pandemic, my wife and I made an important decision: to move to Palm Coast, in northern Florida. I chose Palm Coast because three years ago, there were only two tattoo studios and a population of about 90,000 people. Plus, it’s a beautiful place. So, I closed my studio in Miami and opened a new one in Palm Coast. Now, there are four of us working at Overlord Tattoo Studio and Art Gallery: me, my wife River who handles appointments, and two tattoo artists, Brian and Kaleo. The studio is doing very well, and recently I decided to seriously return to painting, focusing on pop art. I created a website, www.popartflorida.com, and the studio allows me to promote my paintings without too much worry. I’m excited to start a new adventure by participating in art fairs across the United States.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The biggest obstacle I faced in Italy was the high taxes and overwhelming bureaucracy. It’s not easy to start a business there if you don’t already have a solid financial base. In contrast, in this country, everything is much easier, and you don’t need a lot of money to get started. Someone once said, “Italian entrepreneurs are so used to swimming in a sea of shit that when they arrive in the United States, they swim like sharks.” I think that statement captures the reality quite well.
On the other hand, the language barrier has been my biggest challenge here. I consider myself very fortunate that my wife helps me with all the bureaucratic tasks. When I first arrived, I didn’t speak any English, which made communication very difficult. Most of my tattoo artist colleagues in Miami were Hispanic, so I ended up learning Spanish before English. Additionally, I didn’t have much money when I arrived, so I had to adapt to the circumstances, especially since living in Miami can be quite expensive.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a professional tattoo artist with experience dating back to 2002, and I am the owner of Overlord Tattoo Studio. My journey into tattooing began in Brazil, almost as a hobby, while I was working as a set designer in tourist resorts. I am particularly known for my expertise in tattoo cover-ups. I say “unfortunately” because there are many poorly executed tattoos that need covering, but this doesn’t bother me. Unlike many tattoo artists who shy away from cover-ups, I have developed a talent for them, and I take pride in helping people feel confident and happy by removing the embarrassment of a poorly done tattoo.
I take great pride in my studio, which I have practically built from the ground up. I personally painted the walls and crafted the wooden furnishings, and I thoroughly enjoyed the process. Clients often compliment the welcoming atmosphere of the studio, which makes them feel comfortable. However, much of the credit goes to my wife, who I affectionately call “the voice.” She is the first point of contact for clients, handling phone calls and emails with professionalism. Although she works remotely due to her other job, she also produces a fantastic tattoo aftercare cream that our clients love. Her professionalism in communication has garnered a lot of positive feedback from our clients.
I am also extremely proud of Brian and Kaleo, who both started as apprentices and have grown into full-time tattoo artists. They are incredibly talented and patient, and their work is outstanding. I believe what sets me apart from other tattoo artists is my background as a painter. When clients walk into the studio and see my paintings, it reassures them that they are in good hands.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
As a child, I was often quite distracted and did not perform well in school, which I believe caused some concern for my parents about my future. However, I was always drawing and displayed a strong sense of financial independence from an early age. During the holiday season, I would paint store windows with festive designs, such as Santa Claus and Christmas decorations. I was very fast, able to complete a window in just 45 minutes and earn $80—a respectable sum in the 1980s. Perhaps my speed was partly due to the cold weather!
My interests included military and fantasy model making. As a teenager, my dream was to move to Los Angeles and work in the special effects industry. However, due to my lack of English skills and limited financial resources, I had to postpone that dream. But now, here I am—though not in the special effects industry, I have my own business, and I am happy with where I’ve ended up.
Pricing:
- Tattoo price: small tattoo minimum $65, big tattoo $150 hour
- Painting: depending from the size but 24″x”36 around $1300
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.overlordtattoo.com/ https://popartflorida.com/original-paintings
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/overlord_tattoo_studio/?hl=en https://www.instagram.com/pop_art_florida?igsh=MWZqMmZ6c3pyNzFhbQ==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OverlordTattooShop https://www.facebook.com/share/aSjtkawbd9RdEW5G/?mibextid=qi2Omg
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ettore-bechis-36941439/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ettorebechis
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/overlord-tattoo-studio-palm-coast
