Convention Connection: 24 Years In, How Argentinian Tattoo Artist Emmanuel Fortunato Gives Tattoos a Soul
“I try to give the greatest amount of emotional charge to a tattoo,” says Emmanuel Fortunato, “so that it has that feeling of it being alive.” Emmanuel is a Tattoo Artist from Argentina who will reach 24 years of tattooing in February 2027. He calls his style color expressive realism, and his goal is to capture the life in a face: the shine in the eyes, the smallest micro-expressions.
For this special Spanglish episode of Convention Connection, made for Ink Different’s Latin American audience, Chico Cortez sat down with his fellow Argentinian. In this video interview, Emmanuel talks about his precarious start, his move to New York, the sponsors who helped him get known, and why he’s now focused on his personal life.
Key Takeaways
His style: Color expressive realism, giving portraits emotional charge so they feel alive.
His start: Very precarious conditions in Argentina, which he says made him hungrier to learn.
His big test: Moving to New York around 2020 or 2021 to see if he could compete with the biggest names.
His sponsor advice: Know the product, work for the brand, and protect its interests.
His next chapter: Back in Argentina, focusing on being a good dad, partner, and teacher.
Who Is Emmanuel Fortunato and Why Does His Work Stand Out?
Emmanuel Fortunato is an Argentinian Tattoo Artist who has been tattooing for nearly 24 years.
His career began in Argentina in conditions he describes as “very, very, very precarious.” But he says the will and desire to grow kept him moving forward, searching and traveling. He believes the shortcomings he faced early on made him even hungrier to learn and to never give up.
Tattooing has also given him something deeply personal. “Thank God that gave me perhaps the family I didn’t have,” he says. Today, tattooing is his life, and meeting his “brothers of ink” while traveling is what keeps him motivated to keep growing and learning.
What Does It Mean to Give a Tattoo a Soul?
For Emmanuel, it means giving life to something that doesn’t have life.
He calls his style color expressive realism. He tries to give portraits and realistic images more soul, so they don’t look flat. As Chico explained, “It’s not just 2D. It’s almost like it’s alive.”
The details are what make that happen: the shine in the eyes, the tiny expressions, the micro-expressions on a face. Emmanuel works to make those present in every portrait. “That represents the moment the photo was taken, or the moment the person wants to express,” he says. “That’s what I want to recognize and bring to the tattoo.”
Pro Tip: Emmanuel’s approach shows that realism isn’t only about accuracy. It’s about capturing the emotion of a specific moment.
Why Do Tattoo Conventions Matter for Your Career?
For Emmanuel, conventions were part of how he built his name in the U.S., with help from his sponsors.
Even though he was already known in Argentina, he says he was “a normal, ordinary person with a good job” in the United States. His sponsors helped change that. They helped him get to conventions, meet other Tattoo Artists, and build new work relationships and connections.
Travel has always been part of his story, too. He says meeting his brothers of ink around the world is a big part of what motivates him.
Build your own presence with these platforms to help Tattoo Artists build their brand.
How Do 24 Years of Craft Translate Into Mastery?
For Emmanuel, it meant constantly testing himself at the next level.
Around 2020 or 2021, he moved to the United States and New York City. At the time, many of the biggest names in tattooing were there. To him, the next level meant competing outside Argentina.
He saw New York as a test. If he could survive “in that jungle,” it meant he was well-positioned. If he couldn’t, he’d learn what he needed to change to compete at that level. “It was that game of how much more I have to do to achieve something,” he says, and to leave a legacy.
Safety is part of professional mastery, too, including the OSHA bloodborne pathogens standard.
What Can You Learn From a Career Like Emmanuel's?
Treat sponsorships as real work
Chico says Emmanuel has landed more sponsors in a short time than he’s seen Tattoo Artists get in 20 years. Emmanuel credits that to understanding the work behind it.
“A lot of people think that having a sponsor is just receiving product and looking good,” he says. “They forget that they are collaborations.”
His advice:
Know the product first. “You can’t say, ‘I would like to have a sponsor,’ and not know about the product.”
Work for the brand. Once you have a sponsor, work for them, with them, and for their benefit.
Protect their interests. Take great care of the brand, and raise the bar.
Show what you’ll build. He presented himself, and what he planned to do next, as something brands could invest in. “If we work together, we can achieve great things.”
In return, he says sponsors provided travel, money, materials, and promotion.
Know when to pause
At the time of filming, Emmanuel had moved back to Argentina a few months earlier. He has his green card, so he can travel back and forth, but he’s taking a pause for what he calls a period of introspection.
“I ran a lot after professional goals,” he says, “and I neglected the personal ones a bit. Now it’s time for the personal ones.” He says he’s achieved about 90% of what he wanted professionally.
Before you start, read about the mistakes aspiring tattoo apprentices should avoid.
How Do You Start Building a Soulful Tattoo Career?
Emmanuel’s path offers a few lessons:
Step 1: Let challenges fuel you. His early struggles made him hungrier to learn.
Step 2: Keep learning and traveling. He kept searching, exploring, and growing.
Step 3: Test yourself at the next level. For him, that meant New York.
Step 4: Learn the business. He built strong relationships with sponsors by understanding their side.
Step 5: Get real training. A structured path like Ink Different’s Traditional Tattoo Apprenticeship builds your foundation with experienced Mentors.
For gear, see the tools every beginner Tattoo Artist should know.
What You Can Expect From Our Traditional Tattoo Apprenticeship?
Ink Different’s Traditional Tattoo Apprenticeship is an 18 to 24 month, four-phase tattoo apprenticeship that takes beginners to job-ready Tattoo Artists. Ink Different has trained Tattoo Artists for 15 years. No prior art experience is required.
Phase One: Art and design.
Phase Two: Machine practice on synthetic skin.
Phase Three: Supervised tattoos on real clients in a tattoo studio.
Phase Four: Building independence and preparing for licensing.
This is a career that comes with confidence. You’ll finish with job-ready skills, licensing support, and a guaranteed job offer at one of Ink Different’s own tattoo studios. The Traditional Tattoo Apprenticeship is available at 60+ tattoo studios nationwide.
Mentorship That Pushes Your Brand and Skills Further
Once you’ve built your foundation, Ink Different’s Master Mentorship connects you with Master Mentors, including Al Fliction, Liz Cook, Kyle Dunbar, Boneface, Jordi Pla, Marcel Oliveira, and Kara Gutierrez.
Making Tattoo Training Accessible for Everyone
Emmanuel wants to help other Tattoo Artists from Argentina succeed. He says there’s a lot of talent there, but few Tattoo Artists make it out, because many don’t know how. By sharing his experience, he hopes to show them a path.
Ink Different shares that goal of opening doors. It offers Spanish-speaking locations in Denver, Orange County, NYC, Miami, San Antonio, and San Diego, so language is never a barrier to becoming a Tattoo Artist. Its “Good Humans” culture means you join a supportive community from day one.
Seats are limited, with only two apprentices per tattoo studio per Mentor.
Ready to Become a Tattoo Artist?
Emmanuel Fortunato went from a precarious start in Argentina to building a name in New York, and now he’s back home, focused on what matters most. He wants to be a good dad to his daughter, a good partner, and a good teacher. He also has a stepdaughter. Chico could relate, since he’s going through something similar with his own kids.
Ready to become a Tattoo Artist? Apply now to Ink Different’s Traditional Tattoo Apprenticeship and start building an AI-proof career with licensing support and a guaranteed job offer at one of Ink Different’s own tattoo studios.
To get tattooed by Emmanuel, message him on Instagram at @fortunatotattoo. He’s based in Argentina but still travels around the world, so follow him to see where he’ll be next. Follow Chico at @m4l_chico.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is color expressive realism?
Emmanuel’s style. He gives portraits emotional charge through details like the shine in the eyes and micro-expressions, so they feel alive.
How long has Emmanuel Fortunato been tattooing?
He’ll reach 24 years in February 2027. His career began in Argentina.
How did Emmanuel get so many sponsors?
He says he understands the work behind sponsorships: know the product, work for the brand, and protect its interests.
Where is Emmanuel based now?
At the time of filming, he had recently moved back to Argentina. He still travels for work.
How long does the Traditional Tattoo Apprenticeship take?
Ink Different’s Traditional Tattoo Apprenticeship takes 18 to 24 months across four phases, with licensing support and a guaranteed job offer at one of Ink Different’s own tattoo studios.
Does Ink Different offer training in Spanish?
Yes. Ink Different offers Spanish-speaking locations in Denver, Orange County, NYC, Miami, San Antonio, and San Diego.
