Welcome to the Gandalf Tattoo website

MARIN URBANC

I’ve started tattooing at a considerably young age, when I was 15. At 1986 we were kids from the neighbourhood of Dubrava, Zagreb, who were carried away by punk and metal, and identified themselves with characters from at that time playing bands, who were because of their tattoos, an integral part of their image, marked as outcasts.

It was very important to have a tattoo. Since I had drawing skills, I enlisted for the job. Although, honestly, drawing skill was not of crucial importance to understand a good tattoo. “Slayer” or “Exploited” on someone’s skin could have been done by anyone, just as an “A” inside a circle. Tattoos at that time were very simple, and a reflection of rebellion against the society, not a mere decoration of skin. The tattooing technique we used was far below the level of tattooing in a military service or in a jail. With a needle wrapped with sewing thread, and black ink bought in a nearby bookstore was implemented under the skin; the whole procedure lasted a very long time and was extremely painful, and the results were- from an aesthetical point of view - just OK, at best.. But those were the beginnings of the beginnings, nothing comparable with the tattooing produced in, for our conditions, very advanced Germany, or even America.

In the beggining of 1992. the first legal Croatian tattoo studio has been opened in Zagreb - Roby’s tattoo shop. I thought that in those circumstances I have nothing more to look for in the tattoo world, and I almost gave up the whole idea. But, Roby accidentally saw some of my “works”, and decided to offer me a job. It was the best thing that happened to me until then, and I felt as a kid who has been dreaming about being a pilot, and then, suddenly, the Air Force decides to recruit him. It was the beginning of my professional career.

I worked at Roby’s for a few years. When I quit, I applied for and add I found in a Tattoo paper. A tattooist from Frankfurt- Alf Diamond- was looking for a tattooist. I sent him my work in a letter, and he was very pleased with them. I remember that he told me that I have great potential to become a good tattoo artist, but that my tattooing demands training.

I went to Frankfurt in 1996. and I started my apprenticeship at FTA ALF DIAMOND’S TATTOO STUDIOS. Only then I understood what tattooing actually is, and by seeing what goes into it and how it is done, I realized that the stories about “self-taught” craftsmen doesn’t stand on solid ground. I realised that the truth was brutally simple - the one that doesn’t know anything, can’t be self-thought. After just a couple of months in Frankfurt I gained so much knowledge and skills, I couldn’t gain in Zagreb within a lifetime.

Two years later, in 1998. at Ribnjak in Zagreb, Croatia I opened my own Tattoo Studio Gandalf, and started to work on my own. Two years later, I hired Stela, and I taught her the job that we’re doing together to this day. I want to thank all of my friends, tattooists, illustrators, bands and others who inspired me during the years, and still inspire me to become a better tattoo artist. My special thanks goes to Miroslav Tomas (Tomas Tattoo, Erlangen) for his unconditional help and boundless support during all those years, the man who had the biggest influence on everything I do.

STELA (PENIĆ) URBANC

My creative path began in my childhood, while my drawing kit and the smell of fresh paper were the greatest thrill for me.

In 1999. I finished The Faculty of Textile Technology as a fashion designer. In 2000 I got a job at Tattoo Studio Gandalf, where my dearest mentor taught me how to hold a broom, to wash glasses, to communicate with people, how to protect our customers and myself from infectious diseases, how to make a good design, and of course, how to make a great tattoo. All of it happened at the old tattoo studio at Ribnjak in Zagreb, Croatia, where I spent four years. Accidentally, we ended up as a United tattoo studios ZAGREB and GANDALF, when we were united with another tattoo studio. I continued to clean, sterilize, draw, tattoo, talk to customers, and learn more from my dear mentor.

It is difficult to speak about my specialities, but my favourites, and most tattooed in the last years were fairies, flowers, fantasy, ornaments, everything that is “cute”, traditionals (black and white, and in colour), and portraits. I did many things in life; needlework, crochet, sewing, airbrush, I’ve also designed my own clothes and made jewellery. Lately I’m spending my time mostly drawing my own tattoo designs, but my views are wide open because I love all kinds of creative work.

ZVONIMIR PODGAJSKI

Zvonimir Podgajski was born in Zagreb in 1993, but he was forced to grow up in a little city called Long Village. Life in the countryside was hard but creative. As a child, he constantly had to take care of the chickens, and he discovered his hidden talent in the game of pulling a stick through the chicken feed. Simple geometric shapes were formed over time into complex drawings. Then his parents realized that something was wrong with him. Not long after that, he was sent to study in Zagreb, where he graduated from the School of Applied Arts and the Academy of Fine Arts. In the meantime, he also shows a great interest in street art, in which, after enjoying various student privileges, he finds a source of income to take at least a little off the burden on his parents. For several years, Zvonimir has been active in the subculture of street art, and by painting custom murals all over "our beautiful country", he has gained wonderful experience working with people. But during all that time, Zvonimir comes across classic terms woven into the roots of the Croatian mentality, such as: "Is it possible to get a discount? Why so expensive? Can you just make "only" one more thing and I have nowhere to pay you. Confused by the realization and "just" a little bit frustrated, he thinks about a related profession that would save him from the torment of everyday life.

The first thing that comes to mind is tattooing, and he emerges with his rich portfolio of works, but very scantily clad and bare feet like Frodo, shows up in front of the doors of the Gandalf Tattoo studio and enters through the Mordor. Surprised by the unexpected demands of the tattooing technique itself, Zvonimir slowly but surely sharpens his skills under Sauron's all-seeing eye and does a few tattoos on his faithful neighbors from the village and friends, whom he is grateful for their trust to this day. After a wonderful and magical process to become independent and strive to be a top street artist and tattoo master, Zvonimir tackles already known drawing techniques and styles. Still, he certainly finds himself mostly in his recognizable illustrative style, which he is always happy to do. But many will consider his style unattractive, so the versatile Zvonimir will willingly and with an abnormal amount of attention and love engage in the realization of all your imaginary ideas. And don't forget that what makes Zvonimir so special after all these years is his thick nerves and huge threshold of tolerance for all kinds of questions, so feel free to contact him at any time of the night, and he will be happy to answer you.

iRobot Roomba i5158

From recently an irreplaceable member of our team. The true is that has the artificial intelligence of the level of the average cockroach, but it does its job of cleaning the tattoo parlor, concretely vacuuming, flawlessly and does not think about anything else while working except when is hungry eat a little bit electricity. Never underestimate a droid.

iRobot Braava 390t

It is very similar to Roomba but a little bit smarter. It have the artificial intelligence of the level of the average centipede, but it does its job of cleaning tattoo parlor, specifically washing and polishing, flawlessly same like Romba and does not think about anything else while working except when is hungry eat a little bit electricity and sometimes asks for a little water mixed with disinfectant. Never underestimate a droid.