Don Rodrigues: São Paulo's Neo-Traditional Master Who Builds as Hard as He Tattoos

Brazil has produced some of the most technically accomplished and visually bold tattoo artists in the world. André Rodrigues — known globally as Don Rodrigues — is one of the best the country has to offer. Based in São Paulo and operating out of his own studio, Don has spent years building a reputation that reaches well beyond Brazil's borders: a neo-traditional artist with deep roots in drawing and painting, an Electricink ambassador, and the founder of one of Brazil's most respected tattoo education platforms.

The Art Comes First

Don Rodrigues isn't just a tattooist — he's an artist in the fullest sense. His practice spans tattoo, watercolor, charcoal drawing, oil painting, and digital illustration. That multi-disciplinary foundation shows up directly in his work: neo-traditional pieces with the color intelligence of a painter, the compositional clarity of an illustrator, and the technical control of someone who spent years studying fundamentals before ever picking up a machine.

His neo-traditional style pulls from the classic visual language of the genre — bold outlines, rich saturated color, strong figurative subjects — and elevates it with a distinctly Brazilian sensibility. There's warmth and depth in his palette, a storytelling quality in his compositions that sets his work apart from the noise.

Electricink Ambassador

Don Rodrigues is a long-time ambassador for Electricink — one of Brazil's most respected tattoo supply brands. That relationship speaks to more than sponsorship. It reflects a standing in the industry built on consistent output, technical credibility, and the kind of community respect that can't be bought. When Brazilian tattoo brands want someone to represent their products, they go to artists who embody excellence.

Lado B Escola para Tatuadores

What separates Don Rodrigues from many artists at his level is a genuine commitment to passing the craft forward. Through Lado B Escola para Tatuadores, he built a full curriculum covering neo-traditional tattooing, realistic color, drawing fundamentals, charcoal portraiture, and oil painting — accessible to students at every stage of their development.

His teaching philosophy is rooted in the same principle that drives his art: build a strong foundation, evolve every day, and never stop studying. That mindset has produced a generation of Brazilian tattoo artists who carry his influence whether they realize it or not.

Sullen Family

São Paulo energy, multi-disciplinary mastery, community investment, and a teaching platform that gives back to the culture — Don Rodrigues represents exactly what the Sullen Art Collective has always stood for: an artist who treats tattooing as a serious art form and never stops pushing the work forward.

Book with Don Rodrigues

Don Rodrigues is based in São Paulo, Brazil.

🌐 Website: andrerodriguestattooart.com 📱 Instagram: @donrodriguesarte 🏠 Studio: Don Rodrigues Tattoo — São Paulo, Brazil