Paying Homage: Q&A - Paños with Jesse

Resident artist, Jesse has dedicated herself to paying homage to paño art and its origins. She’s since set herself apart from other artists working with traditional mediums; releasing a series of original and inspired designs rendered with ballpoint pen on vintage cloth. We sat down with Jesse to learn more.

What Inspired You To Start Doing Paños?

I first started experimenting with ballpoint and cloth as a medium when I was gifted a collection of decorative handkerchiefs that had been in my partner’s family for generations. I was inspired to honour them and give them new life by repurposing them. Creating paños was a natural transition for me, given my existing admiration for their history and original purpose, and how they’ve shaped the art of tattooing today.

Are There Any Particular Artists That Were Influential?

I suppose the artists that first inspired my work were those that spearheaded the tradition out of necessity – Mexican prisoners in the 1940s that used paños as a form of communication or currency while serving time. When it comes to artists that I can put a name to, I’m greatly influenced by Traditional tattooers – Ed Smith, Mike Malone, and Owen Jensen – to name a few.

Original Ed Smith Flash

I’m also extremely fascinated by the juxtaposition of Traditional tattoo subject matter with extensive rendering, and pin up art has allowed me to explore that approach further. Trying to honour the traditional designs of portraits and pin ups with the style of rendering I enjoy – realism – led me to the work of Alberto Vargas, whose illustrations have had a major impact on both the style and subject matter of my paños.

Alberto Vargas illustration

How Does Ballpoint and Cloth Compare To Traditional Mediums? Are There Any Challenges? Any Advantages?

It’s a far less forgiving medium than those I’ve worked with in the past, like charcoal or paint. Each handkerchief is special, and the ones I’ve worked on, at least, have sentimental value. If I fuck one up, I can’t just run down to Curry’s and buy a new one. On top of that, each piece of cloth varies in weave, and you don’t really know how this will inform your rendering approach until you actually make your first mark. I personally love that aspect of working with fabric, though. It keeps me present and on my toes. I’ve learned a lot about line weight, pressure, and stretching a malleable canvas, which has greatly informed my approach to tattooing, as well.  

Are All Concepts Suitable For Cloth? If Not, How Do You Determine What Works Best?

Given the original purpose of paños, I honestly can’t think of a concept that wouldn’t be suitable. They served as a way to express oneself to loved ones in the outside world or, at the very least, a way to pass the time. Subject matter in paños ranges so extensively because the artwork is just that – subjective. Speaking from my own experience, the concepts that work best are those I enjoy drawing most. If I become obsessed with working on a single paño day and night, I can almost guarantee that it’s something I’ll be proud to share.

Favourite Piece You’ve Done So Far?

My favourite piece to date would have to be the Pharaoh’s Horses paño. I really enjoyed rendering a classic and well known oil painting using a 30 cent pen from Staples.

Due to the overwhelming interest along with our anticipated return to the shop, Jesse is taking select commissions based on size and timeline. If you’re interested in working with Jesse for tattoo or paño related projects, please email info@widowtattoo.com.