My goal when I came into this tattoo industry was to be an award winning artist. Plain and simple. I wanted to go to shows and win. I wanted to compete, I wanted to show what I could do and I wanted to push myself.
Over the last two years I travelled the states and I conquered this dream. Coming back from being sick I knew I had been holding back, and I needed to really get after it. I needed to leave it all on the table. So many times I hid my confidence and my drive because I was afraid of making those around me uncomfortable. So many times I self sabotaged or made excuses as to why I didn’t win or why I wasn’t competing. At the end of the day I was scared. Funny huh!? What was there to be scared of? Well I’ve found that I was scared of what if I actually did achieve these goals. What if I did become the artist I always wanted to be. Then what?
Welp, it’s funny what we will hold ourselves back from in exchange of comfort. Whoever reads this just know, I’m nothing special. Tattooing is hard, customer service is hard, owning a shop is hard, managing and growing a team is hard, shit life outside of tattooing…. hard. I’m saying this to say please please please if you are healthy if you are capable, if you have something you want, work towards it! Even if it’s just 1% a day. It is achievable.
I’m 36 now, I started tattooing when I was 18. I learned about the industry when I was 20. Being able to have images like this…. Man…. Let me tell you, it means a lot to me. I’m glad I’m older because now I see it in a whole new light. Sure I get the accolades and I get the pic and I get the trophies. But what’s really been amazing is the people that have let me work. Yall that trust me. My family who supports me. My wife who lets me works and shares me with yall. The people that travel from the Central Valley to collect and show their work. Damn yo! Shits fuckin incredible.
I’ve mainly been fueled by a huge chip I had on my shoulder. Now, as cheesy as it sounds, I’m fueled by all those around me that show love. My gyms, my coaches, my team I work with, my family and collectors. Yall lift me up man and yall are the reason why I was able to do everything I’ve done. It took me so long to learn it’s not just ME.
Pictures like this fulfill me way more. lol the fuckin squad man.
So…. The next chapter. I’d like to still compete but it is no longer a huge priority. Unless somebody talkin some shit then ima pop out and let em know 😏
But until that time, lmao, I want to learn and really hone my skills at every style of tattooing. I want to win awards in all styles. This will take a while haha.
A big goal of mine is to contribute something original to the tattoo world. Sadly our industry is being super whored out, but I love this craft and I still have a lot of love for the old and the new. I’m hoping I can learn every style in order to make sure there’s no limitations to what I can create.
Recently I was able to take a seminar with Deanna! And some of the things she said and hearing about her process really motivated me. She had a vision, and she went for it. To be honest, her process is pretty original and really amazing to witness. It motivated me to be confident in myself. I do feel like I have unique ideas and I do have a wild imagination. It’s time to trust the vision and let yall into my world of dreams.
