Instagram: @y3ti_tattoos
What was the moment you knew you wanted to become a tattoo artist? Was there a specific event or experience that sparked your passion?
When looking back I have to say I was about 20, I was at a local shop all of the time getting tattooed and just fell in love with the culture and the pure creativity involved. Though my journey took a different path for a while, ultimately it always circled back to tattoos.
If you could only tattoo one design style for the rest of your career, what would it be and why?
I would say Neo Traditional. I spent a large part of my apprenticeship feeling stylistically lost. Once I discovered neo traditional was something I bonded with, it was like everything just clicked. I always love to explore all styles, but it’s the style I will always come back to and is what I consider my style.
What’s the strangest or most unexpected inspiration behind a tattoo design you’ve created?
The most strange was an outline silhouette of a horse. It was quite challenging, as the way the client wanted it required me to take extra steps to make sure it looked the way it was supposed to and not inappropriate.
If you had to describe your tattooing style as a movie genre, what would it be?
Fantasy, adventure, and at times maybe even dark fantasy. I’m very inspired by fantasy stories, and just the aesthetic of the old world has always captivated me.
What’s a common tattoo myth you wish people would stop believing?
I would say the most common one is that it’s not a real job. I think a lot of people have a hard time understanding exactly how much goes into what we do, and I will forever appreciate those who do understand.
Have you ever turned down a tattoo idea? If so, what was the reason?
Yes, a couple, mostly out of inexperience at the time. I’m always open to a good challenge, but my top priority is that the client is happy. If I don’t feel as though I can deliver, I’m always going to communicate that.
If you could collaborate on a tattoo with any artist (alive or dead), who would it be and what would you create together?
I have two! One being Ulysses Blair—he has become one of my favorite artists, and his take on Neo Traditional is just top tier. I’d love to be able to collaborate on a sleeve with him. The second would be a local artist and good friend of mine, Len Hernandez. He’s basically the man that got me inspired to tattoo, and I’d truly love to collaborate on anything with him.
What’s the most meaningful tattoo you’ve ever done for someone, and what was the story behind it?
One of my favorite tattoos I’ve done, and such a simple design, was the outline of my good friend’s dog who passed. It was such a special moment for us both, as we shared a lot of beloved memories with him.
Imagine you could give yourself a tattoo 10 years ago—what would it be, and what message would you want it to hold?
I would probably want to give myself a different start when it comes to all my tattoos. I have covered a lot of things I got just to fill up space and ended up not happy, so it’s harder to answer for just one tattoo. I’d plan things out better, and to me, that holds the most meaning.
If you had to design a tattoo for a famous historical figure, who would it be for and what would you ink on them?
Ohhhh, this one’s fun! I’ve always had an interest in art history, so I think doing an art interpretation of a famous artist's work on him would be interesting while also terrifying in the best way. So I’d say doing an Alphonse Mucha piece on him would be incredible.
SKILLS
