Today we’d like to introduce you to Ariel Gomez
Ariel, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
So, I started getting tattooed around 2007, in San Diego, Ca. The homie from the neighborhood gave me my first tattoo on my bed. That’s when I kind of started to take interest in tattooing. The first time I saw someone with a tattoo that inspired me to get tattooed was Danny Trejo in the movie, “Desperado”. I thought it was the coolest thing in the world, the big “placaso” of the charra lady head on his chest and sternum. After getting tattooed at my friend’s shop for about a year, (Andre Servin, who funny enough, also lives in Minnesota @andreservin) I started learning a lot about the history of tattooing, and the ins-and-outs of tattoo application. I thought it was fascinating. Tattooing started to appeal to me a lot like skateboarding did around that time, It seemed “risky” and “dangerous”. The passion, dedication and loyalty of it all really appealed to me. Fast forward a few years later. I broke my hand skateboarding. Tattooing and learning to draw was lingering in the back of my mind at that time. I couldn’t skateboard, I couldn’t play guitar/shows, and I was on workers compensation.. I finally decided to take the plunge into learning to draw, and inquiring about painting tattoo flash. I got tattooed by a tattooer by the name of Gary Koblis, he owns Sailor’s Grave in San Diego. I had asked what I needed to do to get my foot in the door. He told me to start tracing designs to get a feel for how tattoo designs are made, he also encouraged me to paint flash. That night, he handed me a line-drawing book that he was selling to other tattooers, and he said to me that I could have it. He basically said, “Good luck on your journey”. So, I painted for months.. every single day of my life. As, I got better started inquiring at a few shops in San Diego. I found an apprenticeship at a shop I will not name, because in my opinion it was a waste of time. Haha! Anyhow, in 2016 I walked into a shop named Lifetime Tattoo. I got tattooed by my now-friend, Beau Odom. As the day rolled on, I had told him about my last apprenticeship. I really took to him, and decided to ask if they were looking for an apprentice. He looks over to the owner, Rob Hostetter, and he just signals to Beau, “no”.. Maybe a year goes by and Beau hits me up, and I guess they were keeping an eye on me. I was still producing flash and posting it on my instagram. At some point Beau asks me to come have a sit-down with Rob. Rob wanted to know the kind of man I was, and how I carried myself. From then on I apprenticed for a while, eventually moved on to tattooing friends for free with his guidance and teachings. I finally got my tattoo license on October 31st, 2018. There has been a lot of learning since then. Something that Rob instilled in me is that being a tattooer and an artist are two very different things. I pride myself in being a tattooer first. For those who understand that, kudos to you. Being an artist comes second. Being a tattooer requires a lot of knowledge outside of being an artist, and learning in tattooing is perpetual. If your tattooer thinks he’s got it all figured out, run. I tattooed at Lifetime Tattoo for about 6 years. For the last year, I traveled all over the country and guest spotted in various states. I’ve worked in North Carolina, Florida, Alabama, Minnesota, Colorado, so on and so forth, I’ve even tattooed on the Atlantic Ocean on a cruise ship. I have met a lot of great friends and people. I’m a bit of a Rambling Man, and you know what they say, “don’t fall in love with any ol’ ramblin man”.. unfortunately, my lady made that mistake when we met in Alabama. She’s also a tattooer! I eventually decided to move to Minneapolis, MN, in May of this year. I realized the traffic here was much higher, and I wanted a change of pace. Now I’m here. There’s been a lot of hills and valleys in tattooing, and that’s tattooing. Always learning, always growing.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not. Everything is hard, tattooing is a perpetual learning experience. I’m sure it’s been smoother for me than some other folks. The biggest struggles I think I’ve had are really trying to put myself out there, I don’t. I’ve always had this “anti-self-promotion” mentality. I felt that my work should speak for itself, I’ve always felt there is more integrity in that. I wasn’t born in the 70’s.. yet somehow I found myself always feeling that way. I thought it was lame, almost like begging for attention. For the last few years I’ve been trying to break away from that mentality. In this day and age, you have. You’ve always had to. Just not in the way that you do these days. Instagram and all.
Another struggle I’ve had is learning things the hard way in tattooing. Thankfully, I had an amazing mentor. He made it a lot easier for me than I saw a lot of other people have. He really breaks down everything to a molecular level. Amazing person and teacher.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I tattoo in Northeast Minneapolis. I’m a tattooer, and I try to specialize in pretty much everything, and almost anything that walks in that door. I’m passionate, and would say I “specialize” in American-Traditional Tattoos. They’re bold, and they hold up the best. I’m most proud of making people happy, and confident in what they get. I’d say what sets me apart from others is my work, no one person shares the same fingerprint. That’s how I feel about tattooing. Everything, really. I’m fast and I do good work. It speaks for itself.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
Come get tattooed! Follow me on Instagram. (That’s hard for me to say). Haha!
Pricing:
- $100-Up
Contact Info:
