Today we’d like to introduce you to Juan Garcia.
Hi Juan, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Oh, where to start at? Born and raised in Colombia. Migrated to the U.S. with both my parents and my only brother back in 2000. Went to school and graduated locally. Art has been one of those things that have been with me since as early as I can remember.
From doodling on my homework instead of doing the actual work, to painting on my spare time.
I have always grown up with that mentality of “broke artist”. I mean, even on books, school textbooks, the story of every famous artist we know today that has passed away already was that they were always modest, humble but usually in impoverish areas. Because of this, I never really saw this as something that would take me places. My thing was sports. Though art never really left my life.
Once I hit high school, that is when things really changed. I had this weird obsession with Low-rider Magazine.
Every month, I would use the little money I saved up to buy the monthly issue. I would Hang the posters from the centerfold up in my room. I would draw the cars themselves, and eventually developed a like for Aztec art and the Hispanic culture these magazines had to offer. little by little tattoos became a thing, and by this I mean a bit more accepted. not only did I start seeing them on these magazines, but shows like Miami Ink, Ink Master and LA ink became which became really popular. now as a high school kid, I Believed this was awesome. People with tattoos were so cool to me, the girls always spoke on tattooed men. This of course for a young man was something to look up to. I started designing tattoos at a young age. Learning as much as I could on the craft and how to get started. Eventually, after people left and right turning me down because I was either too young, or the style of designing I was doing was too “street” for the popular commerce, I manage to score an interview at a popular tattoo shop in the Kemah area.
Little did I know, this would be the demo interview that would change my life forever.
My dad, as opposed as he was to what I was doing, actually gifted me my very first tattoo machine. He said, that no matter what I did, I would be good at it. Because at the end of the day, if you love what you’re doing, you do whatever it takes to follow that dream and succeed at it.
On everything I love, that was my mission.
I have struggled left and right. I have overcome fears, dealt with difficult clients and even accomplished many goals. But what will forever keep the passion burning, is the fact that no matter how much work I put into this, every day I learn something new. The craft will never be fully mastered. Year after year new styles of tattooing are created. the boundaries get stretched constantly, and as an artist amongst a sea of other artists, the goal is to stand out.
Today to date, I still do what I love. It’s been a little over 8 years, And I have seen more places than imaginable. I have met people that made a difference in my life, and in a small way, I have made a diff in theirs. From state to state, doing conventions, competitions, guest spots and all while being able to enjoy each place I travel to.
Over 16 awards, in multiple areas of tattooing and many different categories. I specialize in color the most, and fixing or covering up unwanted tattoos.
You can find me today locally, At MAG studio in League City, Texas.
If you’re from out of state or out of the country, I do post on my social media where I will be next.
I Hope to own multiple studios in different countries one day, but until then I am content traveling around making new connections.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Of Course not. The biggest struggle, in the beginning, is creating a stable clientele. It takes more than charisma and good people skills to get established in this. I mean, we are talking altering a person’s visual looks. forever! And because I got started young, not everyone wants to trust a kid with their skin like that.
Hours and hours of practice, sleepless nights, and the constant stress of feeling like you might fail if business does not pick up. and like any other business, in order to educate and grow, money must be spent. Equipment is expensive, seminars are as well. Traveling is even more. All this, While dealing with your own personal problems. Trying your hardest to make time for the family amongst the countless hours you invest on this.
One of the hardest things though, that can make or break an artist today in this craft is definitely the fact that as a private contractor, we have to manage our own finances and handle our own expenses.
I have seen countless artist fail for the simple fact that they spent more than they ever made. Or because business wasn’t steady and they got tired of waiting on business that eventually might not come. It takes more than just being a good drawer to be a good tattoo artist or artist all around.
You have to take into consideration everything, and be resilient in all. there is millions of artist in this world, and there is always a guy that can do it for cheaper. You have to be better than the last guy. Your work has to stand out from the rest. and you always have be somewhat affordable for the clientele in the area. And in order to do any of this, time, and practice is a constant demand.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a Professional Artist. Any median, any canvas, any surface, an all-around artist. I specialize mostly in Body art. Commonly known as “tattoos”
I am mostly known for Fixing/ Covering Up unwanted tattoos and my use of color.
Here in the last few years, I have actually stood out the most for doing what I like to call a Style Merge.
In tattoos, there is many different styles. Each style has its own rules of dos and don’ts. But as an artist, creativity has no rules. I love pushing my boundaries. Because I could not decide what style of tattoo I specialize on, eventually I started designing a little piece from each style that I liked the most. Whether it was the multi-color palette and perspective use of ” new school ” tattooing, or the bold, solid usage of lines in traditional and neo traditional, I always found my pieces to have a little of everything.
What matters most to you?
What matters most in this craft is not losing sight of why we started this in the first place. The LOVE for art. That even though this craft demands a client satisfaction, and though most clients strongly believe they should be the ones to make the tattoo what it is, Us as artist, have the power to create something no one has ever seen before. As an established artist, nothing makes me happier than when a client comes up to me and says ” I Want one of your Original Pieces”.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juangbodyart
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JuanGBodyArt2018
Image Credits
Juan C Garcia
