Today we’d like to introduce you to Gabriel Ayala Jr.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Gabriel. So, let’s start at the beginning, and we can move on from there.
Since I was a little boy, I was always around art. My father is a tattoo artist, and my grandmother baked and decorated cakes for a living, so I guess art ran in the family. From a young age, I was exposed to tattooing and a shop environment and how to properly carry myself and act, that and I took art classes from elementary, all the way through high school. Of course every little boy wants to be just like his dad so as a kid I would tell him I wanted to be a tattoo artist, it wasn’t until I got older and I started to think more about my future is when I realized tattooing and art is something I want to pursue and do for the rest of my life. My dad taught me mostly everything I know when it comes to art, but I have picked up other techniques from other people as well. Coming up in Mainline as a 10-year-old kid, I had the pleasure of knowing Shawn Will, Ricky Cogburn, Bobby Correnti, Seth Chavez, and Stephen Yates. From them, I learned other ways to make my art better.
After I graduated high school, I really started to see my art take a turn for the better, new techniques I picked up really helped push it to where it is today. Of course, it’s not the best, but you always have room for improvement. Although, at this moment I’m very proud of myself for how far I’ve come and what I’m able to produce. With tattooing, I’m currently an apprentice at mainline ink but with the guidance, I have from my dad and my coworkers and the support from my family, I know there are no limits to what I can do. Everyone who I work with has helped push my art further, and I appreciate all of them dearly. I appreciate everyone who’s shown me a thing or two about art, or shared knowledge with me throughout the years of Mainline ink. For tattooing, my goal is to specialize in black and grey realism, but also be versatile with other styles as well.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Everyone faces obstacles in their lives. It’s apart of everyone’s journey, with work and their personal life. My father has been raising me since I was six and I’m currently 21, so it’s been a very long road with my dad. He’s done his very best to make my road smooth, and I’m very thankful for him and the sacrifices he has made.
The shop life has been smooth as well, my coworkers and father always guide me in the right direction and make sure I’m on my toes whenever a mishap arises, or something needs to be done. The main things I found challenging is learning how to speak up to customers, how to find my voice and get out of my shell. Now I feel very confident in myself when it comes to people in general, it’s helped out a lot outside of work.
We’d love to hear more about what you do.
I’m currently the tattoo apprentice at Mainline Ink. It’s a very great work environment and a friendly environment to our new customers as well as our regulars. As for what I do, I clean and greet the customers as well as help them out with any questions they may have, or point them in the right direction when it comes to an artist they’d like to speak to. Also, I clean up after the artists and do whatever needs to be done, set up their stations as well as break them down. They all let me watch them work and give me pointers here and there about what they’re doing.
I haven’t specialized in anything yet being I’m not on skin, but I’m going to pursue black and grey realism, as well as other styles. As for what I’m proud of as a company, I can’t speak for the owner but myself I’m very proud of how well we handle our customers and the quality of work that’s coming out of the shop. As for what sets me apart from others, I think every one of us is unique in their own way, style-wise, and character wise. Whenever I get on skin and progress in realism, I’d love to mix dotwork with it!
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
When I think back to a fond memory from my childhood, I would have to say it was when I turned 10. 3 days after my birthday that year in August 2007 my little sister Leia was born. That was by far the greatest birthday gift I ever received and I don’t think any gift I’ll ever gotten from that day until now has topped her birth. I don’t think any gift will. She’s such a great artist for her age and I love sitting with her and drawing and showing her little techniques that I’ve learned.
Contact Info:
- Address: 341 El Dorado Blvd, Webster, Tx 77598
- Phone: 7132543847
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @artistic.waves on instagram
- Facebook: Gabriel Ayala Jr
Image Credit:
Jesse Garza
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