Today we’d like to introduce you to Gabriel Ayala Sr.
Gabriel, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was introduced to tattooing by my cousin Jesse one night back in 1991. I was 14 years old. He had made a homemade tattoo machine from a motor he took out of a cassette player, a pen and a few other household items. He had started some kind of evil clown face on a friend of ours and I ended up finishing it up. Keep in mind, we were all just a bunch of kids, the oldest fifteen drinking 40’s and acting fools with no kind of knowledge besides stick in the needle and follow the line. That same night around two am or so, I tattooed my cousin, both of us standing up inside the laundromat at the apartments we lived in it was the Cypress Hill logo, from there first album on his shoulder, that’s truly where it all began.
After that, I was tattooing my friends, cousins and uncles. I would have young teenagers sitting outside my house waiting for a free tattoo. Remember, I was between the ages of 14-17 years old during this time I was what artists nowadays call a scratcher! That was me but I was always improving. My mother took notice that I was doing this she was not happy at first but once she saw that I was not gonna stop she started pointing me in a better direction insisting I wear gloves clean the skin with alcohol maybe shave it like in surgery. She’s always been my biggest supporter if it wasn’t for her I would have not have found my first job at a shop. One day she noticed a tattoo shop by my grandmother’s house had a help wanted sign so she wrote the number down for me and told me to call and see if I could get a job there so I called and that call leads me to where I am now. The shop was called Barrio Artz in Denver Harbor on Houston’s east side.
When I called a guy named Joel Cevallos answered the phone that day, I can still remember the convo and the music that was playing in the background. A couple of days later, I went and spoke with him and the owners. I was really lucky that they were not tattoo artists if they had been they would probably not have hired me but they did all thanks to Joel so on Dec. 9th, 1994, I was 17 years old, my career as a tattoo artist began. I did not have an apprenticeship, I was tattooing clients right away and it was not as easy as I had thought. Joel and David Obregon took me under there wing and taught me all that they knew. I owe my carrier and all that I have to them, they gave me this life and I’m forever grateful to them. I named my youngest son “Joel” in honor of Joel, he passed in 2000. I didn’t work at a lot of different shops coming up, I was taught to try and stay in one place for a while but in my time before starting my own shop, I worked at a few shops beginning with the one I mentioned above after that, I tattooed at Dago’s. I learned a lot from him about tattooing, Curious Good (a short-lived shop in SW Houston) and Extreme Skin art on Westheimer. Extreme is where I feel I became a professional. There, I had the pleasure and honor to work with Walter Jones, “Wally” to those that knew him well along with a lot of other artists that have gone on to become great artist! I learned a lot about tattooing there, from the guys I worked with and everything I know about running a shop and being a boss from Wally. He was fair, always there for us. If we needed something and always showed us how much he cared for and appreciated us. I’ve always tried to follow what I learned from him with my crew.
In 2000, I opened my first shop Lasting Impressions on Houston’s east side off I-10, I was 23 years old. That was a real-life and business lesson, it was struggle from the beginning to the end in 2004. I had some good times there but also a lot of stressful times bad location, slum Lord landlord, the list goes on but hey, you move on to better things. After that, I opened a private studio, thanks to my best friend Joaquin and his father giving me a spot to work out of. That was a lifesaver, it gave me time to reflect and progress without the stress of running a full-time shop. Looking back, I definitely was not ready to run a shop at that age. My grandfather once told me a good businessman should always learn from his mistakes and not be afraid to walk away when things aren’t working out. In 2006, I met Steve Yates, he had opened up a shop in the Friendswood area, that year called Mainline Ink. We met through a client that I had been tattooing for a couple of years that happened to live across the street from the shop. Steve had saw some work that I did and asked to be put in contact with me, we talked, I decided to come out take a look at the shop and guest spot for a while.
At the time, I still had my private studio and was not quite sure whether or not I would wanna work with someone else yet. After being there for a while and getting to know Steve, I decided to join the shop full-time, I came on as a manager, I was in charge of hiring and firing and keeping things in order. During this time, a lot of great artists have worked under me. I have seen a lot of guys mature into great artists and I hope that have thrown a few tools in their toolboxes. In 2011, Steve asked me if I would like to take over the shop. I excepted and sense I’ve built and amazing crew and I have kept the same values that Steve and myself started at mainline long ago. Since taking over the shop in 2011, we moved from our location in Friendswood to a new location not too far away, we have been at this new location going on three years and things couldn’t be better. So far, we have been in business 13 years, the shop wouldn’t be where it is at now without Steve and the love and support of my crew, my family and friends and of course, all of our loyal clients. Becca, the shop manager and a prior apprentice of mine and the crew that I have now I love dearly, I can truly say I know I am loved. A couple of years back, I lost my father, it was a very hard time for me, my crew was there for me every step of the way, they always hold the shop down for me, I can depend on each one of them to do the right thing.
In the past couple of years, I’ve gotten very interested in real estate, it’s something I felt I could do, so I started learning as much as I could about it, bought a property and this year, I flipped my first house. Once again, my crew supported me while I was occupied with a new business venture. Tattooing has enriched my life, it’s been great to me, it’s allowed me to support my self, my children and for my family and others in need. I’ve learned a lot about people and I’ve learned a lot about myself during these years. I love being a tattooer, meeting new people, all the great times I’ve had in the shop and at conventions. Getting to create works of art for people’s skin and watching my work evoke emotions. I’ve had a lot of great times and I know I have so much more to experience. I’m grateful to all the artist that have shown me things and have opened doors for me and to all those that believe in me especially Tony Olivas, he’s someone I’ve looked up to since I was a teenager, tattooing out the house. Now, we are family and I’ve learned so much from him I feel my work is where it’s at because of him and what I’ve learned watching him. I feel at 42 things are just beginning again this question. Should be asked to me again in another 20 years by then, I hope for my story to be even greater!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
When I started, it was not easy to get into tattooing, I was kicked out of plenty of shops for asking questions about tattooing or trying to get jobs… there are some guys that I know now that slammed doors in my face back then that don’t even remember me as a teen asking for work but I get it now. I have closed doors on a few people myself self but difference is there are so many outlets of information online even if a door is shut, it’s a lot easier to push forward with so much knowledge out there and so many artists just wanting free shop help so they hand out apprenticeships like candy. It’s easy nowadays to get caught up in that situation being a hungry artist wanting to learn, you meet the wrong people and you are easily took for granted and used as free help around the shop, slaving away cleaning toilets, answering phones, sweeping, mopping, doing food and supply runs and in some cases, ending up with people that won’t show you anything good because they were no good to begin with, because the treatment you end up getting is too hard for the majority of people to deal with.
At the same time, that is what it takes to get a good apprenticeship, you will have to do all those things I mentioned for free for a year or two before you get taught anything because that is your way of paying the artist for what he’s teaching you but get with the wrong people and it can be hell. I, myself was fortunate to land with two guys that wouldn’t want a guy that lets people trash talk him or take him for granted around. During the time I started, it was not your normal apprenticeship, I was already tattooing with a homemade machine for a few years, so I had a small amount of experience but not enough to prepare me for a walk in shop. I was thrown to the wolves but I feel it made me a stronger artist. I think one of the main struggles I had back then was getting a real tattoo machine and equipment, it was not easy back then, nor did I have the money at the time for some. My father saw that I was not gonna stop pursuing tattooing as a career, so he bought me my first machine at Coastal water swing gate from Papillon tattoo supply. I had that one machine for at least three years before I got a second one, I lined and shaded with that machine just doing a quick adjustment to my contact screw in between the outline and the shading.
Now, I have an assortment of liners and shaders of different style machines and for the most part, use maybe two of them. Now, you can buy a $100 tattoo machine setups being sold online and that has its ups a downs. Downside is it’s spawns off a lot of people that do not take the time to take all the proper precautions when tattooing, even worse are those that get a hold of equipment like this and don’t care about being sterile or care to learn about cross contamination. I see it all the time people posting pictures of them tattooing or getting tattooed and that artist or there artist not wearing gloves, not wrapping up their bottles, etc. and these are adults not kids or teens not knowing better. These same guys are advertising, they work online and of course, at a cheap rate! Upside is there are a lot of guys that are intelligent enough to learn some simple safety precautions and are truly wanting to learn but maybe don’t have access to shops or artist willing to teach them and with all that is online, you can purchase this equipment easier than guys from my time could. There are a lot of good artists out there in the world, a lot have come up learning on cheap tattoo equipment and that’s a good thing. I wish I had it this easy when I was coming up. I would have had an entire small shop in my room, mom would have hated that! There is much that has changed in the years since I’ve started, having search engines have made things even easier when looking for references for tattoos ideas.
Now, you throw in apps and programs on your iPad and drawing your designs up and making your stencils has become even easier! We live in the era of wanting things to be easier and just like with every other craft and job technology, it’s helping make things easier and faster but as an artist, nothing beats pencil to paper or brush to an actual canvas but I still turn to my iPad and a search engine daily for work. I could go on and on about all the changes from the time I started until now, but I don’t want to be that guy! I already catch myself saying “back when I started“ or “back in the day“. I sometimes feel like an old man in this business, but most of the time, I have to remind myself of my age. This business has kept me feeling young because it’s always changing and full of good times and being around younger crowds of new artists that I end up hiring or meeting. I have learned a lot from guys a lot younger than me, some that I’ve had here at the shop or have come up around me. I would stand and watch them and they were probably thinking I was looking for mistakes but what I’m doing is learning, you never know what you can learn from someone else younger or older. My road has had some obstacles and challenges but no matter what they are, I keep on moving. I’m sure there are more to come.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Mainline Ink story. Tell us more about the business.
Mainline Ink was established in 2006 in Friendswood, TX. We are a custom tattoo and body piercing shop. Each artist specializes in a different style of tattooing from traditional to photo realistic tattoos. Mainline Ink is known for having talented solid dependable artist and a laid back relaxed atmosphere. We are known for listening to our clients and taking their idea and turning it into an amazing piece of art. We don’t believe in ignoring people when they walk in the door or waiting until they ask for help to acknowledge them. I’m really proud of how far Mainline Ink has come. One of the things I’m most proud of is the team I have with me! My manager Becca Gillen, Cristina Grey, Oscar Cuellar, Arron Dale, my son Gabriel Jr. are some of the most reliable people I have had the pleasure of working with.
They set a high standard with the work they put out and the professionalism that comes along with it. As a team, we do everything like a family from traveling together, celebrating holidays and each other birthdays. It’s great to work alongside people that you want to see on a daily basis, people you don’t get tired of seeing. There is nothing but love, loyalty and respect amongst us, it’s been hard to find new artists that are on the same level with the way we think and do things here. We have been at our El dorado location going on three years. Now, we are one of longest-running shops in the area and this is just the beginning for us.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I believe that luck has a lot to do with being ready when opportunities arrive. I also believe that we all set ourselves up in life for certain things and opportunities. If I had not been the type to push forward when things are not working out the way I want them to, things may be different but I’ve always kept my eye on what it is I want in life, so I feel I set myself up to be exactly where I am at today! Some of us waste opportunities in life and sometimes, they just throw them away! Not looking towards the bigger picture in the future. I believe some people have drive and ambition and some people don’t. I feel luck has nothing to do with where I’m at now, I’m where I’m at because I worked hard, proved my worth. I’ve always been reliable, honest and fair to those I was working for and those that have worked for me. I know how to talk to people and treat people that alone can get you a long way in life.
Pricing:
- My hourly rate varies from a $150 – 200 an hour depending on piece with a two hr minimum
Contact Info:
- Address: Mainline Ink
341 El Dorado Blvd
Webster, TX 77598 - Phone: 281-996-1153
- Email: mainlineinktattoos@gmail.com
- Instagram: Gabriel_ayala_mainlineink
- Facebook: facebook.com/mainlineinktattoos
- Other: Mainlineinktattoostx
Image Credit:
Gabriel Ayala Jr.
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