Gabe started to draw tattoos at about age 13. He went to get his first tattoo when he was old enough to get one the at age of 16. The minute the needle touched him, on the skin, he wanted to make tattooing his career and lifestyle. He wanted to be a tattooer from that day he got tattooed until he started to tattoo professionally at 18 years old after he graduated high school.
He taught himself how to tattoo with the limited knowledge he gained in time and with a Spaulding kit. When he was at a new shop he learned more about tattoos around him and he hasn’t stopped learning yet.
He has no idea what is popular with his clients right now or in general. He will tattoo about anything on the people what they want. He leans toward themes that are spiritual, personal, or organic and natural. Gabe’s tattooing doesn’t fall under one specialty. He best describes his work as themes that are spiritual, personal, or organic and natural…if I had specialty, I would say that it is larger, colorful, smooth, yet bold designs, that flow with the body, and look like they are supposed to be there.
The tattoo traditions that influence his work is is fine art, so he relies on the loose rules of fine art. He doesn’t know anymore who or what that influences him, as he depends mostly on what it is that people want, their ideas, themes, and references for inspiration.
There are new techniques he is researching, exploring, and just starting to work with, but he is not looking at changing much of what he does. He is concentrating more on trying to do better at what it is that he is doing now.
The types of tattoos that he won’t do are any type of tattoo that reinforces negativity in any way, anything that is hateful, racist, or gang related. He won’t do those because he thinks that feelings and opinions change often, and anger that one might feel today, will most likely to not be there in the future.
The people who do his tattoos are by people who he has worked with, or worked for in his 15 year career. As far as tattooers go he doesn’t have a whole lot of work done on him. He would very much be tattooed though by several people active in the industry today, ranging from Nathan Kostencho, Nick Baxter, Mike Cole, Juan Salgado, Dee Dee Seruga, Corey Kruger, Guy Aitchison, and an ongoing list of others…
What he likes about being a tattooist is that he LOOVVEES everything about being a tattooer, it’s a way of life, a lifestyle choice, not a job or career, and there really isn’t anything that he would get rid of if he had a choice. As even the little things that tend to bother him, and most people, are a part of it all. Sometimes, most of the times in fact, you have to take the good with the bad in this life, and the tattoo industry is no exception to that rule.
His perfect “dream” client would be someone who knew what they were looking for. Chose him as there tattooer after doing research and looking at lots of portfolios. Brought with them a solid theme or idea for him to build on or interpret. Of course, who is willing to dedicate the time and funds to accomplish what is that they wanted to achieve.
He has worked in a little bit in other mediums, such as paintings, carving, building, assembling, color pencils, as well as 35mm photography. He has no formal art training, but he would like to maybe take some classes someday, just to better himself.
When he has some free time he likes to spend it with his wife and kids. Other than tattooing they keep him going and give him reasons to wake up. Happy Father’s Day Gabe!
Gabe is a great artist and cool guy, make sure to check out his portfolio and ad him on Facebook. Thanks Gabe for all the great answers, this interview and all the nice things you said to me.
