DRAKETROBEE Artist

Was it hard getting an apprenticeship?

How was yours?

Absolutely. It takes hard work and commitment to get an apprenticeship. And once you have one, you’ve gotta double down and work your buttcheeks off.

Are there any tattoos you would refuse to do?

The thing I consistently refuse is face tattoos. However, there are exceptions. Mostly I refuse to do them on kids who are freshly 18.

What do you think is in store for the future of tattooing?

Tattooing has taken huge leaps in recent history, and I hope so badly that it goes even further in my lifetime. There are people doing work right now that never would’ve been possible in Jerry’s time. I can’t wait to see where we go from here. ✕

Dk TATTS, originally from the San Fernando Valley, moved to Lancaster, CA, in 2018. Opened his shop Stay Creative Tattoo with his wife in January 2021. He enjoys tattooing all styles but loves to do realism ⸺ Who or where do you get your inspiration from? Too many artists to name off the top of my head. The list goes on! Where I get it from, I say any artist honestly who is consistently pushing his or herself to get better in their craft no matter what level of experience ⸺ What did your family and friends think about you getting into the tattoo business? Most thought I was wasting my time and did not think of it as a career. Tried to push college on me, we’ll I tried; wasn’t for me! Chose the school of hard knocks. Best decision I’ve made ⸺ What would you say is your favorite part of the job? Get to work with what I love to do every day, “ART” as they say, you won’t work a day in your life if you love what you do ⸺ Was it hard getting an apprenticeship? How was yours? It wasn’t too hard. Started getting tattooed in a shop in mission hills. And the artist @strikertattoo and @anny_anarchy were cool enough to start giving me pointers before getting into a shop. Till I saw one day, they had an opening. Very thankful they gave me the opportunity!! ⸺ Are there any tattoos you would refuse to do? (face, private areas, etc.) When it comes to body parts, I’m not opposed to tattooing any spot; it’s part of the job! The only time I won’t touch someone’s face is if they don’t have any tattoos! ⸺ What do you think is in store for the future of tattooing? The industry is growing so much. Just in the time I have been tattooing, I’ve seen a lot of change just hope people coming into it keep the culture and respect going ⸺ What is the most important advice you can give someone new to the art of tattooing? Don’t treat it as a hobby! Have respect for the craft. Get into a shop and do it the right way, and practice, practice & practice. The only person holding you back is you.