REYNALDO FIGUEROA

they feel about Fridays is the way I feel about Mondays. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

What was it that initially sparked your interest in tattooing? I was about 14 years old when an older friend handed me a homemade tattoo machine to tattoo him with. He let me keep it when we were done. Everyone was walking around with messed-up tattoos for a while till I got better. It was around that time that I knew that this was what I wanted to do.

What is the most important advice you can give someone new to the art of tattooing? Try not to become one of those tattoo artists with a rockstar attitude, whether you’re barely getting good or if you really start to get well-known. When you become great at what you do, it can get you far in your career. But when you have a great attitude as well, it will get you even further in your career and in life.

Have you always been an artist? Yes. I really don’t remember the first time I ever picked up a pencil. I’ve been drawing ever since I can remember. Growing up, I didn’t have much. But I am glad I always had a pencil and paper.

What do you specialize in? I would say black and gray, Chicano black and gray, and I’m trying to focus and get more into realism. I also enjoy freestyling. Every once in a while, friends and people that really trust me just give me their ideas, and they ask me to freestyle, no stencil or sharpie. ✕

Self-taught artist Mexican American. Always trying to help anyone in need. Humble.

Constantly trying to tattoo the world one day at a time.

Who or where do you get your inspiration from? My inspiration comes from seeing all these other great artists that are dominating the industry all over the world. I’ve always had the mindset that anyone can get where they want as long as they put in the hard work and stay motivated. My parents and close family have always been my inspiration and motivation