J HURTADO

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Ca. Believer in Christ first and foremost. Father of 3. Passionate about Art, Life, and Nature. Phoenix has been my home for 20 years ⸺ Who/where do you get your inspiration from? My early inspiration for art came from my mother. She was very artistic, from painting and crafts to cake decorating and knitting. They were all hobbies to her. She never saw herself as an artist. She inspired me at an early age. It stuck with me. I started drawing and creating art myself ⸺ What would you say is your favorite part of the job? The many people I meet and I have met. Being able to collaborate your ideas and create them into a tattoo. The stories behind the tattoos that are shared with me. Some are funny, some are emotional, and some bring a good laugh together. There is nothing more joyful for me than seeing the smile and look in your eyes when you see your new tattoo ⸺ What was it that initially sparked your interest in tattooing? The art itself. With so many different forms of art, body art stood out the most. Many years ago, I used to buy monthly tattoo magazines and would admire all the beautiful styles of tattooing. The vibrant colors, the realistic art. The ability to recreate a piece of art and put it on someone’s body. It sparked my interest from the beginning and still keeps me fully interested to this day. That just drove me to continuously strive to be the best I can be. I love tattooing ⸺ Who are your favorite artists? Tim Hendricks. I have been a fan of his tattoos, his art, his creativity, and his humble persona. After all these years of tattooing, I still have never met him in person ⸺ What is the most important advice you can give someone new to the art of tattooing? Patience. It will all come together. Stay driven and stay focused. Be humble. Smile. Introduce yourself. Draw/paint/create every day. It pays off in the long run. Write down your tattoo career goals for one month, 3 months, 6 months, or a year. Have a plan for You! Go after it! You are in control of your future. Good luck. ✕

Las Vegas local born and raised. My roots are near and dear to me. I know this city well, and it’s also really influenced who I am. I built my career on my own hard work and merit. I put in the time, effort, and drawing. Hours of drawing time. I’m thankful for my local and international clientele, and the following I’ve humbly been able to build. This has allowed me to grow as an artist, improve my art, and build relationships with people all over the world. I’m a kid at heart, and I think that’s part of my charm! I’ve made lifelong friends who have helped me get to where I am, and I’m still going!

Who/where do you get your inspiration from? People that have greatly influenced my career in this industry are Sean Dowdell, Josh Stono, Jason Herring, and Joseph Haefs.

What advice would you give to someone about getting his or her first tattoo? (A tattoo virgin) Family or religion, you’ll never regret it.

What did your family and friends think about you getting into the tattoo business? Just like, I’m sure many others before and after me, they didn’t love the idea. My grandma was my biggest supporter.

What would you say is your favorite part of the job? Being able to sit down with a stranger and have a full-on conversation.

What was it that initially sparked your interest in tattooing? It wasn’t a career that many people were doing back in 2003, so between drawing with my brother and graffiti, that’s just where my path led me.

Who are your favorite artists? My fellow Club Tattoo Artists - Chico Bague, Alex Lozano, Wakako Banks, Ryan Mortensen, and V-rod. Robert Pho.

Are there any tattoos you would refuse to do? (face, private areas, etc.) Anything gang-related, racially unacceptable symbols, and genitals.

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

Have you ever had a bad tattooing experience, and what was it? Nautical stars.

What is the most important advice you can give someone new to the art of tattooing? Never let the rockstar mentality get to your head.✕

As an artist, I am widely known for my lifelong career in tattooing. However, another passion of mine is mixed-medium painting. I enjoy researching art, and I am always looking for new and unique techniques to polish my style and create diverse pieces for my clients to enjoy ⸺ Who/where do you get your inspiration from? I get my inspiration from my co works these days. I work with some amazing artists ⸺ What advice would you give to someone about getting his or her first tattoo? (A tattoo virgin) I like to compare tattoos to life itself. If you take your time, do your research, and pick the right artist, it can be a beautiful thing. If you rush into it and do it on a drunken whim, you could get less desirable results

⸺ What did your family and friends think about you getting into the tattoo business? My mother is an artist, and I come from a family with a lot of artistic ability and talent. So they are pleased to see me making a living doing art ⸺ What would you say is your favorite part of the job? My favorite part of my job is that no two days are alike. Every day is different, with new people and new pieces. It’s very exciting ⸺ What was it that initially sparked your interest in tattooing? My uncle Henry Houston made me want to be a tattoo artist. He had a Harley Davidson, and that was the coolest thing for anybody around. For me, anyways ⸺ Who are your favorite artists? Taesin, Coreh Lopez, and Arlo are some of my favorite artists I’m looking at now, but honestly, a new artist pops up every day… so many people breaking new ground and creating new techniques and ideas ⸺ Are there any tattoos you would refuse to do? (face, private areas, etc.) I do not like to promote hate. So I do my best to find out what tattoos belong to hate groups and steer away from those ⸺ What is the most important advice you can give someone new to the art of tattooing? If I was giving advice to anybody interested in the art of tattooing it would be to listen more and talk less. You can’t learn when you’re talking. ✕