Tattoo Artist Interview with Herbert (“Pranks”) Molina

Meet The Artist

Through his hard work and passion, he’s been able to support himself and his family, buy a home, and travel. His efforts have paid off, as he now dictates his own schedule which allows him to spend more time with his family and friends. 

Remote clients grant him the opportunity to travel for work. While his main focus is always his art, he still makes time for sightseeing and exploration. He’s also made meaningful and fulfilling relationships through his craft. 

His favorite tattoos of his own were given to him by close friends, but his relationships aren’t limited to other artists. Pranks has many return clients, some of whom have been with him from their first piece to a full canvas.

The Hero’s Journey

It hasn’t always been smooth sailing for Molina. Getting your start in the tattoo industry is notoriously difficult, and self-teaching is an even more grueling process.

Like many artists, Pranks first practiced on himself, however, he did not have the guidance of a mentor as is standard in the business. We don’t recommend you try at home, but it does take plenty of bravery and determination!

Pranks also noted the difference in technology since he began in his craft. Machines were much heavier then than they are by today’s standards, and practice skin was far less life-like.

School of Hard Knocks

Molina has some advice for artists trying to break into the tattoo industry, or any industry, really. His message is to keep the faith and work diligently. He says regardless of your career path, not to shy away from the challenge like Netflix

“Life is hard, you know, for everybody[…] Don’t give up. You know, there are a lot of obstacles that are going to get in between you. But you’ve got to face them. You got to face them because you learn a lot, you know, you learn a lot. And then you get somewhere real, real fast.”

To learn more about Pranks, watch the full interview, or read the transcript down below. Check out more of Molina’s work on Instagram or TikTok @pranks.213.

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Herbert “Pranks” Molina Interview Full Transcript

Speaker 1: [00:00:02] Okay. So what I’d love to know is what started you on your path in being a tattoo artist? Did you always know that this is what you wanted to do, or was there a turning point in your life where you decided he wanted to do this? [00:00:20][18.0]

Speaker 2: [00:00:22] I just didn’t even know it. It just caught me by surprise. I used to draw when I was little in elementary. I used to draw. I used to be like top artist in my school. Well, in my class, I’m not sure about the school. But that was top. And I used to do a lot of things. I used to play instrument instruments. I used to play in a mariachi band. [00:00:49][27.0]

Speaker 1: [00:00:50] That’s awesome. What instruments do you play? [00:00:53][3.5]

Speaker 2: [00:00:54] Trumpet. [00:00:54][0.0]

Speaker 1: [00:00:55] Trumpet! Very cool. [00:00:55][0.0]

Speaker 2: [00:00:56] I used to play the trumpet. So in middle school, that’s when I kind of stopped drawing. I got into skateboarding and I was into soccer. I was into a lot of stuff, a lot of sports, mostly soccer. But then, you know, skateboarding came in my life and I started skateboarding. I met a lot of people and yeah, I was really good at it. I was skateboarding for 12 years when I was 21. That’s when I kind of… I was getting more tattoos, I wanted to get more tattoos. And I started I just bought a machine off of eBay and. [00:01:42][46.2]

Speaker 1: [00:01:45] Just like a little rotary one? One of those beginner rotary ones? [00:01:50][5.0]

Speaker 2: [00:01:50] Yeah. Yeah, it was. It wasn’t on a rotary rotary machine. It was the battery. Oh, because it was a little heavier. Yeah. So I started off with the heavy machines. [00:02:02][11.9]

Speaker 1: [00:02:04] And how do you think that affected how you got started? Like, do you think that it was more difficult because of that, or do you think it was? [00:02:11][7.4]

Speaker 2: [00:02:13] Um. No. Maybe times have changed. Yes. With regular needles and cartridges… cartridges are, like, smaller and easier to put on and easier to throw away and. Yeah. It’s just much, much easier now. But with needles, with the coil, it was really, really hard. [00:02:35][22.2]

Speaker 1: [00:02:36] Yeah, I bet. Especially starting out. [00:02:38][2.5]

Speaker 2: [00:02:39] Oh, yeah, yeah, definitely. I was self-taught. No, no one taught me. It was really hard. It took me a while to learn my own. Yeah. [00:02:50][10.3]

Speaker 1: [00:02:51] Who was the first person that let you tattoo them? [00:02:53][2.1]

Speaker 2: [00:02:53] Well, that I remember. I tattooed myself for sure. Yeah, I think that was the first one. Like, to myself. Yeah, I had to practice on myself. I don’t think there was fake skin or anything like that. Oranges. I didn’t really tattoo oranges, though, but that was another option. [00:03:11][17.6]

Speaker 1: [00:03:14] That’s cool. [00:03:14][0.3]

Speaker 2: [00:03:15] Yeah. [00:03:15][0.0]

Speaker 1: [00:03:17] So as far as. The decision to branch out in your career? Like how did you go about doing that from getting your first gun to now? This… career path. [00:03:37][19.5]

Speaker 2: [00:03:38] Oh, well, from my first gun, like I said, it was really hard. It was really heavy. And now this era, this new era. I got a rotary. Yeah, that was my first rotary, which was. It’s wireless, so it’s really light. It helps a lot with my wrist. My wrist, you know, I used to skateboard. I used to fall and ever heard of. Yeah. I would injure myself, like, all the time. And now with the light, machines are just way better. I feel way better. My wrists are way better now. [00:04:17][38.7]

Speaker 1: [00:04:18] And do you have a specific piece that you’re like super proud of that you did or like something that afterwards you were, like, almost like shocked. Like, I can’t believe that I was the one who did that. [00:04:31][12.6]

Speaker 2: [00:04:32] Yes, I actually did a big back piece. It was a cover up. It was a cover up. So that’s all I got me. I really hate like, oh, man, that’s really dope. And they. [00:04:42][10.2]

Speaker 1: [00:04:42] Yeah. [00:04:42][0.0]

Speaker 2: [00:04:43] Yeah. I went- actually I went to North Dakota to do it. [00:04:46][3.0]

Speaker 1: [00:04:47] Oh okay. [00:04:47][0.0]

Speaker 2: [00:04:48] Yeah. One of my clients stays out there and I go here and there to go tattooing. Yeah. [00:04:54][5.7]

Speaker 1: [00:04:55] That’s interesting. I’m, I’m surprised that you are like, ah, traveling. How is that like traveling with your equipment? [00:05:02][6.6]

Speaker 2: [00:05:03] It’s, it’s, it’s not that bad. It’s exciting sometimes. I don’t know the weather out there, so it’s just it rains and I got to like, just stay in there and tattoo. I actually like to enjoy myself, like going out, you know, like, maybe just look around like. Yeah, um, but for the most part, I’m there to tattoo to work. So yeah, I enjoy it, I love tattooing and I always try to, like move around. [00:05:36][32.8]

Speaker 1: [00:05:37] Yeah, I don’t. [00:05:38][1.0]

Speaker 2: [00:05:39] Really. [00:05:39][0.0]

Speaker 1: [00:05:39] That’s a really interesting approach. You know, most people they work towards like either working in a studio or making their own studio. But I think the idea of being like a traveling artist is really cool and I think that would probably really resonate with a lot of different artists who are wishing that they could explore, you know? [00:05:59][19.9]

Speaker 2: [00:06:00] Yes. [00:06:00][0.0]

Speaker 1: [00:06:02] So what… what’s your favorite part of that? I mean. [00:06:04][2.6]

Speaker 2: [00:06:06] Um. [00:06:06][0.0]

Speaker 1: [00:06:06] Just getting to see things, you know, as it. [00:06:08][1.9]

Speaker 2: [00:06:10] It’s the experience of just seeing new stuff, new people, new new places. I like flying, but when it gets too-like too long, I get too tired. That’s when I get up. Yeah. Yeah. But I noticed something as the older I get, the more I get homesick. Yeah. So it’s like I just want to go home now, you know? [00:06:38][28.5]

Speaker 1: [00:06:40] Totally. [00:06:40][0.0]

Speaker 2: [00:06:41] Yeah. [00:06:41][0.0]

Speaker 1: [00:06:42] Do you still have a family that you live with or. [00:06:44][2.8]

Speaker 2: [00:06:45] Yes, I have. My. My wife, my son, my daughter. That’s. Yeah. Yeah, they’re in school right now, and she’s working at the moment. So I have my own schedule. So, you know, I try to, like, take my son in school in the morning. I try to pick him up at times, but when I have sessions, I just have to go to work and grandma picks him up. [00:07:10][24.9]

Speaker 1: [00:07:11] Yeah, that’s good. The support system. So that you can focus on what you want. [00:07:16][5.1]

Speaker 2: [00:07:16] Yeah. Yeah, definitely. Yeah. [00:07:18][1.7]

Speaker 1: [00:07:19] Yeah. [00:07:19][0.0]

Speaker 2: [00:07:21] Life is hard nowadays. [00:07:22][0.7]

Speaker 1: [00:07:24] Definitely. [00:07:24][0.0]

Speaker 2: [00:07:25] Especially with the COVID, the whole COVID mess. Everybody. [00:07:28][3.1]

Speaker 1: [00:07:29] Yeah. And how did you handle that situation when everything’s shutting down? [00:07:36][6.4]

Speaker 2: [00:07:37] You know what? COVID, it hit hard, but it. It actually brought me a lot more confidence. [00:07:44][7.1]

Speaker 1: [00:07:45] Oh, yeah. [00:07:45][0.2]

Speaker 2: [00:07:46] Yeah, yeah, yeah. COVID. I know it messed a lot of people up, and that sucks. You know, it sucks for everybody, and. But it wasn’t that bad for me, thank God, you know? [00:07:59][12.9]

Speaker 1: [00:08:00] Yeah. You said it brought you some more clients. How. How did that happen? [00:08:05][5.0]

Speaker 2: [00:08:06] Um, I guess because of the… Everybody was getting money. [00:08:11][5.0]

Speaker 1: [00:08:12] Oh, yeah, yeah. The. The government stipends and stuff. [00:08:15][3.1]

Speaker 2: [00:08:16] Yes, all that. I guess they started coming more and more. I would hook them up too, I wouldn’t charge a lot of anything so you know, they would keep coming and they. Yeah. [00:08:30][13.6]

Speaker 1: [00:08:30] What are, what are the kind of clients that you look for? [00:08:33][3.0]

Speaker 2: [00:08:35] Um, just. To be honest, a little bit of everything. I get older people-their first tattoo, you know, they throw me their ideas. I bring them to life. Yeah, I’ve had about maybe a 62 year old get tattooed. [00:08:55][20.2]

Speaker 1: [00:08:56] Damn. Is there. Is there something, you know, you have to be aware of when you’re tattooing people who are older? I know sometimes your skin can be thin. [00:09:05][9.0]

Speaker 2: [00:09:07] Yeah. And the skin is really sensitive. So what? Especially on a thin needle. On a small needle? Yeah. You have to be careful because their skin is sensitive. Really sensitive. So ribs, you can. You can kind of damage is just so sensitive. Yeah. [00:09:25][18.4]

Speaker 1: [00:09:27] Yeah. Is that- does that make you take longer in the process or? [00:09:32][5.3]

Speaker 2: [00:09:34] To heal for that? Yes. To heal. Heal. Yeah. Sometimes the the ink doesn’t stay in there, like. And I like fresh skin. But, yeah, it’s just takes a little longer to heal. [00:09:48][14.5]

Speaker 1: [00:09:53] So when you’re working with a new client, what are some things that you appreciate. [00:10:00][6.2]

Speaker 2: [00:10:02] Are new clients? And you know what? Sometimes they do bring me like beverages, beverages, Starbucks, and, you know, they text me, do you want something? Do you want something to eat? And that’s I really, really appreciate that. And, you know, something I had come up I had come out like really girly just because I like that. I like that if you hook me up, hook, you have to, you know, it’s like, yeah, I don’t expect and then don’t give, you know. Yeah, you know what I mean. Yeah. Some people are like that. Are my birthdays today. My birthdays today too. Yeah. Oh yeah. [00:10:49][47.0]

Speaker 1: [00:10:50] What are like some, some things that clients can do to make your job easier while they’re sitting in the chair? [00:10:57][7.2]

Speaker 2: [00:10:59] Not move. Some people move, some people move, they drink some some want a drink. Someone to smoke, but that kind of, like, mess him up, messes them up more. Yeah, it just gets them, like, really bad. Some start getting nauseous. Most of them get nauseous when they when they smoke. Or sometimes they do come like a little bit, you know, but with a drinker with a beer to. Yeah. And get some nauseous so I tell them not to drink or anything like that. Yeah. [00:11:42][43.2]

Speaker 1: [00:11:45] Do you have? You find that certain people having more difficulty staying still? Is it like. [00:11:51][6.5]

Speaker 2: [00:11:53] You know, what? Males. Males are the ones that do. [00:11:56][3.3]

Speaker 1: [00:11:57] Really? [00:11:58][0.8]

Speaker 2: [00:11:59] Females take more pain. They take pain well. Well, as far as I’ve heard. Most of them have taken it really well. Like, really good. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. But, guys, man, they start sweating and. Yeah, it’s a burning sensation, but, you know, it’s not really like a pain. It’s just like it burns. It’s. It’s a little different. Yeah. [00:12:29][30.3]

Speaker 1: [00:12:30] The vibrating of the needle sometimes can feel almost like tickling to me. Yeah, it hurts, but it tickles, too. So sometimes I’m, like, trying not to. To twitch from, like. [00:12:41][11.5]

Speaker 2: [00:12:42] All right. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It happens a lot. Some people are ticklish, and that’s what happens. So they move because. Not because it hurts, but it tickles, you know? [00:12:54][12.1]

Speaker 1: [00:12:54] Yeah, I’m ticklish, so whatever. But, you know, like, it, it’s just certain spot on, you know, the skin like. [00:13:02][8.0]

Speaker 2: [00:13:03] Oh, yeah, okay. [00:13:04][0.8]

Speaker 1: [00:13:04] But after a little bit, you’re, like, sore and sensitive from it. [00:13:09][4.3]

Speaker 2: [00:13:09] Yeah. Yeah, I actually do provide a numbing cream at times. I do ask, um, I have never green, uh, this painless, painless tattoo. That’s what it’s called. The numbing cream. Okay. Yeah, pretty good. So that helps a lot. [00:13:26][17.2]

Speaker 1: [00:13:28] Have you used it on yourself to see? [00:13:29][1.6]

Speaker 2: [00:13:30] Oh, yes, I have. [00:13:31][0.8]

Speaker 1: [00:13:32] Yeah, yes. [00:13:32][0.4]

Speaker 2: [00:13:33] Yeah. I actually did a tattoo on my knee and it helped a lot. It hurt some spots, but it helped, I thought the numbing. [00:13:41][8.9]

Speaker 1: [00:13:46] Yeah, I think I would. Sorry. There’s, like, a little bit of a lag. [00:13:48][2.3]

Speaker 2: [00:13:50] Oh. [00:13:50][0.0]

Speaker 1: [00:13:51] No, it’s okay. I just. I don’t want to interrupt you. [00:13:53][1.9]

Speaker 2: [00:13:54] Okay. [00:13:54][0.0]

Speaker 1: [00:13:55] Pausing and then. Yeah, that’s. That’s interesting. I think that. For some people, the pain is part of the process for them and they don’t want to have the numbing. [00:14:10][15.8]

Speaker 2: [00:14:11] Yes, that’s right. Yeah. [00:14:13][1.1]

Speaker 1: [00:14:13] Yeah. But I think that if there weren’t so much of like that wanting to prove or that wanting to feel the pain it might actually make for better tattoos if people were more willing to use the numbing cream. [00:14:30][16.4]

Speaker 2: [00:14:30] Yeah. Yeah, that’s true. You know what? Some people come. I’m like a like a counselor and everything. You know, most people tell me I like I’m stressed or I have a hard break. Oh, man, that sucks. You know, I’m you know, I try to tell on my my I give I try to give them my advice. We talk. That’s what I like. The vibe, you know, we start by the end. It’s pretty, pretty cool. It’s pretty dope. [00:15:02][32.0]

Speaker 1: [00:15:03] So do you have a lot of clients that, like, return to you and, you know, like you build on that relationship as time goes on? [00:15:12][9.4]

Speaker 2: [00:15:13] Yes. Yes. I actually have a I have a few clients. They’re actually done now. Like, yeah, they started with nothing like make. I met the first tattoo and now they’re like full tattooed only. That’s crazy. Yeah, it’s been years and then it’s cool. I love it. [00:15:36][23.3]

Speaker 1: [00:15:37] That’s awesome. [00:15:38][0.2]

Speaker 2: [00:15:39] Yeah. [00:15:39][0.0]

Speaker 1: [00:15:40] How has your work changed throughout the years? Like, has your style gone through a lot of evolution? [00:15:47][6.7]

Speaker 2: [00:15:49] It has. It has improved, like really, really, really up there. Yeah. Especially with the skin lining. Dainty. Yeah, yeah. Kind of like mastered it, you know? Yeah, I’d say yeah, yeah. The outline is really shading. You never stop writing and tattooing. You never stop learning. It’s just sometimes it’s just the needles, the sizes you start using, like smaller sizes or bigger, and you just, like, feel way better. Like, Whoa, I used this before, you know? [00:16:27][37.9]

Speaker 1: [00:16:28] Yeah, totally. Um, I’m not a tattoo artist, but I am just a painter. [00:16:34][6.4]

Speaker 2: [00:16:35] Oh, nice. [00:16:36][0.4]

Speaker 1: [00:16:36] Yeah. So I do understand sort of that feeling of getting new materials that are higher quality. And all of a sudden you’re like, Whoa, I can actually, I have so much control. I feel so much better. [00:16:49][12.8]

Speaker 2: [00:16:50] About. [00:16:50][0.0]

Speaker 1: [00:16:50] Myself. [00:16:50][0.0]

Speaker 2: [00:16:51] Yeah. Yeah. The quality to some people don’t believe in that. But the quality, like if you spend a lot, you know, you you invest a little more, it just comes out way better, way better, you know? And sometimes you have to invest a little more to get a better job then. Yeah. [00:17:12][21.0]

Speaker 1: [00:17:12] Yeah. [00:17:12][0.0]

Speaker 2: [00:17:13] Yeah. [00:17:13][0.0]

Speaker 1: [00:17:18] How much would you say of your earnings from from doing tattoos go back into the material to use. [00:17:26][8.4]

Speaker 2: [00:17:28] Um. Wolf, I’m not too sure. I. I’d say. Maybe. Like I’m not too sure, but I’d say, like, 10,000 a year. Oh, yeah. Yeah. What about around there? Like, maybe, like, maybe 20. [00:17:53][25.3]

Speaker 1: [00:17:55] We’ll have to crunch some numbers real quick, you know? [00:17:57][2.2]

Speaker 2: [00:17:58] Yeah, it’s. It’s a lost cause. I do buy a lot. Like, there’s a lot of different needle sizes every got to spend on the the ink and the gas and everything pretty much and everything we touch, you know, gloves. Especially now with COVID, everything went up double and people don’t believe me and I have to turn it up more. But y but, you know, everybody, everything is just going up. The food is going up. Gas going up really bad. Yeah. And I live about I live about an hour away from my studio, so it’s like, oof! [00:18:41][43.1]

Speaker 1: [00:18:42] Yeah. Gas. Right now, it’s just out of control. [00:18:45][2.7]

Speaker 2: [00:18:46] Yeah. [00:18:46][0.0]

Speaker 1: [00:18:47] Yeah. That seems like a lot. [00:18:51][3.5]

Speaker 2: [00:18:53] Yeah. Yeah. Sometimes I have to go back and forth an hour and 30 minutes just to get there. And out there there are 30 minutes to get back. So that’s like 3 hours. Yeah. [00:19:06][12.9]

Speaker 1: [00:19:07] And you have. [00:19:07][0.6]

Speaker 2: [00:19:07] To. [00:19:07][0.0]

Speaker 1: [00:19:08] Work day ahead of you, you know. [00:19:10][1.4]

Speaker 2: [00:19:10] Yeah. Oh yeah. And sometimes I say for Friday the 13, I do work about 17 hours. [00:19:19][8.5]

Speaker 1: [00:19:20] Wow. That is a long shift. [00:19:21][1.6]

Speaker 2: [00:19:22] Yeah. [00:19:22][0.0]

Speaker 1: [00:19:23] Cause it’s Tuesday add up. [00:19:25][1.6]

Speaker 2: [00:19:26] Yeah, yeah. Nonstop. Nonstop. I take a ten minute break just to eat at this day. And I don’t want to eat so much because it just mellows me down. [00:19:36][9.9]

Speaker 1: [00:19:36] I get sleepy. Nap time. [00:19:38][2.0]

Speaker 2: [00:19:39] Yeah. There’s another time. Yeah. [00:19:45][5.6]

Speaker 1: [00:19:46] What’s your favorite kind of tattoo to do? Like, is there a certain style you like doing more than others? Or, like. [00:19:52][6.0]

Speaker 2: [00:19:53] I like to do roses. Flowers. Scores. Yeah, pollination, but I don’t get a lot of pollination and I do like to do anime in animation. Yeah. [00:20:09][15.8]

Speaker 1: [00:20:10] Very cool. What’s what’s what’s your. What do you like about those. [00:20:14][4.5]

Speaker 2: [00:20:16] Systems look like? I like the end of the anime. It’s just the comic look like it’s it’s clean. Yeah. It’s really, really though. Yeah. And roses. I like the shading, the soft shading in it. Yeah. [00:20:35][18.7]

Speaker 1: [00:20:39] It’s very cool. Do you do you use a lot of color or do you just stick to black and white mostly? [00:20:44][5.3]

Speaker 2: [00:20:45] Yeah, I do. I do color as well. I do a lot of watercolor. [00:20:48][3.4]

Speaker 1: [00:20:50] Watercolor. [00:20:50][0.0]

Speaker 2: [00:20:50] That’s yeah. Most more than regular, solid color. But I do more watercolor style. Yeah. Yeah. [00:20:58][7.8]

Speaker 1: [00:21:00] Do you have certain colors that you gravitate towards in your work or is it just, you know, whatever suits the piece? [00:21:06][6.1]

Speaker 2: [00:21:07] I’m. I’m more into Lake Red. What’s that? One color with the purple and blue. Um, so what was that? [00:21:25][17.6]

Speaker 1: [00:21:25] Like indigo. [00:21:26][0.3]

Speaker 2: [00:21:27] Eyes. Something like that. Like, it’s. It’s a purple with the blue mixed. I just can’t get the color. The name of the color. I like those colors. Those colors are really, really nice. [00:21:41][13.9]

Speaker 1: [00:21:42] Yeah, yeah. [00:21:42][0.7]

Speaker 2: [00:21:43] Yeah. I tell people about them sometimes I like. I know. It’s just, what, blue or solid purple or. Yeah. [00:21:51][7.7]

Speaker 1: [00:21:53] But is it difficult when you have an idea or a suggestion for someone’s tattoo and they don’t want to listen? [00:22:01][8.1]

Speaker 2: [00:22:03] Yeah, that’s happened a lot of times. It’s like 50, 50, some bikers. Some are like, no, let’s go with my idea. Okay. Yeah. Which I was like. [00:22:16][13.7]

Speaker 1: [00:22:17] You know better because you’ve been doing this for so long. [00:22:20][3.2]

Speaker 2: [00:22:21] For a long time. Yeah. Yeah. But I mean, I respect their know there’s a session there, their tattoos. So. Yeah, I don’t mind. I don’t get mad or anything like that. No grudges. Yeah. [00:22:35][14.2]

Speaker 1: [00:22:37] What’s what can you tell me about a time when after you finished the tattoo, you maybe felt something negative about it? Because we’ve talked about, you know, a piece that you’re really proud of. Is there something like a time when you came out of it feeling not too good about it? [00:22:59][22.0]

Speaker 2: [00:23:03] Maybe I can’t think of it right now, but maybe I went to the on a person and I just kind of, like, damaged the skin a bit. Mm hmm. Yeah. I just can’t remember what tattoo it was, but I remember damaging the skin. I was a man, like, and I just told them, in case it doesn’t heal so well. Let me touch it, you know? [00:23:31][27.2]

Speaker 1: [00:23:31] Yeah. [00:23:31][0.0]

Speaker 2: [00:23:32] Yeah. [00:23:32][0.0]

Speaker 1: [00:23:33] A good way of handling it. Just, you know, being open to try and fix it. [00:23:37][3.7]

Speaker 2: [00:23:37] Yeah, yeah, definitely. And just put ointment on it. That that helps a lot. Some people don’t listen with that. [00:23:42][5.2]

Speaker 1: [00:23:43] Yeah. [00:23:43][0.0]

Speaker 2: [00:23:44] Yeah. Some people I’ve got and people that go to the beach the next day and that’s not good. [00:23:50][5.9]

Speaker 1: [00:23:50] Oh, no. The salt water, the sand, the sun. [00:23:53][3.0]

Speaker 2: [00:23:54] My tattoo got infected. I seen their polls. I seen their polls. You were at a beach? Yeah. I mean, I try to think so. I mean, I. I’m not a. That’s your bad. No, I try to help them out, too, you know, I tell them buy some bactine just skin care, you know, aftercare. [00:24:18][23.8]

Speaker 1: [00:24:21] Is there a certain what’s the what’s the period of time that you give people before removing the initial bandage? [00:24:26][5.5]

Speaker 2: [00:24:29] If I put a regular napkin with a wad of Saran Wrap. 30 minutes to an hour. If I do. If I do a senator, it’s. Three days. 3 to 4 days. Three days? Yeah. Yeah. [00:24:46][17.2]

Speaker 1: [00:24:46] People usually listen to those recommendations or. [00:24:49][2.6]

Speaker 2: [00:24:50] Not all the time. I’ve had people that do message me, Hey, can I take it off now? But like, it’s it’s 5052 with that. Some people don’t listen. They take off the next day. It’s just uncomfortable for them. Everybody’s different, you know? Everybody feels different. Yeah. [00:25:08][18.2]

Speaker 1: [00:25:10] For me, it’s hard to leave it when you can see, like the plasma. [00:25:14][4.2]

Speaker 2: [00:25:16] Yeah. [00:25:16][0.0]

Speaker 1: [00:25:17] Yeah. Murky. [00:25:17][0.9]

Speaker 2: [00:25:19] Yeah. A lot of people help me out with that. A lot of people help me up with that. You know what I’ve heard that is bad to keep it on there. If you see a lot of plasma, they just remove it. That’s what I heard. And that’s all that that there’s been cases that, oh, leave it on in the plasma. It’s good. It helps to heal faster. I don’t know. I don’t know what to believe any more. [00:25:44][25.3]

Speaker 1: [00:25:45] And that’s what I was told, is that the plasma helps it heal. Yeah, you get in there. But I guess. [00:25:52][7.4]

Speaker 2: [00:25:53] I don’t. [00:25:53][0.1]

Speaker 1: [00:25:53] Know the science behind that. [00:25:54][1.4]

Speaker 2: [00:25:55] Yeah. Yeah, me neither. Yeah. Same here. I’m to look for that. Yeah, cause I heard you take it off and I heard you have to leave it. I don’t know. [00:26:04][8.9]

Speaker 1: [00:26:05] Yeah, it seems like I’m not a. [00:26:06][1.0]

Speaker 2: [00:26:06] Doctor, so everyone has. [00:26:08][2.4]

Speaker 1: [00:26:09] Their own ideas about the healing process. Should go. [00:26:12][3.4]

Speaker 2: [00:26:13] Yeah, yeah, definitely. Yeah. [00:26:14][1.0]

Speaker 1: [00:26:16] Do you have a chance to on your own body that you’re, like, really hyped about? Like, your. [00:26:20][4.3]

Speaker 2: [00:26:22] Let me see. I do have my first phase right here. That’s it. [00:26:28][5.9]

Speaker 1: [00:26:29] Oh, that’s. [00:26:29][0.4]

Speaker 2: [00:26:31] Yeah. [00:26:31][0.0]

Speaker 1: [00:26:32] Very nice. I love the hat. [00:26:33][1.1]

Speaker 2: [00:26:36] Yeah, that’s the work. That’s the garden hat. [00:26:38][1.7]

Speaker 1: [00:26:39] Yeah, yeah, yeah. I got one of those. [00:26:40][1.6]

Speaker 2: [00:26:41] Oh, yeah. Same here. I got it on my lawn. But then I actually have another one right here. [00:26:48][6.2]

Speaker 1: [00:26:51] I. It’s like an eye. [00:26:52][0.9]

Speaker 2: [00:26:53] Yeah. [00:26:53][0.0]

Speaker 1: [00:26:54] That’s cool. [00:26:54][0.2]

Speaker 2: [00:26:55] Yeah. Yeah, that’s. Those two are my favorite ones. [00:26:59][4.1]

Speaker 1: [00:27:01] Did you go to an artist that you know or. Oh. [00:27:03][2.6]

Speaker 2: [00:27:04] Yeah. This one, my boy. That works at the studio. In my studio. And this one was the one where I started. Started in tattoo studio. It was when I started in 2000, I’d say 14, 15. Yeah. [00:27:25][20.5]

Speaker 1: [00:27:26] What would you say is the difference in how you feel as when you’re giving a tattoo as opposed to receiving one? [00:27:37][10.5]

Speaker 2: [00:27:38] Well. [00:27:38][0.0]

Speaker 1: [00:27:41] I know it’s kind of a tough, like weird question, but it yeah. [00:27:44][3.6]

Speaker 2: [00:27:45] You know what? Some people are heavy handed. Some people are heavy handed. A lot of people have told me that I’m not heavy handed and I. I just it’s going to burn no matter what I think is going to burn no matter what. Everybody’s different, what the pain tolerance. So I’m not so good, so, so good at it. But I can I can manage, you know, and I feel their pain. Some people be like or many burns. I feel it. I feel it. I know. So I try not to lie. Stay too long, you know? Yeah. Yeah. [00:28:27][41.8]

Speaker 1: [00:28:29] Okay. Well, our time is coming to a close. We have about 9 minutes left. [00:28:34][5.0]

Speaker 2: [00:28:36] Okay. [00:28:36][0.0]

Speaker 1: [00:28:36] Um, it’s been wonderful talking with you, and I really appreciate you taking the time out of your day. Talk to me. [00:28:42][5.8]

Speaker 2: [00:28:43] Thank you. Thank you. I appreciate you inviting me. [00:28:45][2.2]

Speaker 1: [00:28:46] Absolutely. Thank you so much. Is there anything else that you’d like to cover before we close? [00:28:52][6.1]

Speaker 2: [00:28:56] Well, in the beginning, just that I grew up in an abandoned boyhood. I did. I wasn’t born here. I’m from El Salvador. It’s it’s been a tough it’s been tough. And thank God I’m here now. I own my own house. And it’s I I’ve been successful. I think I’m successful. I’ve been. [00:29:22][26.7]

Speaker 1: [00:29:23] Yeah. [00:29:23][0.0]

Speaker 2: [00:29:24] Yeah. [00:29:24][0.0]

Speaker 1: [00:29:25] That’s awesome. [00:29:25][0.2]

Speaker 2: [00:29:26] Yeah. And life is hard, you know, for everybody. For anybody that’s trying to, like, be a tattoo artist or anything in life, you know, have your own career, just, you know, do it. Don’t don’t give up. You know, there’s a lot of obstacles that are going to get in between you. But she’s got to face them. You got to face them, you know, those in our own face because you learn a lot. You know, you learn a lot. And then you get somewhere real, real fast. Yeah. Yeah. [00:30:00][33.2]

Speaker 1: [00:30:01] I like that advice. Thank you so much. [00:30:03][1.8]

Speaker 2: [00:30:04] Thank you. Appreciate it. [00:30:05][1.3]

Speaker 1: [00:30:06] Okay. I will let you know before we post anything so you can look over it, make sure it’s approved. We might take a few little snippets from this video, you know? Yeah, it will make you look good. Don’t worry about it. [00:30:25][18.8]

Speaker 2: [00:30:27] Thank you. Appreciate it. [00:30:28][1.1]

Speaker 1: [00:30:30] Okay. [00:30:30][0.0]

Speaker 2: [00:30:31] All right. Take care. Be safe. All right. You have a good day. You too. Bye bye. [00:30:31][0.0]

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