The future is fuckin terrifying, the idea of the unknown is something that haunts the thoughts of countless who meditate on the subject, myself included. But in the infinite number of paths and doors both our own and the other conscious vessels there’s a horror show of beauty, pain and knowledge waiting to be acquired.
No mystic we seek in the world can come to a conclusion, even with a glimpse through the eye hole, just suggest the best wisdom they have available. I love it. The future is a never ending learning process and it’s forever changing. Even when you feel you’ve come to know it, other factors are introduced and your spiral back to the terror that is square one. All the knowledge you’ve gained from the past seems to evolve with every second your mind processes more information, so in a sense the future is humbling cause it reminds us about how little we actually know and how far we are willing to push ourselves to continue.
My future so far is nothing I thought it would be and I’m nowhere I thought I would. But the places I’ve been and experiences I’ve had have all been fucking amazing. But the steps i’m taking now have me pacing like a maniac thinking of where I’ll be headed next…
Meditate on whats happened, whats coming and what to do to get there. Don’t dwell on past mistakes, embrace the ones coming. Fuck the mystics that tell you your path is set and who you are, you are who you make yourself.
The last few weeks were very memorable to me. I got to hang out with my boy Michael Fellner for several sessions to complete his beautiful tattoo idea. We spent a lot of time together at first going back and forth trying to figure out what would be the best composition for his tattoo and after three hours we came out with the perfect lay out. I have to say this has bee one of the most fun tattoos I have done lately. We had really good conversations through out the whole tattoo process. With different playlist playing and changing like the weather, from fast pace Salsa Music to very slow Romantic Chicano Oldies with out forgetting the Gangster Rap I kept chiseling trying to get through the outlining part of the tattoo.
I keep referring to we, because it took the two of us to get through the tattoo, not only the two of us but also all the boys at the shop the help make every experience a pleasant one. Chris, Krystal, David, Justin, Cesar and my brother Steven all helped out not only with this tattoo, but with all the people who walk through the doors of Lowrider Tattoo.
I began with the Epic, Super Iconic Hollywood sign which sets the whole mood for the entire tattoo sleeve that follows. Michael wanted a sort of passage through memory lane to revisit a part of him that has passed but will always remain in his mind. Having lived in Las Vegas and Hollywood really helped when it came to finding good references for his tattoo idea.
What followed was just as impressive as the Hollywood sign. The LA skyline next to the Capitol Records building gave the the tattoo the true west coast tattoo feel. The 6th street bridge did just that, it served as a bridge when combining the Las vegas scenery. I picked the Bellagio Casino with the dancing waters for its majestic feel and some dice flying through the air along with the Luxor Casino to complement the two.
From the beginning I kept pushing forward a very special part of the tattoo. A Lama, a pet for the company Zappos for which Michael worked for several years of his life. The Lama named Cusco always stayed with him even after he moved on. I waited to the end to add the final touch and I got to say it was very rewarding seeing it all come to life. If you are wondering about the rose it represents that special someone in our lives.
Right before we did the Lama I put Michael through some more pain to complete the inside of his sleeve. We choose a Beautiful Show Girl to complement the rest of his tattoo. The Welcome to fabulous las vegas Nevada sign and Michaels vintage Mercedes Benz fit perfectly right next to the Royal Flush of cards. Damn some things are just meant to be, I want to thank Michael for sharing so much with me it was a true bonding experience working together and realizing some thing so special to him, The beginning of his life. A few years ago Tattoos were not so favored and now they are changing peoples lives around the world. “What an Irony’
When we are on the road at times it is very difficult to navigate through the day, fatigue sets in after only a few hours specially when we are in Europe being that we are 9 hours ahead. Not being able to stop what we are doing we have to find something to aid and motivate us to keep working despite how tire we are. For reasons unknown The voice of this particular young girl really does the job. Carla Morrison a native of Tecate Mexico has a beautiful enchanting voice that makes me lose my self and makes me forget the concept of time. Her warm loving lyrics evokes a funny feeling inside you wether you understand spanish or not.
We thank Carla for the inspiration, It gives me the chills every time I see your videos, I can tell how passionate you are about your music, It comes from the heart.
I’ve been thinking about so many things that have happen in my life and after having a very long conversation with Moms I started to wonder how would things would have turn out if I never had been introduce to tattoos. I remember very clearly how it started but I never imagined and I still don’t know how it will end. What I do know is how amazing it has been for the past 22 years. It has been full of surprises, ups and downs. What never changes is the support that I get from my family and friends they are always there to help, up uplift and motivate me to keep pushing. I believe we are here for a reason, we need to find that purpose to be truly happy. When looking at this picture I can’t even start to wonder how this lil kid was able to endure all the trials and tribulation thrown at him and then I realize that we are all special and capable of so much.
I remember getting out of the hospital in this big grandpa wheel chair unable to move freely, I also remember the woman who changed my life completely. She made me realize that not all people are bad they are just misunderstood and as bad as it might seem they all play a big roll in our life. The people that help us the people who hurt us they are all part of life’s plan. I don’t take things personal I rejoice and I move on.
Along the way we find people who will re enforce our beliefs and sometimes remind us of how special we are and help us reignite that confidence in our selfs. Some time it is a friend or family member some times its someone who you never imagine would make an impact in your life. I have been very fortunate to have crossed paths with so many people who have been so patient and supportive with me.
Many have come but only a few will stay and we will grow strong together. Nothing will stop us, Then 20 years later we will look back at our accomplishments and we will once again give thanks.
From everyone at Lowrider Tattoo Studios Thank you for all the love and support.
It’s 2012, going on 2013 and thanks to a simple Google search, I am transported back to an earlier period of my career. The foundation to what I have become suddenly appeared before my eyes. Now I share them with the rest of you-The early works that were featured on Lowrider Arte.
“All life demands struggle. Those who have everything given to them become lazy, selfish, and insensitive to the real values of life. The very striving and hard work that we so constantly try to avoid is the major building block in the person we are today.”
