Today we’d like to introduce you to Ariel Dejesus.
Hi Ariel, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m a tattoo artist based out of Fort Worth Texas. I’ve been tattooing for ten years. I don’t specialize in any specific style I do all styles. I’m newly sober after drinking excessively for the past decade I am now six months sober and within six months a lot has happened.. using my time for good instead of drinking and wasting it away. When I first got sober one of my heaviest drinking days were Saturdays because Sunday was my only day off and I knew I could cure my hangover all day.
I needed to occupy my time so I reached out to a Street ministry called gangsters for Christ and I join them I noticed that they had collected a box full of hygiene and clothing when I realize that all of the donations were depleted within 20 minutes I then realized what my calling was! I could use my God-given talents and I could do tattoos in exchange for donations since I have a pretty large platform.. I have been tattooing for donations for six months and I renamed my organization tattooing for Christ… I put up two billboards one on the traffic circle in Fort Worth and one on highway 121.. it’s a very controversial billboard and that’s why I put it up.
Since then I took on dentistry I realized when I brought fresh fruit to street ministry none of the apples are taking because most people were missing teeth or had really bad cavities I learn how to do temporary feelings permanent feelings bridges overlays etc.. anything that I can learn and do in order to help someone in need the sky is the limit and I will learn how to do it!
A couple years ago I started this thing called blindfold tattoos and I will blindfold my client and tattoo them it’s $100 I posted on TickTock and literally overnight I became “tiktok famous” so now I have an even bigger platform and I can use that to my ability.. that is even that much more deodorant, or clothing or even Roman noodles. Yes I will tattoo for Roman noodles! I tattoo for tents, hygiene, nonperishable food, and clothing. I purchase a trailer which is 10‘ x 6‘ x 6‘ and it is packed FULL of donations.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There are always obstacles every day there are challenges. But one of my biggest challenges during this process was ; because I was tattooing for donations and not money I was tattooing out of a private studio out of my home which is not legal. I got a visit from the health department and two police officers and I was told I have to work out of the shop and not out of my home. Which I understand… I just always looked at it as it wasn’t fair to whoever shop I was working out of because I was tattooing for Ramen noodles.… however I am a tattoo artist who is usually booked 2 to three months out I work 5 to 6 days a week and I tattoo 7 to 12 clients a day I had so many appointments and nowhere to work out of. And then out of nowhere a tattoo shop called Noahs Art tattoos reached out to me and asked if I wanted a job there I was hesitant because it’s typically not my area of the neighborhood that I like to be in it’s the hood and it’s dangerous on that side of town however I only saw it appropriate since that is who I help! The name of the business was so fitting for me that I said yes and I went to them. They only charge me $200 a week and they gave me the key and out of surprise they said “this is your shop I have no artist here, you can have it!! do what you want with it.!!! GOD IS GOOOOOD
That just recently happened to me and this is all new but best believe that I’m about to do huge things out of the shop and I’m about to help a lot of people and my hands are not tied anymore!! I am going to change this whole city!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I do not have a specialty, I tattoo all styles from traditional, to portraits, to watercolor, to black and gray. I am known for blindfold tattoos. I have an application to fill it out and put the placement if you want color or no color and you circle three topics for example you can circle floral, skull and watercolor and I blindfold you and I do either one of those topics or I can do all of those topics.! It’s super fun and only $100.
What makes me different from another tattoo artists is multiple things. I use my tattoos as a tool to gain donations to feed people so no one goes hungry. I use my tattoos to provide hygiene packs. I can provide shelter by tattooing for a tent. I can provide diapers and formula to moms in need. I can provide generators and stoves and appliances for families in need. There are other tattoo artists out there who are capable of doing these things yet you don’t hear not one tattoo artist Tattooing for Ramen noodles. I AM the only tattoo artist in the world who tattoos for the homeless. I am the only tattoo artist who does blindfold tattoos however I was told that a few tattoo shops in Michigan and in Colorado are going to start doing my blindfold tattoos.. I can’t stop anyone from copying me all I can do is take it as a compliment.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
I use social media as my tool.
Pricing:
- $100 for blind folds
Contact Info:
- Email: Tattooingforchrist@gmail.com
- Website: https://fortworthreport.org/2021/08/01/not-just-skin-deep-tattoo-artist-tries-to-help-those-society-overlooks/
- Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/arielstats
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/arieldejesus15
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCv1naO1hdvNDO6MtEUosJPw
- Other: https://www.facebook.com/garry.young.169/videos/367196258142060/?d=n
Image Credits:
Fort Worth Report – photo where I’m holding Roman noodles
