Today we’d like to introduce you to Jose Contreras.
Jose, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My interest in drawing and body modifications started when I really young, but it was not until 2006 that I had the opportunity to learn how to pierce (how to put piercings) and this led me to meet and really connect with the world of tattoo, so, in 2007 I started my process of becoming in a tattoo artist. At the time, I would be surrounded by many other artists who taught me the basic techniques. Later, after practicing for some time, I got a job in one of the most important tattoo studio in my country, Mithos Tattoo; at the same time, I participated in conventions in which I won some awards as the rookie of the year, this helped me to try new things outside my comfort zone. By the year 2010, I decided to move to Argentina and I worked with several local artists of renown.
By 2012, my work started being seen in other countries, thanks to the social networks, for this, I got an invitation to work in a studio in Lyon, France, where I went many times and worked as a guest artist. In 2015, I got a job in No regret Tattoo Studio, which is a highly important studio in UK. Their staff was formed by ten artists from all around the world, each of them with different and unique styles. While working there, I was invited to be part of a tattoo convention in Aalborg, Denmark, where I had the opportunity to share with many Scandinavian artists and I could show my work. In this event, I painted and the painting was auctioned and all the funds collected went to a non-lucrative foundation.
Later, my career got an important leap when, in 2016, I was called and asked to work in Last Rites, a big tattoo studio in NYC, where I was a resident artist of almost three years. There, I worked other renowned artists, national and international. During that period, I visited other states thanks to the different conventions I was invited to be part of; I also won several awards and I was part of a jury panel in these conventions.
After visiting several states, I had the opportunity to get to Texas, where I participated in the Dallas tattoo Expo, where I made a tattoo in collaboration with my friend and great tattoo artist in Texas Quin Hernandez. We obtained the prize for the best tattoo of the show. It was a place that inspired me, the tranquility, the weather, its people and the well-known southern kindness. For these reasons, I decided to try my luck and be part of the Dark Age tattoo team, which is one of the most important studios in the state and the country. This studio has 17 artists, including apprentices. This experience has been excellent for me because I am able to learn from many of these apprentices who have much to contribute, and also to share the knowledge that I have acquired throughout these almost 12 years of career. In the Studio, we always have professors of other artistic techniques, such as oil and charcoal, which helps us expand our artistic vision.
This has positively influenced my inspiration, so this past year I have been traveling regularly to different conventions to show my work, where I have received several awards and recognitions, I have also been visiting several tattoo studios in other states, in order to keep me updated with the new techniques.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The road to get where I am today was never easy. Taking in consideration mainly the situation of my country, for the last 20 years, my country has been going through a socialist/communist dictatorship, which has brought innumerable economic problems where we, Venezuelans, have been affected in one way or another. This also affected the tattoo industry because imports are paralyzed, which makes it very difficult to get the work tools. Because of this, several years ago, I decided to emigrate and it has not been easy to start from scratch. Definitely, starting in a new country, facing an unknown language, meeting new cultures, it has been difficult but at the same time a wonderful challenge, for this reason, I have learned to thank each experience as hard as it may be, since all this has nourished me as a person and as an artist.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Dark Age Tattoo Studio – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I am a tattoo artist and I specialize in the realistic style, I make portraits of animals or people with a realistic touch that characterizes me. This long career has led me to be recognized for my wildlife portraits, thanks to these people from different parts of the country come to me every day to have a significant portrait made and captured forever in their skin. I am happy to have arrived to Dark Age tattoo because it has been a wonderful place to show and improve my tattoo skills; a place where my clients feel comfortable and welcome, and I have had the possibility to share with resident artists and guests from different parts of the world, each of them with different artistic visions. This work environment is inspiring and makes the creative process flow smoothly. It is great to learn from each of the artists who are a fundamental part of this great family.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I am currently working on my goals, focusing on studying different composition techniques, relying on great artists from different branches who have positively influenced the work I have been doing so far, I want to become better at what I love doing. This is why this year, I will continue traveling and participating in tattoo conventions so that I can see and compare other perspectives in the art world in order to continue evolving.
Contact Info:
- Address: 124 W Oak St, Denton, TX 76201
- Phone: (940) 898-8200
- Email: josecontrerasart@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/joseecd
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/joseecd.art
- Other: darkagetattoostudio.com
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