Today we’d like to introduce you to Joshua Sanchez.
Hi Joshua, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My curiosity for tattoos started when I was a kid, I would say 8 or 9 years old. Seen people having art on their bodies was for me something impressive. I also like to draw a lot since I was a little kid, couldn’t go anywhere without paper and pencil. Forward to when I was 15, I went in for the first time into a tattoo studio and got my first tattoo (I grew up in Puerto Rico, and laws there were a little different). I ended up getting my daughter’s name tattooed down my leg, and it was so interesting, from the drawing to the setup to the tattoo.
So I decided to drop out of school, get a job and move to the states. I moved to Pennsylvania after a couple of years I was 17. I was doing graffiti and always kept drawing. My girlfriend at the time for my 18 birthday got me an eBay tattoo kit (I don’t recommend anyone to do this). I started by tattooing all of my friends and family, I went to Georgia after and kept tattooing chasing my dream to one day be as good as I can be, but everything change for me once I worked in Florida, I moved here and I meet this guy who wanted me to go work for him I accepted the job and I was very excited, but the place left a very bad taste in my mouth when it came to the industry to the point I almost quit tattooing completely, two years after the shop closes doors for good, I did not gave up on tattooing and I am glad I didn’t, a few years go by and I end up getting a job at a different studio where the out look was different it was more about the artist and the work and the environment was better I worked there for six years, I end up meeting Christian Buckingham at that same shop and he opened a shop in Virginia he offers me a deal I couldn’t refuse, so I moved to Virginia, I work at lucky gypsy and still go there every month, christian is opening a shop in Kissimmee called fallen heroes tattoo where I will be tattooing starting august, I’m a traveling artist and I love where this gotten me, to see new places, explore new styles and meet new great people, it is fun and always new.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It was not a very smooth start. During my apprenticeship, I was working two full-time jobs to be able to pay my bills and make time to be at the studio every day. It was difficult and many times I wanted to quit it all. I remember driving to the stuff that was almost 2 hours away from where I lived, hoping I didn’t run out of gas and hoping the studio would tip me or buy me dinner so I could at least eat, I spent some days in my car because I didn’t have enough money to get gas and drive home, I never asked any of the guys because I was to proud and I didn’t want to show weakness.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a tattoo artist, I specialize in black and gray realism, and I like to mix it a little with Neotraditional. I am known for my portrait like tattoos more than anything, I can go from creepy to sinner to beautiful, but I gear more towards the creepy and sinner style. I am proud of how far I have come. I have put my time, sweat and tears into it to become who I am in the industry and get my art to the next level, what sets me apart from the rest is I don’t jeopardize the quality of my work, I take my time to focus on my art and my client I make sure my client is happy with the design before the tattoo I take my time to place it on the body to make sure it fits properly, and I take the time necessary to execute the tattoo as perfectly as I can, I don’t think about it as a race and put my everything into every tattoo no matter how small of a piece or how big I put as much effort and dedication on every drop of ink I put into the skin.
How do you think about luck?
I wouldn’t say I’d have bad luck or good luck. I think my decisions and my dedication is what has made everything happen.
Pricing:
- $200 per hour
Contact Info:
- Email: ink_787@icloud.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ink787/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ink787/
