Today we’d like to introduce you to Daniel Centeno
Hi Daniel, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’ve been working since I was 13 years old. I worked at a restaurant in New Jersey with my Mom, and during the summers, I remodeled houses with my dad until I graduated high school. I knew I didn’t want to attend college, so I worked at retail stores until I finally decided it was time to start learning how to get the career I dreamed of since I was 10 years old. I started teaching myself how to tattoo while working at these other jobs and focused on being a dad to my son. I’ve been drawing since before I can even remember, and I’ve always been obsessed with comic books and movies. When I was in school, I focused more on drawing than the actual class work. Fun fact my senior year of High School I designed my Art Teacher’s Mother’s headstone. I’ve always dreamed of tattooing since the first time I saw my father getting tattooed in someone’s shop. The whole process was so intriguing to me that I would draw on myself and my friends whenever they would ask. I got my first tattoo at 16 in a basement in New York for $60, and from that moment on I was hooked.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Honestly, getting into this profession isn’t the easiest thing to do. Theirs a lot of people who will take advantage of you for the simple fact of them seeing that you desperately want this. But if theirs one thing about me I’m persistent and I’ve always had a dream of tattooing and I wouldn’t let anyone stop me from getting there. One of the more challenging aspects of tattooing in this day and age is that you have to be a person of many talents. It’s not just tattooing anymore, you have to be a great artist while also figuring out the tricks to the algorithm, and making sure that you give your clients a memorable and comfortable experience that they’ll tell everyone about.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a tattoo artist in the Orlando/Kissimmee area. I don’t necessarily have a style I specialize in, I love everything about tattooing and even though I’ve been doing this for about 3 years I still feel like I learn something new every day. One style that I love doing is stuff that’s straight out of a comic book, or black and grey realism. This last year I’ve grown extremely interested in big black and grey pieces with hints of color that just make the piece pop! I’m known for having a lot of fun while I tattoo and overall being the funny camera-shy guy in the room. I’m most proud of actually making it this far in my career, it hasn’t been the easiest but I never let anyone put me down. I think the thing that sets me apart from a lot of others is my willingness to learn and grow, one thing about this industry is that everyone sees tattooing differently. So to be able to talk with different artists and pick their brains about their style and how they tattoo fascinates me. I find that every day I tattoo I’m learning something new that improves my tattoos with every piece no matter how big or small they may be.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
My biggest support has been my wife, throughout everything. No matter what I can count on her to support me no matter how insane I sound she always trusts and believes in me. She has this ability to see me in a way that I could never see myself and for that I’m eternally grateful. Another really big supporter and motivation for me has to be my boss Barythaya, the way that woman handles the world on her shoulders blows my mind. She’s constantly having to juggle a million tasks at once all while simultaneously creating beautiful art that her clients fall in love with is what pushes me to be a better artist/person every day. My son Damian has to be my biggest fan, he’s constantly asking me how tattooing is going, asks to see the projects I’m working on, and hypes me up in every way he can. (He’s 7 going on 70) He’s the Robin to my Batman and I couldn’t ask for a better sidekick.
Pricing:
- Full Day Session is $950
- Half Day Session is $500
- Shop minimum is $100
Contact Info:
- Website: https://xotattooshop.com/danny
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dphantomtattoos
Image Credits
@28thshooter Luis Lopez
