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Tristan Reyes
Pacific Island Ink
Availability
Next monthBio
I am 35 years old and have been tattooing for 15 years now, on the island of Hawai'i, in the state of Hawaii. Specifically, I have been tattooing in my small hometown of Kailua-Kona, where I have been raised for most of my life.
I acquired my tattoo license (yes, you have to be licensed in the state of Hawaii!) through a 2 year apprenticeship, under the tutelage and mentorship of a man name Rockwood.
Rockwood tattooed in and around Anaheim, California, and Sunset Boulevard. While in his prime, Rockwood tattooed a plethora of celebrities and rockstars and was even dubbed as a tattooer for the Hell's Angels. Julia Roberts, Cher, Heather Locklear, Lenny Kravitz, Motley Crew (Nicky Sixx), Guns n' roses, Panthera, just to name a few.
So, you could imagine, that during my apprenticeship, my tattoo experience was fulfilled and I was well immersed in its culture, and picked up the etiquette quickly. My technique came from creating and recreating (tracing mostly) American traditional, Neo-traditional or Sailor Jerry type art, and a massive amount of tattoo flash off the walls and flash racks.
Post-apprenticship, I was forced into mainly creating art and tattoos that represented Hawaii or the polynesian culture. Not only that, but I got real good at lettering...it helps when your Hawaii based clientele and friends have family names they want on their bodies. And these are not names like "Ben", "Sue" or "Jack", they were more like "Isreal Kamakawiwaole Ho'olaulea Kamakani Malama pono" type names!
I also delved into custom fabrication at one point after my apprenticeship. Doing work with mediums like clay, metal, silicone, fiberglass, resins, and wood.
Prior to my apprenticeship, I actually wanted to become an Architect (still do atcually). I took some courses in Drafting, Auto-Cad, 3D studio Max and Photoshop while at Kapiolani Community College. I was turned off by architecture and decided to put it on the backburner after so many failed or incomplete projects and trails, it started to crush my spirit.
Luckily, I also took a major in art and art history, where I've met a plethora of like-minded individuals. One of those individuals became a good friend and he actually gave me my first crash course in tattooing! It was from that point, that I started my campaign toward becoming a tattoo artist.
Well, I hope that covers most of my tattoo career life, if you want to know more, I suppose you will have to link up on social media, or meet me in person. Aloha!
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