Today we’d like to introduce you to Luis Velasquez.
Hi Luis, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Luis Velásquez Ríos (Carnero) 41 years old, was born in Lima-Peru.
Since I was a child, drawing has always been in my life and the taste for tattoos began when I was 10 years old when my uncle showed me for the first time a tattoo that he had done on his arm. From there, I was impressed as the ink could be engraved on the skin for life.
When I left school, my parents encouraged and supported me to study graphic design at an institute in Miraflores. In my free time, I earned a living juggling and street theater whenever I could participate in a traffic light and in an event.
In 2003, a friend invited me to work in what would be the first tattoo studio where all JJPool started. I was juggling and handing out brochures, and then I went to attend. For 2 years, I learned everything about tattoos and body piercing. In 2005, I traveled to Brazil to train in piercing and one day a good friend in Brazil gave me my first tattoo machine. Return to Lima motivated by everything learned.
I worked in different studios in Lima until I formed a partnership with a friend and we opened a tattoo studio in Miraflores. I was in charge of the studio for 5 years and during that time, I began to participate in conventions inside and outside the country which opened the doors to many opportunities in the field of tattooing, obtaining awards and recognitions in the Neo-traditional categories.
Today, I opened my first studio called “Carnero Tattoo & Art Studio”, where I worked with excellent artists and especially friends who are now part of my family.
Everything was going great, a lot of work, trips, conventions, many prizes, and many joys, then the pandemic arrived
After the pandemic that affected many, I made the decision to emigrate to another country to continue learning and growing as an artist. That’s how I got to VAULT TATTOO thanks to my great sponsor ELECTRUM SUPPLY I got to CHARLOTTE to get to know the studio where I was going to work.
From the first time I fell in love with the city that’s how I started doing all my paperwork and managed to get my work visa today. Currently, I am officially working in CHARLOTTE With new goals and dreams to fulfill in this new stage of my life that is full of much joy and blessings
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The path is never easy there will always be ups and downs since I started in this world almost 21 years ago I started as apprentice cleaning bathrooms.
Taking care of the tattoo studio for almost 5 years after that I started tattooing with complications but always moved forward and got up after every fall.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I have been in the beautiful world of tattooing for almost 15 years. I started tattooing in Lima, Peru, my country of origin, and tattooing so far has given me many experiences and achievements.
I have almost 30 awards in Latin America, such as Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Puerto Rico, and Panama.
I dedicate a lot to color and black and gray tattoos but all my achievements were due to specializing in NEOTRADITIONAL a style that I really like to do which has given me many achievements and I am very proud of the steps I have taken in my career as a tattoo artist
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
Now I am listening to DANIEL HABIF a lot. I like him a lot because he talks about life, hope, faith, love for others, but above all, love for yourself.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.carneroartist.com/
- Instagram: @Carnerotattooartist
- Facebook: @Carnerotattooartist
