Today we’d like to introduce you to Leolo Molina.
Hi Leolo, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, let’s briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I’ve been artistically inclined since I was young. Everyone in my family is an artist, so I’ve always felt compelled to create and comfort surrounded by art. I always wanted to be known as an artist. I just didn’t know how to accomplish the idea of getting paid to create art. Tattooing was never a job I thought was an option or even interested in. Shortly after high school I started playing music and that’s when I met a future band mate that was a Tattooer. Every now and then I would stop by the shop and watch people tattoo, that’s when I felt like it was a way to express creativity. An art form that was possible for me to create a living. I started an apprenticeship in 2003 that fell through. Fortunately, I found another shortly after, although it was quite a disaster I made the best of what I had.
In 2006 I started tattooing in San Antonio and found a great group of individuals who showed me several techniques that changed my tattooing and pushed me forward. It was one of the first times I came into a group with such strong camaraderie. I quickly grew and eventually got a chance to work at a custom tattoo shop that I’ve always wanted to work at. It was highly nerve-wracking at first because there was such fantastic talent at the shop and I didn’t want to disappoint anyone. They eventually needed an artist in their Austin location, which was a dream come true. To work at the shop I loved and live in a city where I’ve always felt at home. That shop was the first time I felt a sense of freedom and met an artist named Gunzo, that pushed me further than any friend/ artist ever did. His work ethic was astonishing, and his focus was admirable. Sometimes I would venture out to see local shows and participate in the distractions of nightlife. When that became a habit, my friend Gunzo pulled me aside and told me something I would never forget. “While you’re out there getting drinks and trying to party, there are artists somewhere trying to become better.” That was a wake-up call for me, and eventually pushed through until the next chapter of my life. When the shop was getting sold and it was time to move on somewhere else. I got an opportunity and moved to Las Vegas with my friend Gunzo with barely any money to get there. Packing up and leaving within a week’s notice was wild and exhilarating. Vegas was a lot of fun, and I met some truly talented people and friends. It had a different cultural mindset that wasn’t sustainable or healthy for me, so I moved back to Austin after a year. Since then, I’ve lived in Austin on and off for about 14 years, working at well-known shops like Golden Apple, Shaman Modifications, and True Blue.
I’m fortunate to work with a great group of talented artists now here at Aura IV Tattoo and Fine Art. I’ve always wanted to work in a tattoo shop where we don’t just tattoo, We create art. We have all worked hard to find other artistic avenues in painting and studying different art forms. We are trying to bring the tattoo and fine art community together. We have bi-weekly paint nights and seminars at our shop. I’ll never forget what my friend said to me years ago, and here we all strive to be better artists overall.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, has it been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Tattooing is very challenging and constantly evolving. If you don’t keep up with the new advancements in technology or social media, you start to feel obsolete from new machines to pigments and aftercare. Everything is changing, and you have to stay informed. Tattooing in itself is challenging, as well as creating dynamic designs that flow with the contour of a person’s body. We must also be photographers, illustrators, business owners, content creators, and more. It’s very demanding of our attention, and I am well-known for being silent on social media. I’m just introverted and private, but I understand the necessity of using these platforms to bring business in. It puts more pressure on me in a competitive market, especially when this is the new way to get noticed and gain business. The information on how to create readable designs and tattoo is out there. I’ve seen so much new talent popping up that it’s exciting and challenging to keep up with everyone. Keeping yourself neutral in politics in business and with clients is difficult, especially when people’s political ideologies have become their identities. You spend much time with clients, and things get brought up sometimes. You must read the room and figure out how to change the subject or maneuver the conversation differently. Keeping the client satisfied while keeping them from taking over the design process takes a level of communication that can be exhausting at times. Creating my business has been a roller coaster of emotions, I think that’s the cyclical nature of business. Some times you feel like things are moving smoothly and then you get hit with a new problem you have to solve. I think the most difficult part was getting myself to a point where I now have complete autonomy.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m fascinated with several styles and try to have a broad and diverse illustration range. I enjoy neo-traditional, traditional, illustrative realism, watercolor, and other various forms. I try to have a unique style that mixes traditional American influences with more illustrative realism qualities, and I love doing color and black and grey work equally. My main focus is combining American traditional and realism to create a beautiful and unique style that will last the test of time and be visually impressive.
I’m most proud of getting myself into a space with artists that have an overall love and passion for art as much as I do. Seeing everyone constantly creating and pushing forward keeps you on your feet. It motivates me and inspires my creative soul. Being in the right mental state is what comes first when creating. From the beginning of the design process to communicating with client’s to the final product. It’s a very intimate process and making sure everything runs smoothly and everyone feels great in a comfortable environment is key. It makes the day not feel like work and more like I get to create and share moments of my life and vice versa with a new person. It feels like I’m serving a purpose.
Pricing:
- I price by size, color, detail, and placement. I typically tattoo by the hour. My hourly rate is $200 and a $200 deposit is typically required.
Contact Info:
- Website: Leolomolina.com
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/leolo_molina/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leolo.molina/
Image Credits
Leolo Molina
