Today we’d like to introduce you to Elias Mora-Martinez.
Hi Elias, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I started my tattoo apprenticeship when I was around 20 years old. That lasted about 4 years, and then I just started tattooing full-time and have been fortunate to be still doing it. During the first year of COVID-19, business changed drastically, and so did my personal life, so I decided to open up my tattoo shop during the pandemic against everyone’s rightful advice. Luckily, though, the risk was worth the reward, and after about a year, we were able to secure a great location on a very historic street in Austin. I was raised in south Austin and close to where Golden Heart Tattoo is located; we were pushed out of the area as it grew more into condos and businesses, so I am happy one way or another, I was able to come back.
Please talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned. Looking back, has it been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Life has never really been a smooth road for me. I’ve had plenty of obstacles to overcome. However, almost all of them were my fault to some extent. If I’m being honest, the biggest threat to my success is probably myself. And lack of self-control in some situations has made life harder than it should have been, for sure. The most recent obstacle I had to overcome was in Feb of this year; I was involved in a car accident that broke my neck, legs, and ribs. After two months of trying to recover, I decided to go back to work ASAP and had to readjust how I tattooed and moved since I had my neck wired and mobility restrictions that took place after all the surgeries. I was also left with nerve pains and a speech issue after everything. However, I am happy to return to the normal swing of art and tattooing instead of waiting rooms and surgeries.
Thanks for sharing that. So, you could tell us a bit more about your work.
I am a tattoo artist and business owner here in Austin. Although art is more of my passion, something I was told early in my tattoo career is that there is no retirement plan for tattoo artists. So, that started an entrepreneurship streak in me. However, my pride and lifeline will permanently be tattooing and owning a successful tattoo shop. I specialize in black and grey mainly, although I enjoy color work as well. I mix the styles as much as possible. What sets me apart from others is my creativity. However, tattooing is more of what others want than your art. My art is unique and different to look at. Or at least I hope so.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
What I like best about Austin is how it still values art as an industry and individual, even though it has grown significantly in the last few years. It seems to influence most businesses that aren’t local that move in to adopt this “keeping it weird” art and music thing that Austin seems to be known for. Growing up, Castle Hill was a huge influence on me. Seeing all the graffiti sparked creative habits that I have maintained since then and have made me the artist I am now. I liked how the city nurtured and supported the idea of me growing up to be an artist. I’m grateful that is what happened.
What I like least about Austin is seeing my childhood be built over. The area I grew up in was, at the time, middle-class or lower-income, with some government apartment buildings—my childhood in Austin was mainly spent outside with friends. We explored quite a bit and took over where we could. Some of them built skate parks in open abandoned lots, clubhouses in abandoned YMCA buildings that we spray paint all over, and a BMX track called the red box made next to some train tracks, tunnels, and trails we would explore around town lake and cover in paint or graffiti. It’s all been torn down for condos and businesses, and it’s now Lady Bird Lake, not Town Lake. However, in truth, I welcome most of the changes and like how the city is growing. I do cringe a bit when I see a crane go up for some more condos.
Pricing:
- I charge by the hour. And it’s worth the experience and quality and goes up as both do.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: instagram.com/artetraficante512
- Facebook: facebook.com/eliasmora-martinez
