Today we’d like to introduce you to Dennis (Dizzy) Doan.
Hi Dennis, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
If I were to try to tell the whole story about how I ended up where I am today, it would be a book. Haha. So I will try to sum this up in the best way I can without diluting the essence.
I am the 2nd child of Vietnamese immigrants and the only child born in the United States (Saginaw, Michigan). My parents lived fairly simple lives- having started from scratch in a country where they did not speak the language, practice the customs, or understand the pace of life. They worked extremely hard to meet ends meet. They expected their children to take advantage of these newly found opportunities and make the best of their new lives in this “free” country.
The struggles of my parents growing up during the Vietnam War Era were different than my older brother’s struggles during the Post-Vietnam War Era, as were my struggles as the first American-Born child in my family generation. We all grasped the concept of struggle and strife extremely differently as we were all learning as we went along.
I always drew as a hobby growing up, however, I never once thought about or anticipated embarking on a career as an artist; this was simply not an option in our culture. My family, being of traditional Asian values and mindset, always expected me to become a doctor or a lawyer, so I grew up believing this was the inevitable path that I had to take. My older brother left me to go to medical school when I was about 12 years old, and that’s when everything changed. The whole family dynamic shattered. This was also when my mother and father separated. I remember walking home from school one day to see that all of my mother’s belongings were gone.
My life spiraled out of control. I battled with extreme depression for the majority of my teenage years, but I somehow managed to eventually convert those feelings, or lack thereof, into the drive that led me to where I am today.
I started getting into more trouble with the law and my family. My family started seeing me as more of a liability.
When I was 12 years old, I took a sewing needle and some calligraphy ink from Michael’s and gave myself my first tattoo. At 15, my father and I were struggling on our own so I had no choice but to do what I could to financially support us. Living on just Section 8, pride, and faith was not feasible. I couldn’t get a “real” job because of my juvenile mistakes. So I had no choice but to either make due with situation that was dealt to me or produce certain sets of skills that I was unaware I even possessed. I did everything you can imagine (from fixing cars to cutting hair to tattooing) to make enough money for food and to finance our way of living.
I was tattooing people at all hours of day and night. It didn’t matter whether it was 2AM or 10PM. I would have to pick up my clients and drop them off just to make a few bucks or simply trade for food. I lived in this cycle for most of my high school life. I was determined.
Fast forward a few years later- I had gotten my act together and graduated from high school with honors and was offered several full ride scholarships. I eventually chose to attend to San Diego State University so that I could be available to my family. I was paving for a path to become a plastic surgeon. However, life does not always allow good things to happen within the correct circumstances or when you’re ready.
Throughout my first few years at San Diego state, I still had to make money as a tattoo artist. My life changed when two random guys I met on MySpace (whom just got out of prison) reached out to me to work at their new tattoo studio in Hillcrest. Having had no formal training, I was looking forward to having a formal apprenticeship. But once again- not the right circumstances. I did not end up getting a formal apprenticeship, however, I am still grateful for having the privilege to observe experienced tattooers in their craft. But the reality was- I was there to make them money.
About a year later, I got bored of college, forfeited my scholarship, and dropped out of SDSU. The tattoo business partners split up. The boss that remained, unfortunately, went down a dark hole again. I was left to fend for myself. Most days I was working by myself in the studio treating the business as if it were my own. In 2009, at the age of 19 years old, my former business partner and I sought out to open up our first tattoo shop. 12 years later and 3 tattoo shops later- I now have my dream staff and I can say this is exactly where I want to be. I consolidated all the shops into 1 tattoo shop now known as BLVCK LOTVS TATTOO & SOCIAL CLUB.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
When I started tattooing, the industry was still in an age where every artist had “secrets” that they passed down from generation to generation and the knowledge was inaccessible. There were no YouTube tutorials- only magazines to observe and very scarce portfolios on Google and MySpace. Tattoo DVDs were too expensive for me as a teenager so that was out of the question. So I had no choice but to tattoo myself. By the age of 15, most of my body was tattooed. I then had to work on either my cousins, local gangsters, or teen rebels to excel in my craft. The industry was DIFFICULT to get in, but easier to stand out. Nowadays it is extremely easy to get started, but extremely difficult to stand out as I feel the craft itself is diluted in a sense. I had relied on word-of-mouth marketing as well as going from business to business dropping off my business cards, talking to strangers, and offering incentives for referrals. And I truly believe that when you put your soul into what you do, it definitely reflects for years to come.
An important thing to note is that when I started tattooing, tattoos were still considered taboo, ESPECIALLY within the Asian culture. This was before tattoo shows became popular and before the exploitation and tools like Instagram that allows artists to promote the “aesthetic beauty” and artistic values of tattoo art. So not only did I have the responsibility of reversing these stigmas within my family circle, I also had to fight the embedded presumptions of years of Asian traditional thinking. It was not easy to pave my way to “significance” as an ASIAN-AMERICAN artist in an industry dominated by the majority. My family didn’t even take my job seriously until I opened my 3rd shop in 2014.
I grew up in Linda Vista so I had always wanted to establish my business there, but upon trying I realized it wasn’t going to be easy. I was too young. I had no credit. I had no work history. After months of searching it was apparent Convoy Street, which was saturated with restaurants and family businesses, did not want to entertain the idea of a tattoo establishment. We were left with no choice but to open on El Cajon Blvd in between two of the only other Vietnamese tattoo artists in San Diego-whom I looked up to at the time. There was definitely animosity from this point forward between our 3 tattoo shops.
Six years later, I was fortunate enough to find a building owner on Convoy Street that was okay with me being there. My money was finally good enough. I was then able to establish BLVCK LOTVS.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I would say I am known for my Asian art and large-scale tattoo works. Ironically, when I started tattooing, I wanted to specialize in Chicano Black & Grey art since that’s all I knew growing up, having been surrounded by Mexican culture and having an appreciation for the fine details and realism of the Chicano arts. I was eventually able to combine these 2 schools of artistic thought into my own Black & Grey Asian art style.
Tattoo artists of my generation, however, did not necessarily have the “luxury” of choosing a “specialty”. We had to do whatever tattoos came through the door whether it was a butterfly or a giant tribal sleeve. Beggars couldn’t be choosers. I am grateful for these experiences though, as they have molded me into the well-rounded artist I am today. It definitely took me longer to perfect my “specialty” but I believe long journeys and the scars that come from them have a bigger impact than short and painless ones.
I am most proud of the apprentices I have had in the past that started from scratch as I did and eventually went on to become some of the best artists in the game today. I am proud of my endurance of the struggles because I was able to pass the knowledge on to the next generation so that they wouldn’t do the same.
I am most proud of my works, whether it be tattoo works or art works, which have changed lives. Whether it be by memorial pieces I have done on clients who have lost loved ones, or my well-known “Hate Is A Virus x Model Minority” digital art and shirt design that shook the world with its message on Asian hate crimes. It’s amazing that an artistic idea can turn into a spark that fuels movements. I truly believe that art has the ability to both enhance and alter perceptions.
I believe what sets me apart from others in this industry is my lack of desire to be considered a part of the “industry”. I have always wanted to stay in the shadows and focus on my own clients and those around me. I don’t participate in tattoo competitions or conventions. I do not guest spot at tattoo businesses around the United States. I strictly have a “if you find me, you find me” philosophy. I don’t ever want the desire for fame or wealth to undermine my love or passion to the craft or to my clients. I believe this is the foundation which keeps my clients with me for life and my waiting list booked 2 years at a time. The relationships I have with my clients are priceless.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I believe that “luck” is simply the alignment and symbiotic relationship of decisions that one chooses to make in their life or lack thereof. I believe in inevitability and manifestation. I took an impossible decision and situation and forced my life to mold to the idea itself.
When you come from nothing, with no handouts or guidance, you have very little to lose and much to gain. There are lessons within each and every mistake you make. You have to also enrich yourself with embracing the mistakes that those around you have made so that you do not repeat them in their name as well.
It is often difficult to keep a positive mindset in this day and age when you are constantly exposed to negativity- whether it be the news exploiting only the worst in humanity or the highly superficial representation of what success may look like on social media. As long as you stay in your lane and better yourself for yourself- you will thrive. You cannot change the world until you change yourself.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.blvcklotvs.com
- Instagram: dizzydoan
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/blvck-lotvs-tattoo-and-social-club-san-diego
- Other: www.blvcklotvsthreads.com
