Hi Eric, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I started out tattooing in the garage of my mother’s house when I was 14 years old, and found that I really enjoyed it and knew that it was what I wanted to pursue. So, I looked for an apprenticeship through Sins on Skin in Escondido because it was where I got one of my first real tattoos. But I was shot down.They had just hired an apprentice. So while in Escondido, I stopped at a neighboring tattoo shop called D&E Tattoo, where they ended up taking me in (1999).Shortly after I finished my apprenticeship, I ended up getting thrown in jail! Sentenced me 450 days! When I was released…I had new obstacles in my life now that I had a child… So tattooing had to be my hobby, and I needed something that was more steady for work. I did high labor-intensive work because I was you young and in great shape just gettingout of fire camp….you know like the hulk , just kidding lol. So I worked in that field for about four years, and on the side tattooed but on my hommies and friends… Not full-time.
My ex and I separated, and shortly after, I then went to Miramar and got hired at American tattoo, which was owned by Chad, who had owned another tattoo shop in Escondido aswell. Well, I stayed with them until they sold the shop in Miramar and changed the shops name in Escondido to Fat Kid Tattoo. I then wanted to start tattooing in Escondido, so I started looking and found a new shop called Syndicate Tattoo in Escondido owned by Brandon, Buster, and Mike… I worked there with them for about four years or so and then ventured to Pacific Beach to learn more from the artist that were primarily doing larger style tattoos and body suites. Knowing that pacific beach was the Mecca of the tattoo world in San Diego I was eager to go.
Well, I was hired to work with a lot of great artists from a funhouse tattoo. Most of the crew working with me under that shop now own very successful shops of their own or are sponsored by great companies in the tattoo world. One of the most beneficial moves in my career. Being able to learn from a lot of different style artists. After being in PB for a couple of years, I desired to be back in Escondido, where most of my clients were. So I then moved back up to Escondido and started back at Fat Kid Tattoo. Losing my way again, I ended up incarcerated and when I was released I had lost my job. Then found a job with Dermal Graphics in Escondido and tattooed there for a year or so and found it wasn’t that good of a fit for me. Don’t get me wrong, but I worked with a couple of cool cats there, but the owner at the time and manager… Let’s just say we didn’t click too well, didn’t have the same beliefs….. So I left that shop and went to Vista Body Art and tattooed with Obie, who owned Vista and Escondido Body Art tattoo studio. I worked with them for a while and then moved back to Syndicate Tattoo because it felt more like my style at the time… But while I was there, I found myself in trouble again with the law. When getting out, I then left Syndicate and tried to start over. Then become part of the Goodneibor Tattoo family. I stayed with them for quite some time and worked with some artists that really inspired me to make a huge step in my career and set a new goal. During my time with them, I had to move out of state and take care of my father, who was very ill from lung disease and congestive heart failure. So I then moved to Mississippi to take care of dad and, while being there, really focus on being the best tattoo artist I could be… And that is where my career started to take a turn. I started doing tattoos that I only dreamed about doing… And they were turning out good even in my eyes. I’m pretty hard on myself. I started to get reposted on Instagram and was asked to do a magazine spread, so being recognized gave me a confidence boost. Making me more ambitious. But during this time, I was also taking care of Father and starting my new family. In my spare time I opened a tattoo aftercare business that I was going to launch at a fellow tattoo artists shop (Craig Driscoll) at another location in Georgia . While I was heading out there to launch my newly found business, I was going to visit my half brother that I had not seen in 15+ years. So I was excited about the trip on many different levels. I had my itinerary and was heading to the airport to pick up my rental car and was stopped by a local police car…. While looking around, I noticed all the neighboring cars around me were stopped in the middle of the street….. Then they all lit up like Christmas trees… Arrested me and extradited me back to California to go fight a case that the FEDS had on me from 2013… It was currently 2016. With a new wife and new child on the way… I wanted to throw in the towel. This was just my luck. Happened again…. but this time was different. I had goals and people in my corner.
So I got out on bail and fought my case in California on the streets. Went to work at Nine South Tattoo in Escondido. It was a new shop name in a iconic location for a tattoo shop in Escondido. It was located on Escondido Blvd. and was always known as the “Blvd Tattoo”. Well shortly after being hired, I decided to buy into the shop. Building a new shop with new artists that I met over the years. To have a powerhouse tattoo shop was the goal. Thats what I started to do when I had to plead guilty to a crime and took me away from my dream of building this shop I always wanted. So while in prison, I decided to work on me. I received multiple certifications while I was there, business, business writing, communication skills, life skills, understanding the human anatomy, dealing with stress, to many to name them all. But when I got out, all I know is that I was I was going to be a better man, a better father, and a better businessman for my artist that stuck with me and kept my shop running while I was away. So when I was released, that’s exactly what I did! So after losing my Wife and New Daughter, I knew I had to show this change. I pushed twice as hard! Harder than ever before! Earning Tattoo awards in all categories of tattooing, remodeling my shop changed the name back to “theblvdtattoostudio, “getting new logos, having Dyse One do some art in the shop (tribal clothing), Twin One doing art in the shop(tribal clothing) Ethos One doing deth lettering in my shop, getting my tattoo family on the same page, getting new sponsors…. Really… alot to list… And it hasn’t stopped since! Until this covid 19 struck… But that’s where I am currently. With eight months left on my parole to go, I feel like nothing is going to stop me from reaching where I need to go.
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?
It hasn’t been a smooth road at all! I told most of it on the answer beforehand… Definitely, it has been a long HARD road!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a tattoo artist and business owner. I specialize in realistic tattooing and have awards in all categories. I am most proud of my shop and my guys in my shop , Joey and Keith for holding it down for me while I was away. For always believing in me. I have a killer crew Martin Jabro, Joey Goswick my manager, Keith Bowman assistant manager, Hershal ( Ethos One), Bjay, and Tommy the Gun. What I think sets me apart from others, is that I can tattoo any style that comes my way if given enough time to study it. I think being able to do anything that comes in front of you will make you more successful on all levels of art… thats just my thoughts.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
I have to give a big shout-out to my business partner Martin Jabro for keeping our shop alive . My manager my broski Joey Goswick for their love and support and always believing in me when the times were hard. They never lost faith in me, and I find that it is hard to find in people nowadays. Big thanks to Jared for setting this up with you guys as well. Im honored and am happy to tell my story.
Contact Info:
- Address: 811 South Escondido Blvd
- Email: Edog1904@gmail.com
- Website: theblvdtattoostudio.com
- Instagram: @edogtatts
- Facebook: Eric Blvd
Image Credits
Images with Joey Goswick, Keith Bowman, Ethos One, Norm Rip, Dyse one, and Mr Lil One
