Today we’d like to introduce you to Angel Ivan Lopez Canto.
So, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I started tattooing back in 2006 in a little town in Sonora, Mexico, called Caborca for almost two years. I soon realized I needed to get a proper apprenticeship and that’s when I moved to San Diego. After months of searching, I was lucky enough to be taken in by Nicky Chance at Above All Tattoo in Pacific Beach. After a full year of working hard, setting up tattoo stations, and cleaning tourist barf off the bathroom floor, I went back to my hometown of Tijuana, Mexico and had the pleasure of having my own station at one of the best shops in Mexico, Tinta Distinta.
However, shortly after, I decided to go back to San Diego, where I worked at several shops through the years and also had the opportunity to open my own with one of my best friends in Tijuana called Tia Juana Tattoo. During that period of my life, I picked up rock climbing as a hobby and became quickly obsessed with it. My life revolved around tattooing and rock climbing for years and I found myself often wondering how I could combine my two favorite things.
Fast forward to 2017, my wife and I made the move to quit our jobs and travel freely to climbing locations and to do guest spots at different tattoo shops across the US. This helped me polish the vision of combining both things and motivated me to work towards having my own shop again. Over the past two years, my focus has been on re-establishing my roots in San Diego and giving back to programs that maintain and support outdoor climbing locations. I am now the owner of Outdoor Traditions Tattoo in South Park, previously known as Battle Royale Tattoo, where I plan to develop this concept in my own space.
Has it been a smooth road?
It has been far from smooth. Most of the time it has been me having an idea of what I want to do and having to dive into the unknown on how to execute it. My first huge obstacle was having to learn English while I worked as an apprentice in PB. I knew enough to get by but had to always run to the artists and ask what certain words meant and still sound legit in front of the clients.
Secondly, becoming integrated into the world of tattooing is a great challenge in and of itself. You have to really want it and be committed to altering your lifestyle to essentially revolve around it and the same goes with climbing. If you really want to excel and grow as a climber, you have to let yourself be consumed by it. I found many parallels between the two lifestyles and have failed many times in each but I wouldn’t change the process at all.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
Most of the tattoos I do nowadays are outdoor inspired with an American traditional influence with bold lines and high contrast. I donate 10% of my profits to outdoor non-profits and programs which is pretty unprecedented in the industry. I find pride in using tattooing as a platform to promote outdoor stewardship and ethics which provides more value to what I do for a living.
What advice would you give to someone at the start of her career?
My advice would be not to be discouraged by all the obstacles that come along when you’re trying to pursue your passion. Take each as it comes and though your path may not be direct, you will get where you want to be at the right time.
Pricing:
- Shop minimum $100
- For larger pieces and multiple sessions $180/hr
Contact Info:
- Address: 1606 Fern Street San Diego CA 92102
- Phone: 619-777-8287
- Email: angelopeztattoos@gmail.com
- Instagram: @angelopez
Image Credit:
Terry Anderson
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