Today we’d like to introduce you to Edwin Lopez.
Hi Edwin, 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 went to an art school k-8. I realized I loved art around 7th or 8th grade. In high school, I would draw through all my classes and would spend endless hours at night drawing or painting. In high school, I realized I wanted to be an artist and got very interested in tattooing. one of my good friends who was an artist and who I saw as being a very talented and artistic painter, bought a tattoo machine and tattoo equipment. Very cheap Chinese machines and supplies. He took me to the place he bought them at and I bought the same stuff. The plan was to start tattooing, but before we could tattoo other people, we had to do it on ourselves. We tattooed ourselves in his room at his house. The tattoo came out very inconsistent. It was an outline, parts of it were light and in some parts solid and darker. We both started tattooing our friends from school who asked us for tattoos. I would have phases where I would tattoo then I would stop for a while then pick it back up. I never stopped drawing or painting. Out of high school and in the real world, I realized the next step was a tattoo apprenticeship. Went to many north county shops and took a portfolio with my art in it. They pretty much all said they weren’t taking apprenticeships right now. A really good friend of mine was working at a tattoo shop and I showed up there. I showed them my art and with my homie vouching for me I got an apprenticeship. It was hard work but I learned so much. It was a really great time. I was juggling helping run my family painting company and the apprenticeship. At the same time, my baby daughter was born. It got very difficult managing everything. I ended up quitting before I got to finish the apprenticeship. I was a full-time painter. I got some money together and bought good tattoo equipment and supplies. I rent out a small studio space where I currently work out of it is called citrus studio. I do paintings, tattoos, logos, murals and a lot of art in general the idea of citrus studio is high-quality art and goods. That is where I work today. I am still part of our family painting company as well.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
A lot of struggles. It has not been a smooth ride. Learning how to tattoo was a huge one. I learned a lot from the apprenticeship. How to break down how to set up. They also instilled in me a very strong cleaning routine and paying attention to details… I started tattooing small tattoos and they taught me a few things but then I quit. I had to learn about needle depth shading from doing tattoos and seeing them once they healed. I would do tattoos and they would come back with some lines that had fallen out. Social media is also been a learning curve but I’m working on it. Balancing work and my family. Managing finances and generating leads on my own. It’s all a learning process. I have learned a lot and still have a lot more to learn.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I do acrylic paintings, aresol murals, tattoos, graphic design. I do not know what I am most known for but I imagine it is for my tattoos and art. I am most proud of being a dad and getting better and better at it, things that set me apart is my artistic talent and my drive.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
To live in the moment and enjoy the now especially when I am with my daughter and my girl.
Contact Info:
- Email: citrusstudiov@gmail.com
- Website: https://citrusstudio.bigcartel.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zzpanther_/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CitrusStudioV
