Today we’d like to introduce you to Arnold Santos.
Arnold, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I grew up drawing. As a kid, I remember copying my older sister’s drawings and watercolor paintings. It was always there just the subjects changed as I got older. Cartoons, comics, fictional album art, graffiti. After high school, I jumped from one shit job to the next and drawing stopped. Until I got my first tattoo, during that session, I was learning a little about the tattoo industry (very little) and how secretive and protective it is of its traditions, ways and culture. That really attracted me to it and decided that’s what I wanted to pursue.
It wasn’t so easy though. In the 90’s, there weren’t a lot of shops and the ones that were around were still pretty strict and very stingy about offering apprenticeships or any kind of way in the tattoo world. I decided to get a how-to book and some equipment and started tattooing myself and brave friends. Didn’t really get very far with the self-taught approach but I persistently shopped around for an apprenticeship and eventually got in and at some point started tattooing full time. I worked at numerous shops over the years, some good some not so good but always learning.
Whether it’s a good technique to try to master or a shitty practice or behavior to avoid. There’s always something to learn. After 11 years of professional tattooing, I built enough clientele and felt confident enough to go on my own. I opened Electric Tiger five years ago as a solo operation which now grew to a 4-person crew. It’s a huge deal for me being that I’m from a family of immigrants and my parents moved us here for a solid future. Being Asian, that means college.
*Apprenticeship at a tattoo shop is full-time work with no pay. It’s trading labor for a tattoo education. Duties include cleaning, food runs, grunt work, chores and errands that’s not necessarily about tattooing.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Not at all a smooth road. As I mentioned on previous page, tattooing wasn’t an easy industry to crack. At least not in the 90’s. No one would share any information, it was impossible to acquire quality tools and equipment for non-professionals. These days, it’s all over the internet and social media.
When I finally got in, the actual process of applying a tattoo is very difficult. Sixteen years later and it’s still difficult. Long hours, taking a lot of work home (we prepare and draw on our days off), constantly dealing with different personalities (clients and coworkers), having to be a boss now that I’m a shop owner, front row seats to people’s bodily fluids… the struggle continues. I also now have to adapt to the times and learn social media and online visibility.
We’d love to hear more about your art.
The original intention was a solo private studio just me doing my appointments. I worked for almost a year by myself and eventually joined by four others. I enjoy Japanese and floral work the most. But I try to accommodate all requests regardless of style. Clients bring in ideas and I do my best to translate them into proper tattoos. I turn away ideas that I feel are not good and that wouldn’t hold up as a nice legible tattoo for the years to come. I also pass on or turn away work that I’m not technically capable of.
I’m proud of my crew. We’re pretty tight and our tastes in tattoos and a lot of other things are (for the most part) in alignment. Great dynamic. Being so close is also what makes us different. We have the same days off and so we also often play together. At work, we review and critique each other’s projects. We like it small, only 4 (our 5th moved but occasionally sits in): no shops receptionists, assistants or managers. We deal with our clients directly. I’m not into the factory-like style tattoo shops manned with a bunch of tattooers cranking out tattoos. Nothing wrong with that but it’s not Electric Tiger. We’re more like a boutique. Highly-focused on work we believe in.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
Maybe pick up a different profession and not tattoo at all, hahaha. I’m so addicted and obsessed with it now that I don’t think it’s healthy. My poor wife has to also constantly hear about it. She’s a good sport and entertains my nonsense.
Pricing:
- $100 minimum
- $180 hourly
- Free consultations
Contact Info:
- Address: 4107 Park Blvd
San Diego, CA 92103 - Website: Electrictigertattoo.com
- Phone: 619 241 2920
- Email: info@electrictigertattoo.com
- Instagram: @arnietattoo
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/electrictigertattoo
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/electric-tiger-tattoo-san-diego-2
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