Today we’d like to introduce you to Daniel JJ Vasquez.
Daniel, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I was born here in Chicago, but moved to Spain, where I was raised, when I was three years old. I grew up very religious, both of my parents were Christian missionaries and I attended a Christian school for the primary years of education. I was encouraged to create art, both my parents being an artist, but I was extremely discouraged to create the art that I wanted to, it was often found “too dark” or “disturbing.” This did not stop me. In my teen years, I got heavily involved with the hardcore music scene, playing in many bands. Surrounding myself with peers with similar interest allowed me to delve into my creativity and soon I became fascinated with tattoos. I started reading up on it and at 16, began tattooing myself and soon my friends, all out of the comfort of my grandmother’s house. When I was 18, I was approached at a concert to apprentice at a shop, Inferno Tattoo. There is where I learned technique and skill and grew as a tattooer. I was at Inferno for five years, until I moved to Chicago at 23. During the time, have done tattoo guest spots in shops all over the United States and Europe, and currently am part of a crew of young tattooers with similar styles and a drive for dark art.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I have two kinds of art, I have the magical fantasy pieces that are dark and cool to look at because let’s be real, not everything can have a meaning, but often my art is very conceptual and very emotional. It is a process of self-discovery, not just with myself, but with my clients. I want to open people up to a feeling and work with and through those feelings. My tattoos are tangible emotions. Often times, clients will come to me with a memory or a feeling and I work with them to create an image or symbol to let go of the weight of a burden or to embrace the memory.
My personal works often display figurative illustrations of me losing my religion – the death of my youth and the death of my gods. I use masks as a way to display the feeling of being trapped or hiding behind a smile when there are turmoil and sadness inside.
How do you think about success, as an artist, and what do quality do you feel is most helpful?
As an artist, I define success as freedom. To be free to create and to be whoever I want to be, look however I want to look and to make a living off something that I love. The most essential characteristic to success as an artist is a drive, pushing no matter what people say because there will always be someone to doubt you. You have to believe in yourself and use that energy to keep going and push your own limits.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
You can find my work through Instagram – @theplasticcrown.
I am currently in the works of creating an online store for prints and merch and also plan to contribute to art galleries and shows in Chicago, Minneapolis, and eventually across the country.
People can support my work by following me on Instagram, purchasing prints (once my shop is set up) and of course, getting tattooed!
Contact Info:
- Address: Metamorph Tattoo
1456 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Chicago, IL - Email: danichicagotattoo@gmail.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/theplasticcrown
- Facebook: facebook.com/theplasticcrown
Image Credit:
Dani JJ Vasquez
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