An Interview with Luis Carrasquillo
This month, MilspoFAN introduces you to our first ever mil-spouse tattoo artist, Luis Carrasquillo. Luis is an Air Force spouse painter who now brings his art to human canvases.
MilspoFAN: Tell us a little about yourself, your journey as a military spouse, and where you are today.
Luis: My journey as a military spouse has been a significant transition, starting from Puerto Rico and relocating to the USA for the past three years due to my wife's military service. My journey began at Langley AFB, and I recently moved to Tyndall AFB. Adapting to frequent relocations has presented both challenges and learning opportunities, especially since I am not accustomed to moving so frequently. It's been a period of adjustment and growth as I navigate the unique lifestyle of being a military spouse, embracing change, and learning to build a life in various locations.
MilspoFAN: How did you become a tattoo artist?
Luis: My journey into becoming a tattoo artist stemmed from a lifelong passion for tattoos and that from a young age I always had a natural talent for drawing. Despite this, pursuing tattoo artistry remained a private dream that I hadn't shared with anyone. However, circumstances during the pandemic granted me the time and opportunity to delve into this hidden aspiration. It was then that I took the decisive step to purchase my first tattooing machines and began practicing on myself. Utilizing online resources, particularly YouTube, became my initial and invaluable source of learning, serving as my first real teacher in honing the craft of tattoo artistry. This period allowed me to nurture my passion, transforming it from a secret dream into a reality
MilspoFAN: Describe for us your creative work and the aesthetic of your tattoo work.
Luis: I do realism and sub-realism within the black and gray spectrum, and colored cartoons. I translated images onto skin. I have to capture the essence of a picture with stunning detail and lifelike precision, bringing the clients' visions to life through tattoos.
MilspoFAN: How has your role as a military spouse impacted your work as a tattoo artist- creatively, logistically, or otherwise?
Luis: It has distinctly influenced my career as a tattoo artist, presenting a blend of advantages and challenges. On the positive side, it has offered me the opportunity to take my art to different locations, fostering a sense of adaptability and enabling me to expand my artistic horizons.
However, the transient lifestyle also presents obstacles, with each relocation, the challenge arises of rebuilding and nurturing a new client network from scratch. Establishing rapport and trust with clients takes time and effort, making it difficult to maintain a steady stream of customers when you're frequently moving.
Adaptability and resilience become key attributes in overcoming the challenges and seizing the opportunities presented by the unique circumstances of military life.
MilspoFAN: How do you cultivate your creativity?
Luis: I like to slightly distort reality. By taking elements from the world around me and altering them, I infuse my creative process with a unique perspective. It allows me to explore new dimensions and reimagine the world in innovative ways. I like to break away from conventional norms, pushing boundaries to generate fresh and original ideas. It provides me a platform to explore, experiment, and bring forth imaginative concepts.
MilspoFAN: What’s next for you?
Luis: I aim to continue crafting original tattoo pieces and creating unique ones. I'm focused on fostering growth within your social media audience, engaging with a wider audience to not only showcase my work but also establish connections and potential opportunities within the industry.
Additionally, I'm preparing my second merchandise launch, offering merchandise that embodies my artistic vision.
MilspoFAN: What is the most practical piece of advice that you would give to other artists?
Luis: Consistency, even if you feel like you are not there 100%, just keep studying, learning and growing cause the results are going to be proportional to the time that you put into it.