Today we’d like to introduce you to Gloria Centurion.
Gloria, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I am a tattoo artist based in SoCal. I specialize in black and gray and color realism. I am currently working out of Downtown Tattoo in Oxnard, CA and I’ve been tattooing since 2014.
I had always been attracted to art, but it wasn’t until my adolescent years where it really started to peer through. I began to take more interest in increasing my skill, and once I reached my early twenties, I signed up for art classes at my community college. It wasn’t until then that I really started to consider art as a career path for myself. I began to meet tattoo artists who were working amazing things into skin and I began to get tattooed myself. This exposed me to the business of tattoos, and I saw the opportunity in the industry.
After much encouragement from my husband, I took an apprenticeship at a well-known tattoo studio in our city and began the journey of learning skills and techniques from some of the best artists in the county. After one year of apprenticeship, I decided to venture on my own and try out my knowledge. Fast forward six years and I work full time around inspiring artists who share all they know.
Has it been a smooth road?
Coming into the tattoo industry was not an easy road. It is a difficult learning curve and an unforgiving medium, which requires a lot of determination on an individual level. It can take years to really finely tune your skill in the medium and you have life long reminders of your failures.
On a personal level, there were difficulties, however my partner has always been very supportive and has been willing to bear the sacrifices of building my dream. My son was three years old when I began my apprenticeship and it was difficult to balance the financial burdens as well as quality time spent as a family. This only fueled and encouraged my own determination to persevere through the difficult times and to make sure that I not fail. It was a difficult time but we got through it all stronger.
The industry itself also had its share of difficulties.as a female, its a difficult road trying to earn your stripes in a male-dominated industry, but along the way I have met incredible artists both male and female who have helped me along, and who have shared some of their knowledge with me to help me become a more well-rounded artist.
Please tell us more about your art.
I am an artist! By profession I am a tattoo artist, however I am also a fine artist and painter, as well as a muralist. Tattoos are what I mainly focus on. Mainly black and gray realism, as well as color realism tattoos. I dabble in different styles, however I have always strive to create unique designs that can catch the eye and impress the viewer.
I really enjoy pushing for more innovative and unique designs that can set its owner apart from the rest and even though my style can change as time goes on, I feel like trying different things to move art in a progressive direction.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I think Los Angeles provides with more than enough ground to grow as an artist. There is inspiration around every corner, and there are so many different kinds of people that you can’t help but open yourself to different things and ways of being and cultures.
Tattoos have been taboo for a long time, but I think in the last few years, tattoos have become more approachable by many different people of many types of backgrounds. This creates such an enormous demand that an artist would have enough clientele to develop themselves into a skillful and respectable artist.
Pricing:
- I charge based on an hourly rate of $150/hr
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/centurionart/
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