Check Out Devin’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Devin.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My name is Devin Mena, and I’m a tattoo artist based in Orange County with 16 years of experience under my belt.

My dad was, and always will be the most talented artist I’ve ever known. Even now, knowing all these amazing artists in my field, he still just remains at the peak of what I thought an artist should be. He passed before he ever got to see me turn that same love for art into a career, and I’d hope he’d be really proud of what I’ve done with this talent. My mom’s also incredibly creative and crafty, so I guess I never really stood a chance, I’d be an artist whether I wanted to be or not.

It all started with Sharpies. I’d draw sleeves and back pieces on myself and my friends just for fun. Eventually, I got pretty good at it, and eventually, people were asking me to do it professionally. Body art shows, Bacardi events, even Coachella. That’s when I realized art could actually take me somewhere.

I dropped out of high school my sophomore year and bounced around random jobs until I landed at Starbucks, working the 4 a.m. to noon shift. I was that guy who’d get carried away with the chalkboard signs for new drinks, turning their new “dark cherry mocha” into some wild illustrative design. One day, my district manager noticed and asked if I’d do the boards for all her stores and she’d put me on the clock. I probably spent way too long on them, but they came out pretty awesome.

For one of my birthdays, my coworkers surprised me with a tattoo magazine filled with handwritten notes and some cash tucked inside to buy my first tattoo kit. Around that same time, a regular customer who happened to own a tattoo shop asked who was doing all the chalkboard art. When they told her it was me, she asked if I’d ever wanted to learn to tattoo. I’d been trying to get into shops for a while, but back then, no one wanted to take on new artists. So when she offered me an apprenticeship, I jumped at it.

For two years, I worked 4 a.m. to noon at Starbucks, then apprenticed at the shop from noon to 8 p.m. Eventually, I landed at a shop in Norco, where I took my first walk-in client. I was so nervous I’d get stomachaches before every tattoo that first year but over time, I found my groove.

My next move was Laguna Tattoo in Laguna Beach CA. That place was everything to me, a dream come true. A street shop across from the ocean, working alongside some of my heroes, surrounded by real deal tattooers. I learned more there than anywhere else and became who I am today because of that shop. I spent ten incredible years there, building a name for myself as one of the go to fine-line artists in the area. I even picked up a few awards along the way, but more than anything, I just felt grateful for what tattooing had given me and the life it allowed me to build.

After that, I got an offer to work at Vatican Studios. Honestly, I couldn’t believe it. The artists there were heavy hitter big names I looked up to and I never saw myself at that level. But I took the leap, joined the team, and kept pushing myself to grow.

Now, I’m still creating, still learning, and still letting the universe lead the way. I don’t know exactly what’s next, but I’m keeping my eyes and ears open for whatever opportunities come my way.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Anyone who has been tattooing longer than 10 years knows how difficult and beautiful it used to be back then. Besides the whole getting a foot in the door aspect of it, which at the time seemed impossible for me. You had to have a good amount of tattoos for anyone to take you seriously back then, and I got covered pretty quickly. And honestly learned the most from those years on what I would like to apply to my work or what I wouldn’t. So many late night drawing sessions, long nights at the shop trying to finish that sleeve, just to get home at 2am and wake up and drive right back, I when I first started in Laguna, I was commuting from the inland empire (little over an hour away) every day back and forth because I loved the shop and it was worth it to me.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I started out as most artists did back in the day, as a more “traditional” Tattooer. Who focuses on bold lines, dark shading, and solid color. I didn’t really have a tattoo style at that time. And I believe that style is the foundation for any good tattoo. Structure. And i owe my execution of the style that I do now to traditional. I specialize in more fine-line tattooing now, botanicals, animal portraits, script, and realism. Without that traditional background I doubt my lines would be as “perfect” as they are now. Or as close to that as I can hope to achieve.

As far as what I’m most proud of? I’ve basically been on my own and pushing forward since I was a 14. Hopping from friends couches to friends floors to the streets. And everything that I have today I’ve really had to work for, nothing was handed to me. I don’t have wealthy parents, we were living on food stamps at a point. I didnt have any security net to fall back on if I failed. And I really put all my eggs into the whole tattooing basket. But I’m grateful for the struggle cause it really makes you appreciate every little thing so much more cause you worked for it. And I wouldn’t change a thing.

What do you like and dislike about the city?
You can’t beat the view. When I first started working in Laguna, I would walk to this little balcony that’s tucked away, everyday before work, where tourists go to take photos of the sunsets. And I’d soak it in with a deep breath.
And I couldn’t believe that I worked here. It was a dream come true, as this kid from riverside living on couches and floors to living out my dream tattooing on the beach. It was just insane to me, even now typing this makes me feel warm inside and I can remember that exact feeling.

What do I like least? Hm. Traffic in the summer? Rude tourists? There really isn’t much to complain about the city itself for me. I’d say I’m pretty content

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Devinmenatattoos.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/devinmenatattoos?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr