Today we’d like to introduce you to Alfredo Cuellar
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?
Introducing Alf, the mastermind behind Alf’s Body Art Studio in Belmont Shore, Long Beach, CA.
Alf’s artistic journey began early, as he found solace and passion in doodling during school, much to the chagrin of his teachers. Growing up in the vibrant 80s, his sketchbook was adorned with pop culture icons like Bart Simpson, Super Mario, and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Immersed in skateboarding and BMX culture, Alf, accompanied by the sounds of Guns N’ Roses on his walkman, embraced a creative spirit that would shape his future.
At 17, Alf ventured into the world of tattoos with a small gecko, marking the beginning of his lifelong fascination with ink. Becoming a regular client of Gerard Kuninski from Austria, he cultivated his appreciation for the art form. Alf’s artistic journey continued as he obtained a degree in digital art, subsequently delving into the world of airbrushing. Influenced by airbrush artists Kent Lind and Terry Hill, he seamlessly incorporates airbrushing principles into his vibrant and dynamic color tattoo art.
Choosing to pursue tattooing full-time, Alf embarked on a hands-on learning experience in busy street shops, attending seminars, and participating in tattoo expos across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. His journey took a serendipitous turn when he met his future wife in Los Angeles in 2016, leading him to settle in Orange County after the birth of his son in 2018.
Today, Alf takes immense pride in unveiling Alf’s Body Art Studio, a haven for tattoo enthusiasts seeking personalized, illustrative, and colorful designs. Specializing in a diverse range from Japanese motifs to animated creations and lifelike portraits, Alf’s work reflects his profound passion for the art of tattooing. His dedication to hygiene, combined with his artistic prowess, ensures that every client leaves with a unique piece of body art to cherish for a lifetime.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
While Alf is the lead artist of the studio, Candice, his wife and co-owner, is the business mind behind the scenes. We started our journey of looking for a location literally as the pandemic began in 2020. So, obviously we had to put those plans on hold. Once we were able to look again starting in 2021, we faced many obstacles along the way, as many owners of locations throughout Orange county and even in Long Beach, were resistant to having a tattoo studio. Unfortunately, there is still a lot of bias out there amongst older generations toward body art and tattooed individuals. We had seven locations that fell through due to the owners changing their minds, business partners resisting having a tattoo studio or the city changing zoning laws after we started the permitting process. We never gave up, and our 8th and lucky location was found in the heart of Belmont Shore on 2nd Street, where Candice grew up going her entire life and had a deep love for. Even then, our contract took 8 months to negotiate as one of the neighbors also was resistant to having a tattoo studio nearby. We finally opened the studio middle of June in 2022, and have been so happy to be part of the community since. We are active members in the Belmont shore business association, and the visitors bureau of Long Beach.
One of the biggest challenges we faced so far was finding the right mix of artists to commit to being with us to help everyone grow together, and we have finally built that amazing team in the last few months. It has also been challenging as our son is autistic and it is just my wife and I that can care for him.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I grew up loving to sketch, do photography and shoot videos. I’ve always had a love of the visual creative arts, and got my degree in digital design. Once I started to get my own tattoos and hang out in a local tattoo studio in Cuernavaca, Mexico, my sketches started to become more akin to tattoo designs. I have a deep love for Japanese traditional, American traditional, neo traditional, and illustrative styles. I started to learn about each style and was really drawn to doing vibrant color and portraits. I’m really well known for my command of color blending and packing and can do most any style that requires that. A lot of people come to me for animated, pop culture and anime styles. They also come to me for portraits and Japanese influenced styles. I most proud of my curious nature that pushes me to constantly learn to improve my craft more everyday, and the good relationships I’ve built with clients through the years. What sets me apart from others is that I sincerely care about what my client is wanting to achieve by getting the tattoo design they come to me for, and I create a very safe and warm environment where they get the highest quality art in a very relaxed space, and leave happy.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
The pandemic hit right as we were looking for locations to open a studio, and having to navigate that as a tattoo artist was stressful. I learned to be very grateful for my family, and my ability to adapt once the restrictions were lifted and we opened a small private studio temporarily while looking for a bigger space. We navigated that time with Grace as a family, and provided the most safe environment we could for our clients to keep everyone healthy. I also learned how important it is to be responsible for other’s health on a whole different level than the usual safety protocols for tattooing, and my clients appreciated that. I personally learned to never take anything for granted and to just be thankful everyday for being alive.
Pricing:
- $180 shop minimum
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Alfsbodyart.com
- Instagram: Alfs.body.art.studio
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alfcuellar.art?mibextid=ZbWKwL
- Other: Tiktok: @alfsbodyartstudio
Image Credits
All photos by Alf
