Conversations with Azael Morales

Today we’d like to introduce you to Azael Morales

Hi Azael, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born in Torrence, CA and lived all over southern CA moving from city to city for what seemed the first 10 years of my life until we Moved to Las Vegas. I’ve been drawing and writing on things for as long as I can remember.
I always did good in my art classes (terrible academically) until I got to high school and failed art class, so I started doing graffiti in my note book and eventually abandoned houses around in North Las Vegas until I got caught up by school police and starting painting graffiti on models In hopes of getting into “Shriiimp magazine” that dream never manifested itself along with a failed tattoo apprenticeship in my teen years which led me to partying, throwing parties and eventually Dj’ing those party.
Throwing house parties in Vegas as a teenager prepared me for the next chapter in my life which was becoming a resident dj in Downtown Las Vegas for the next 10 years. I had to learn to make my own flyers which rekindled that love of art I had sleeping inside of me. Thanks to the opportunities and people I met, I was asked to Dj EDC in 2017 and again in 2018 at Camp EDC.
I spent the next few years dj’ing and creating flyers and logos for various venues and parties in LA and LV.
Then when the pandemic hit in 2019 all dj’s in Vegas were left out of work and with no unemployment benefits that’s when I decided to make my back to art and double down on my graphic design. Unfortunately no one needed flyers during a pandemic or very much graphic work. Until
one day I get message from my good friend and now Mentor Luis Vasquez @luiisssss__ a popular Vegas tattoo artist letting me know he had an opening soon, I booked the appointment and a few days after being tattooed by him I asked him if he would teach me the art of tattooing and let me apprentice him.
Not long after that I moved to Downtown Los Angeles and started House Of Dons Tattoo and Design @houseofdonstattoo
I now tattoo out of Collectiv (@collectivla_) headquarters where I do graphic design work in Commerce.

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?
Between back surgeries, broken bones, the pandemic, health problem, failed relationships, failed business ventures, no money for food, sleeping on the floor, couch surfing and everything in-between it has most definitely been a hard but life can always get harder if you don’t appreciate where you are and what you have. If there’s one thing I’ve learned being a business owner/dj is that it can be busy one day and gone tomorrow.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a tattoo artist, graphic designer and Dj.
I specialize in black and grey stipple tattoos, event flyers and logo design, and open format djing is my forte.
I can’t really say what sets me apart from others, I haven’t asked really that before.

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Don’t be afraid to talk to anyone who will listen. Even just a smile or hello goes a long way.
It never hurts to ask, no is only a word.
Networking is single handedly the most important aspect of my careers even more than the art and music itself. You can’t get booked if no one knows you’re an artist or musician.
Everyone has something to teach you whether it be good or bad.

Pricing:

• $75 an hour tattooing
• $150 a flyer (starting price)
• $400 dj starting price

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/houseofdonstattoo and https://www.instagram.com/_donsucio

Image Credits
Photos by Alberto Gonzalez (Alpha) and Carlos Laurent (Tigger)