Today we’d like to introduce you to Donaré Louis Davis.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I was born in the suburbs of Colombia, Missouri and started my art journey there. I loved to draw. I even learned to draw before I could write and practiced as often as possible. When I was 8 our family moved to Los Angeles which was fast paced compared to where I was from. While in my new neighborhood, I started to perfect my craft. I had begun to paint murals, portraits and randomly design things as a teen and was getting some recognition. Although I was doing so well with my passion, I did fall into the L.A. street life. Then my senior year of high school, life for me came to a halt. I had a run in with the law at 18 which landed me in the penitentiary for 15 years. I missed out on my prom, graduation and the usual shenanigans seniors do. While in the pen my first 2 years, I started drawing portraits and making greeting cards for other inmates to support my daughter who was born while I was away. I even made portraits for some of the officers.
One day in my third year, my cell mate asked if I could give him a tattoo of his wife’s name since she was close to her death bed. I was so reluctant to do it because I had never used skin as a canvas. I told him no and over time I gave in. That tattoo was terrible! It took a long time for him to heal but his wife loved it. It brought her joy in her dwindling days. Since I had nothing but time, I decided to continue trying my hand at tattooing. I used my cell mate and random guys on my block to get better at tattooing. When I first started, I was using what we call a penitentiary machine. It was made out of a walkman motor, mechanical pencil and a guitar string. I mean we were in the pen we had to use what was available to us. I got better over time and eventually mastered that machine but I am truly amazed I did not get beat up in the process with some of the bad tats I did in the beginning.
I continued to do tattoos for the rest of my stay which helped me support my daughter while getting my G.E.D. and when I was released, I had saved up enough money to get an apartment, a car, and equipment to start doing tattoos professionally on my own. Technically I started to work as a scratcher (an artist who does tattoos out of their home until they are able to work at a shop) and landed a job with Coca Cola to help make ends meet. I eventually ended up moving back to Missouri and revisited the idea of opening a shop in Kansas City. By sheer luck, I met a wonderful guy named Mike who took me under my wing and showed me the business side of tattooing. I learned so much over that time with him while creating memorable art for customers and building relationships. I had people coming to see me from different states to get freestyle and designed tattoos. Though I was happy being in Missouri, I still didn’t feel at home. I decided to move back to Los Angeles to be closer to my family and find my own studio to run.
Moving back to Los Angeles was different this time. Missouri though slower pace helped me relax and live a little stress free. But California, it’s a beast. Not everyone can make it here or keep up. I found the perfect location in Inglewood, California close to the new Sofi Stadium and not far from where I grew up. What I love about this location is you get many people from different walks of life. Some fresh off the plane looking for fresh ink some that have been here for years who decided the want to get some art. I am blessed I get to share the meanings behind certain tattoos or designs customers want with them daily. I get to teach as well as provide an experience.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Easy is far from my experience. My beginnings have made my life more of an adventure. I’ve learned life the hard way inside and outside of incarceration and it has helped me see the joy in the little things. I tried my hand at opening a tattoo shop in Missouri which was a daunting task and failed. But learned so much along the way. Cali has made this part of my journey worth it. Tattooing gives me life. Providing someone with art that matches their vision of what beautiful is is an amazing high. I get to paint live canvases daily. Some come for small accents to enhance their beauty and others come for full stories to paint on them that show their past, future and dreams. There is not one day that passes where I have not created art on a person or on a paper canvas. I sell both body art and wall art. If I followed my passion from childhood I may have made it here much sooner but I would not have the scars or great stories behind what makes me Don.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Urban Ink Gallery – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
Urban Ink gallery is a vibe. It is a venue for people from diverse backgrounds to come and enjoy the urban experience. A quality environment, quality tattoos, and quality merchandise is what awaits you when you walk through our doors. You may find an intense chess game happening in the very front of the shop while a client waiting for their appointment may be painting a portrait to put on our ever changing wall. When your body art is finished, you can see the current art pieces that are for sale from local and international artists as well as a few I created myself.
We strive to give you a safe, relaxing experience away from the outside rigamarole. Our goal is to exceed our clients’ expectations (and our own) in our parlor and with the body art they are receiving. As Inglewood becomes the new hot spot for all things entertainment, we plan on making sure your experience or time with us is just as “fun” as any other local event you may attend in the area.
I am proud and excited that I was able to find a location in the city that is easily reachable from LAX and to be between 3 major freeways. I want this to be a place you would want to get some body art from but also to stay for the fellowshipping and connecting with new people.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Since Urban Ink Gallery is not just about body art, we do have events scheduled as soon as COVID allows. We do have art shows, paint parties, have customer appreciation nights, open mic/spoke word and so much more. We highlight new or experienced tattoo artists visiting from many different locations and since there are not many black owned tattoos shops here in Los Angeles (although we do know there are lots of black artists) I want to help as many get their shine as possible. I hope to give more artists a place to call home in Inglewood at Urban Ink Gallery.
As my Inglewood location grows, hopefully soon I will be able to take all the knowledge I have learned from this adventure and be able to duplicate this experience back in my birth state Missouri.
Contact Info:
- Address: 2631 West Manchester Blvd
Inglewood, CA 90305 - Website: Www.UrbanInkGallery.com
- Phone: 3106989247
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: Urban Ink Gallery
- Yelp: Urban Ink Gallery
Image Credit:
Don Davis and family, Mike Hayes at Ol’ Skool Tattoo
Suggest a story: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
