We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Daniel Zorrilla . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Daniel below.
Alright, Daniel thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?
At first I thought I’d be an animator or comic book artist, I never thought about tattooing as a career path. In fact before I left for the marine corps three days after graduating I was asked by a shop owner if I wanted to learn the art of tattooing, l looked around and said no I’m good. But while I was over seas in Okinawa I did my first tattoo and I never looked back from there, I fell in love with the art form immediately. Of all art careers I could peruse it offered the most freedom, in my art work and lifestyle. I don’t think I would have Changed anything, I learned at the perfect place with the perfect people, I was blessed to have that experience.
Daniel , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I joined the marine corps when I was 17, while I was in I started to get request for commission art pieces, everything from tattoo designs to family portraits. I started to make more income from my art than I was my military paycheck. When I got out all I wanted to do was my art work and that is all I’ve ever done since 1999. I went to the Art school of Glassel in 2000, 2001, and 2002 for painting, I applied what I learned to all aspects of art work I was practicing including tattooing. I learned the art of tattooing in Okinawa while I was stationed there and was professionally apprenticed in Los Angeles California before I came back to Houston Texas in the year 2000. I’ve worked at various tattoo studios including Scorpion Studios and Sacred heart studio before I went on my own in 2008, I have been a private artist ever since. Now I work out of a private studio at Sawyer Yards.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
For me I’d have to say freedom. Free to pick my times to work or be off, free to live my lifestyle without conforming to a corporate lifestyle. Free to pick what art or designs I choose to take on. Freedom in life is quite possibly the most rewarding aspect of being a creative.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
When first starting out it was not always easy, I had to work hard to have my clients that I have today. There were many seasons that I struggled to just make enough to pay bills and get food, but I always in the end made it. I remember the first few years out of the service I had the ramen noodle diet, there was a time I was even homeless. But in California it was easy to be homeless, I never gave up though and always looked to the light ahead. God is great and has always been there for me, yes I’ve struggled but it has only made me stronger.
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