Meet Stefan Farrera | Tattoo Artist, Illustrator, Printmaker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Stefan Farrera and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Stefan, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Out of college I was working a very unfulfilling job, and I didn’t want to work a job unless it was associated with the arts, additionally, I didn’t want to work for anyone else but myself. I’ve always been an illustrator, drawing is something that makes me very happy. A lot of people were telling me I should tattoo, and I was even drawing designs for, and hand-poking my friends. I realized it could be more lucrative and fund other creative projects of mine, so I sought out to find an apprenticeship, fully anticipating doing my training and working multiple jobs until it could pay for itself, which it did. However, my original intention was to finish my apprenticeship and take my skills back home to Austin, TX. I thought it was out of reach to own and operate a business in LA, until the right space and opportunity presented itself, then the thought process changed to how do I turn myself and this skill set into a legal functioning business? Do that, invest back in, and let it grow with time. The effort, thought, and action put in is the manifestation of a dream achieved.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Art, existence, growth, love, it’s all a process, learning by doing; I work with my hands, it’s what I know. I’ve been drawing since I was a young child, and I’m still learning and getting better. What I’m most proud of, is that my business and my projects are truly self made, my business is just me, and it hasn’t been easy. At times it feels all consuming and exhausting, and I’m still learning to divide and manage my time and energy, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. While it does take up a lot of my focus, it has been by far the most rewarding risk I’ve taken in my life, and it continues to give back, so long as I continue to give it my all. My goal was to work for myself, and to create, and I think I’ve done just that. Black Sun Tattoo is about doing it yourself, supporting the smaller artists, and being your best self, the pursuit of growth and lifelong learning. Tattoo isn’t my only art form either, ideally as my career grows it will allow me to explore other avenues for creating, namely painting and sculpting, as well as illustration for graphic novels, and clothing in the future. There are a lot of projects in the works, constantly in varying stages of completion.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
First we’d have to spend time in Little Tokyo where my shop is located, inside Space City Vintage at 339 1/2 E. 1st St. We gotta check out the shop space for sweet vintage, say hi to my friends, the other vendors, and maybe check out a punk or metal show on a weekend. From there, there’s plenty to do, get a bowl of ramen, or head down the street to Monster Patrol toys for soft vinyl cast art toys. I love monsters, and kaiju, and this place is almost a museum for this stuff. Afterwards we’d head to either arts district, to have a drink at Angel City brewery to visit my friends and have drink from their always changing selection. Alternatively, we head downtown to a favorite gallery, Hive Art Gallery, a collective art space shared by various artists, many of who are friends of mine as well. Can’t forget the Veil, and the Wolves, two of my favorite bars in DTLA, and if it’s open you gotta check out Cliftons Republic, purely for aesthetic and good absinthe. Additionally we would check out Echo Park, Silverlake, and Los Feliz which all lead into each other, for farmers markets, art galleries, and a wide variety of restaurants.
Lastly, the museums, I’m a sucker for natural history, oddities, and learning, any of the museums at exposition park are a great way to spend a few hours during the week, especially the Natural History Museum, I think it’s on par with those in NYC.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I am grateful to all the people who have supported me in choosing this career path, my family and friends who allowed me to tattoo them before I got good. I couldn’t have done this without the guidance of my mentor Allie Tyre, who encouraged and critiqued my early work, which gave me the affirmation that I was growing and developing these skills, as well as the other artists working the shop at the time.
Lastly I have to thank all my clients, those who have given their trust and flesh, they truly make this possible. Every tattoo is an experience, and an opportunity to practice this skill. I am endlessly grateful to everyone I have worked with, I wouldn’t be where I am today without them.

Instagram: @blacksunxiii