Meet Gabriel D’elia | Tattoo Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Gabriel D’elia and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Gabriel, Let’s talk about principles and values – what matters to you most?
Discipline. I think discipline is the biggest form of self love and the engine that allows any creative to get from point A to point B. Without the discipline that creates consistency, it is very difficult to achieve anything.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am most proud of how much I’ve learned over the years creatively and as a freelancer. I am self taught and when I decided to pursue a creative career I had no idea how to monetize my work to be able to transition to a full-time artist. At this point I was spray painting in tunnels and train tracks. My style wasn’t even fully developed. I started out in comics, which quickly lead me to live painting, followed by murals, art installations, and gallery shows. At this time I was living in New York and had to keep pivoting to different types of freelance jobs that would help me keep building my skills and clientele so I started doing graphic design for different companies, while still doing the other freelance gigs mentioned. So every week was different. And eventually I started tattooing in my basement studio in Brooklyn.

It was incredibly difficult doing this full-time because you feel like if you take a break your expenses will catch up with you. Especially in NY. So I did not have the best work life balance.

You have to be your biggest believer, disciplined, and honest about where you are at and how you can improve. There are always skills to develop and sharpen.

I feel I started my creative pursuit rather late at 26 years old. I would like the world to know that it’s never too late you just have to start somewhere and no matter what I’ll never stop. about 10 years ago It never occurred to me that I’d be living on the west coast tattooing. I didn’t even have tattoos or know any tattoo artists.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Coming from the east coast we’d have to hit up as many beaches as we can and all the taco spots. L.A. has a great restaurants with so much variety. From villas tacos in Highland park to Pine and Crane in Silver lake. This is only my 2nd year here so I know I have much more to see as California is huge and one of the most states.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Anna Williams!

Instagram: https://gabriel.delia.tattoo

Image Credits
All my images