Meet Roswell Orellana | Tattoo Artist

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

Hi Roswell, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I’m a first-generation Mexican/Guatemalan American, born and raised in Los Angeles. As I was growing up, there was a lot of pressure with going to college and being financially successful. I was always supported by my family in my artistic pursuits, but it was never really considered a future profession by either by family or I. However, as I started investing more time into my art, I saw its potential as an actual career choice and not just a hobby. I was extremely lucky to have a family that supported me from day 1 to pursue a career in tattooing. My mom said she always knew I was going to have tattoos when I got older, as I would draw all over myself with markers and was obsessed with temporary tattoos when I was still a little kid. By the time I had graduated from college with a BA in Film, I had come out as bisexual and as a transgender man. Being openly queer and getting tattooed makes me feel more like myself with every addition of art onto my body, and helping people feel more of themselves after they get work done by me is one of the most rewarding aspects of my job and passion.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I can call myself risk-averse very easily, however, my actions the past few years have not reflected that. I took the risk of starting a tattoo apprenticeship straight out of college. I then took the risk of becoming a tattoo artist full-time and risking possible financial hardship in order to pursue an extremely gratifying career and life choice. So far, these risks have paid off, and I have not regretted a second of it. I literally could not have done any of it without the support of my family and my husband, who was the one to initially push me towards finding an apprenticeship. I regularly send photos of the tattoos I’ve done to my parents. I want to show them how much I continue to grow and that it was due to their support. Every time I do, they ask “Did the client love it?” And every time, I get to pridefully say “Yes.” As a queer trans man, I struggled a lot with finding community throughout my entire life. There were many years of feeling isolated and less than. But now in the world of tattooing, I have finally found my people. I see and meet other queer creatives who I can ask questions and talk to about something we’re both passionate about. I can learn as well as teach others. The wealth of information that I am around is never closely guarded or omitted, but instead lovingly shared because we are a community. I want to continue to push that forward by helping and advising any person who is new to the tattooing world. What is the use of my experiences and knowledge if I never share it? Anyone who walks through the door and sits in my chair and ask a question, and I answer it to my full ability. Creating art, communicating with others, and helping people feel more comfortable in their bodies are all parts of what makes tattooing special. I want to continue to bring queerness and weirdness into my art and put in on people’s bodies.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would love to bring people to as many art museums as possible. Going to the Getty Museum is a whole day event for me, and they can expect to have to take their time and go into each room in every wing. I take a lot of inspiration from classical paintings and sculptures, so every excursion to the Getty brings opportunities for artistic ideas. I’m a creature of habit, so I would definitely take them to my regular restaurants, which could differ depending on the mood for food. I love visiting local restaurants around Atwater Village and Glendale. Places like Foxy’s and The Coral Reef have enough things on the menu that someone could find at least one thing they’d like to eat.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My queer peers in tattooing are who push me to grow as an artist and tattooer. KD Diamond has pushed me countless times to further myself, and is someone I can always come to for advice in both art and life. Seeing how she conducts herself in a professional setting and how safe and comfortable she makes her clients feel is something that I aim to capture as well. Her ability to create and foster community is awe-inspiring, and inspires me to do the same.

Instagram: devilgoat

Other: Email: roswell.tattoos@gmail.com