I had the opportunity to have a sit down with the man himself, Isaac Roman, a tattoo artist. Here’s a little quick introduction and the Q&A. Enjoy!
“Well, my name is Isaac Roman. I’m 27 years old. I’m a tattoo artist based in Ventura County. I’ve been into art for as long as I can remember. All of my family members have an artistic side to them so it came naturally. I would always draw as a kid and eventually got into graffiti when I was in the 7th grade. I always knew I was going to make a living off of art I just didn’t know how or what type of art I would be doing. I’ve always been a fast learner so when I started taking interest in tattooing I knew that if I dedicated all my time, I would be somewhat of a good artist. At the age of 20 my girlfriend bought me a tattoo starter kit for Christmas. And ever since then I haven’t stopped learning and growing as an artist. I’m truly grateful for all the success I’ve had in my career. My inspiration is my family because the harder I work the easier it is to create a better life for them. My goal is to be the best teacher that I can be and to pass along all the knowledge that I’ve acquired to people with the same work ethic and dedication that I have.”
Where are you from? I was born and raised in Oxnard, California, in a small town called El Rio.
How long have you been tattooing? Picked up a machine 7 years ago but didn’t take it seriously till I asked for an apprenticeship which I finished 4 years ago.
What are you up to now? I’m expecting my third child who is due next month so we’re prepping for that. I just hired a new apprentice, as well. We’ll be working on bigger and better projects so stay tuned.
What does a normal day look like for you? Wake up at 6:30am get my kids ready for the day/school. I tattoo from 9:30am til 8pm. Draw, design, manage, plan, set goals, til 1:30am. Sleep and wake up to do it all over again.
What made you want to be a tattoo artist? I took an interest in tattooing after being tattooed for the first time. It opened my eyes to another art craft that I knew I would like to learn. I also knew I wanted to be heavily tattooed and working as a tattoo artist would allow me to do so.
Who’s part of your team at the shop? My partner, Rick Reyes, our apprentices Issic Cortes and Martin Garcia. Shout out to @adixion_brand who recently joined the family.
When did you get your first tattoo? I got my first tattoo when I was 18. I got my mom’s name tattooed on my chest. I knew I wanted more tattoos so I got her name first to break the ice. I haven’t stopped getting tattooed ever since.
What is/are your favorite type(s) of tattoo to do? Anything black and grey realism. I love seeing the tattoo come to life and look exactly, if not better, than the photo reference.
What is the craziest tattoo you have every done? Or most awkward? I tattooed an astronaut dog on 2 guys’ butt cheeks. It was during a snowboarding trip to Colorado at a tattoo shop where I guest spotted. I don’t really want to talk more about it haha.
What part of the body is the hardest to tattoo on? The chest and stomach. You have to position yourself in a way that can get uncomfortable and/or stand up to reach different areas of the chest. But either way the back pain starts to emerge.
Who has put a big influence on your life? My lady, she helps guide me to a healthier/better life style and is always supportive and has been with me through everything.
What wakes you up in the morning? My kids. They wake up around 6 or 7am. There’s no snooze button on them.
What would you say is the number one key to your success? My work ethic. The love for my art and knowing I can never stop learning/growing keeps me motivated.
What would you say to those who are interested in starting up tattooing? Draw everyday. Watch youtube videos on drawing and tattooing skills. Ask for an apprenticeship with an artist you really look up to. If they say no, ask if you can sit in while they’re tattooing and ask for tips/advice for what you should be working on. Just work on it every day and make it happen.
Isaac is the true definition of a man who lets his art and tattoos do the talking. All he shows off is his work. He is a very humble guy and it shows. His hard work and dedication has brought him to point in his life where others has asked him to be a mentor. He is not only gifted artistically, but gifted as a person overall. Hit him up if you have any ideas or art you would love to display to make it come to life. Follow his social media!
Insta: isaac_roman
Website: isaacromanart.com
You can also grab his sick merch as well. All hand drawn by the man himself.
Rapid Fire:
-Go to snack? Coconut clusters from Costco
-Favorite hobby? Working. Drawing / designing new merchandise.
-A celeb you like to tatt up? Drake, because of his skin tone and I am a fan of his music. Plus he’s one the biggest celebrities.
-Favorite food? Anything Mexican
-Favorite shoes? Chuck Taylors, Nike Cortez.
-Favorite artist? Rembrandt’s paintings and Bernini’s statues. I have too many to just name one.
Canon 5D MIII | 50mm 1.8
Glimpse Life 