Meet Cuitlahuac Palacios A.k.a Tattoo Cuit | Tattoo Artist/Paitner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Cuitlahuac Palacios A.k.a Tattoo Cuit and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cuitlahuac Palacios, other than deciding to work for yourself, what was the single most important decision you made that contributed to your success?
Working for myself is one thing since a child that I was taught. I come from a Mexican family that is always working from mom and dad making ends meet to everyone else around me starting up a small business some prevailed and some didn’t. My family is Very cultural that I can say, go to school, graduate, get a job, have a family etc. I have always drawn from cartoon characters that I liked to magazine publications that inspired me etc. Low rider magazines always got my attention because I grew up with the culture of Mexican art , The low riders, dia de los muertos, girls, partying, graffiti, gangs, tattoos. To me it was normal seeing it, I was just clueless how big it was. So I was always fond of it. It motivated me to draw and paint what I was able to see. Then it became more when I show cased them at galleries. One of the decisions that I made and till this day have always contributed to me succeeding with my art talent is self discipline. Doing what I do isn’t just a simple act of “I’ll draw that right now” Or “I’ll do it later” or even money being involved, it’s my passion. If you do what you love, it will always come out the best. Self discipline goes along way in deciding to be working for yourself and being a boss. I’m still working on alot of projects and I travel tattooing which I tell myself it’s only the beginning.Theres no getting comfortable. i can say that theres nothing else in the world i rather be doing than art work i create for different purposes, to art work for my clients who i tattoo it on.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
first of all my career in the art world was never easy so if anyone reading this thinks that it happens over night, it doesn’t. i grew up in north east los angeles. i grew up in a environment where i was exposed to a lot and hip hop is one of the biggest influences i had since a child. i was fascinated with all medias of art from illustrations to graffiti letters, characters, blackbooks, Japanese art, fine art, to realism. i was overwhelmed with it all. so i would always wondered if it all can be tied in together. i did graffiti for a long time. i always like the creativity with letters but after a while getting caught by the cops getting tickets and then going to jail for it became an inconvenience (lol) so i looked into another way of art and that’s where i became familiar with tattooing. i had friends who had been tattooing way before me so i didn’t really consider it for the fact that i like the adrenaline of painting on the streets knowing i can possibly get caught and go to jail once again. it wasnt easy learning how to tattoo and learning the techniques i slowly developed now. some how i managed to learn how to do certain things with doing my own research and attending shows to galleries. when i was learning there was no tutorials and all this easy access that they offer on line i come from the era that you learn by actually tattooing some one whos willing to let you even tho you dont know what the hell your doing. thats who motivated me from family members to friends who knew i can draw and paint now wanted to be tattooed by me so i was determine to show i could do it. i can say that alot of people believed in me but at the same time alot doubted me so it was a bitter sweet feeling because it helped alot with the fact that i would tell myself that i was doing for myself and not others validation. i overcame alot of lessons in the beginning with the fact that i had to choose to be serious about it or not do it at all. i realized that this was some ones skin who i was marking for the rest of there life. i want to be someone who is admired for there detail and good customer service. i speak in this manner of present time because till this day i am still working on it and probably wont stop working on it. i feel like my art work has its own way of standing out because its different forms. from detail to the way i set in the tones. i try my best in all the pieces i do. it can be something simple to something very detailed and at a larger scale. i like to give my input on the work i do because i want my clients to walk away with something they are going to be proud of for the rest of there life. i want my artwork to always hold its sentimental value being the reason they decided to get it done.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
In LA there is plenty to do I wouldn’t know where to start. I would say I would take them out to eat. Mexican food !

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to thank my family for always supporting me thru out the thick and thin pf my career. My parents which whom I love dearly, my brothers and sisters. I have a lot of friends who I can also thank for the inspiration and believing as well so thank you guys for being here for me and with me till this day.

Instagram: Tattoo_Cuit