In this episode of Chats and Tatts, Aaron Della Vedova welcomes a special guest Bill Canales who has been a significant influence in his tattooing career. Bill is a highly respected traditional Japanese-style tattoo artist known for his dedication to his craft and his focus on the art rather than seeking fame or social media recognition. They discuss work ethic, integrity, and longevity in tattooing versus tattooing from a selfish place for the sake of just great photos. Bill's 30-year career is impressive and led him to open his own shop, Full Circle Tattoo, focused on traditional Japanese tattoo art. Tune in to hear their insightful conversation.

The chat breakdown:

[00:00:00] Tattooing and its longevity.

[00:05:13] Timing and success in tattooing.

[00:07:01] The longevity of tattoos.

[00:09:54] The evolution of tattooing.

[00:13:00] Tattoo equipment evolution.

[00:16:09] Creating an identity as an artist.

[00:19:00] Amazing tattoos on skin.

[00:23:45] Learning how to tattoo.

[00:26:45] The evolution of tattooing.

[00:29:21] Tattooing becoming more competitive.

[00:31:36] Tattooing for long hours.

[00:34:07] Balancing work and family.

[00:37:24] Tattooing and work-life balance.

[00:42:19] Testing physical and mental limits.

[00:44:11] Tattooists' sustainable eating habits.

[00:47:21] The power of yoga.

[00:51:20] Horyoshi the third's one hour sessions.

[00:54:43] Philip Liu's transformative body art.

[00:56:00] Tattooing and artistic styles.

[01:00:39] The challenges of tattooing.

[01:02:36] Apprenticeships in tattooing.

[01:06:46] The value of apprenticeships.

[01:10:38] Tattooing without drawing on skin.

[01:14:30] Personality in tattooing.

[01:17:43] Nostalgia and evolving artistry. [

01:19:10] Master of dragons.

[01:23:43] Tattoo artist selection process. [

01:27:03] Loyalty in tattooing.

[01:28:20] Year of the Dragon.

Connect with Bill:

IG: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/billcanales⁠

Full Circle Tattoo: ⁠https://www.fullcircletattoos.com/⁠