Daily Inspiration: Meet Aaron Meleros

Today we’d like to introduce you to Aaron Meleros.

Hi Aaron, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today. 
“GOT IT OUT THE MUD” I was brought to Arizona late 1991 or early 1992 from Chihuahua, Mexico. My mom had me at my great-grandfather’s house in 1989 in a small town called San Diego. 

My dad, before I was born, would make pottery. Look up “OLLAS DE MATA ORTIZ”. The process was really “FROM THE MUD”! I’ve always liked to draw. When I was younger, I used it as a way to express myself. I drew what I saw. 

At 11 years old, my dad got locked up in Sonora Mexico. My mom moved back to Mexico, my sister and I had to get used to the school system out there (completely different world). We moved in with my aunt. She had 3 kids. Her older son, Heriberto, RIP, would do tattoos. It was my first time being around tattoos. Old school Mexican family, not into that type of stuff at all. But I was really digging it!!! It really caught my attention. At times, I would trace over his stencils, just to be involved in some way. 

Maybe a little under 2 years later, my mom was arrested in a New Mexico border. 

My grandma was living in Denver, Colorado, at the time, she picked us up & we moved back to AZ. 

As I got a little older, I used my passion for drawing as a way to escape reality, but still very self-expressive. It wasn’t till my first daughter was born that I actually started tattooing. 

Tattoos back then were done by homies you kicked it with. Ones who understood your story and knew that the tattoo you were getting was TRUE. 

My homie Smiley and I tattooed each other towards the end of high school. 

At the time, I had no idea how many tattoo shops there was! Let alone TATTOO EXPOS!!! I would tattoo some homies for a few years, and whoever would let me. Gilbert Tovar from West Side Tattoos in Glendale, AZ, seen my efforts and offered me a spot to do my work at. That’s when the GAME CHANGED, and the doors to this world opened up. That’s where I first grabbed a paintbrush and picked up a new way to do ART. Hana and his wife Kta from AZ Tattoo Asylum in Phoenix gave me an opportunity to go out of state and tattoo at expos for the first time. I hadn’t been outside of my area, ever. So that was a great experience! 

Currently, I work at BloodNInk Tattoo in Tolleson, AZ. David Sanchez opened his door to me there, and I have learned a lot. 

ART has been around me always, & I will always continue to learn! 

-CON EL CORAZON- 

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and keep an eye out for what comes next! 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It’s definitely been a rough road. If the love for art is really there, then it’s going to happen regardless. 

When you start anything, it’s hard to get the ball rolling. I’m a full-time artist. For a few years, it was my “side hustle.” I would tattoo on the weekends, sometimes all night long. It’s been tough getting my calendar to fill up in order to do this full-time! I appreciate all those who trusted me when I didn’t trust myself. 

Another big obstacle is keeping up with the times. Those who know me know how hard it is for me to learn new ELECTRONIC stuff. There’s always new apps to download, new machines to use. Something new all the time, but we must keep up with it all. 

Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I draw, I tattoo, & I do acrylic paintings. I was introduced to them in that order. I specialize in our culture. Which means that the tattoos that I do are all related to family, religious beliefs, and/or where you are from. And in these 3 topics, there is so much that we can talk about. 

The one thing I am most proud of is that when random people ask me “Where do you work?” As of right now, I say, “I haven’t worked in a little over 8 years.”

I’m proud to say that I enjoy what I do for a living; therefore, I don’t call it “WORK “! 

What do you like and dislike about the city?
What I like best about my city is the pride that I see out there. My people are full of pride, respect, and hunger. What I like least about my city is that those 3 qualities can be flipped upside down to cause harm. 

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aaronmelerosart?igsh=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Image Credits
Aaron Meleros
Heriberto Gutierrez
Gilbert Tovar
Hanalei Kialoa
Kta Buathier
David Sanchez