Apprentices

Hello, my name is Miguel, and I’m one of the apprentices here at Devoted Ink. I was born and raised in the High Desert, and I’ve been passionate about drawing since I was a kid—so much so that my first-grade teacher once stole my sketchbook because I was too focused on it during class. I started off drawing the same cartoons over and over, and eventually became interested in drawing people. I didn’t get good at portraits until high school, as I was only self-taught. One substitute teacher, Mr. Elliott, saw potential in me and became my first client when he commissioned a portrait of his daughter. That small moment stuck with me, especially after his passing the following year.

After graduating in 2014, I started community college and quickly realized I had a lot to learn, especially in portraits. Surrounded by more advanced artists, I chose to push myself. Whether it was drawing, sculpture, or painting, I gave every assignment my full effort. With drawing, I still feel self-taught, but what made me grow in college was practice and dedication. Over the next three years, I saw steady growth and graduated in 2017 with associate's degrees in Fine Arts and Computer Science.

I planned to transfer for my bachelor's, but life took a turn. I used my savings to help my family when we were without a home, and school had to wait. I kept creating and created a small art commission business with my best friend, eventually running it solo and completing hundreds of pieces. It was fulfilling work, but financially unstable, and when COVID hit, everything came to a halt.

After some tough years and big life changes, I eventually settled in Temecula. I continued doing portraits on the side, but I took a job at a pizza shop to get by, commuting to work on my bike and trying to find a new path forward. In 2023, a friend encouraged me to apply for a tattoo apprenticeship. I reached out to Devoted Ink and was given the opportunity to join the team.

Now I’m back in an environment where I’m learning, growing, and surrounded by incredible artists. Tattooing is a new medium for me, but the dedication and passion are the same. One day, I hope to develop the skill to create portraits with the same level of detail as my drawings. I’m grateful to be here and excited for this next chapter.