Meet Gabriel Cancino of South Broadway

Today we’d like to introduce you to Gabriel Cancino.

Hi Gabriel, 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?
I’m originally from Lewisville, TX. Born in Santa Clarita, CA but never claimed it since I moved to Texas at young age. I first got into tattoos from seeing em on my uncle Mel. I started working the counter at a shop called Saints and Sinners in Carrollton, TX in 2008. In 2011 I got my apprenticeship under the guidance of Austin tattooer Jason Brooks. In 2014 I got my first job at a street shop called Electric 13 and there continued my education in tattooing under Paco Cendòn. After working in Austin for some years I eventually moved to Seattle, WA and worked at Mammoth Tattoo for almost two years. I was wanting more and got offered at job and Dedication, and moved to Denver in 2018 and never looked back. Denver’s been my home all these years now and I love where I work, and where I’m from.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Smooth? Sure, I had a great apprenticeship. I worked with my two best friends basically for 2.5 years. It was difficult at times sure, but I learned a ton. Jason and Ben(Siebert) taught me so much during my time at Great Wave Tattoo(ATX), I’ll never truly be able to repay them. I worked a late night bar gig until the wee hours of the morning and didn’t have a car for the longest time. So I worked a lot and didn’t sleep much back then.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I primarily do American Traditional tattooing and Japanese Traditional tattooing. I specialize in wild Texas style tattoos with bold color choices and crazy subject matter. I try not to turn down ideas if I can help it. I love drawing designs right on the skin. That’s where I shine the most I think, that and I love tattooing skulls. What sets me apart from my peers is my genuine love for the art and craft of tattooing. After all this time I’m still obsessed with every part of it. And my art is a reflection of that obsession. Artistically, what sets me apart is my use of odd color combinations and non traditional reference material(ie-comics, literature, poster art, music, and history)

Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
Never get less than 12 hours of sleep, never play cards against a guy who has the same first name as a city, and never involved with a woman with a tattoo of a dagger on her body. Nah I’m playing, just be nice to everyone that walks in the door honestly. It was such a hard lesson to learn over the years but just being nice has been the best and hardest lesson to learn. I still learn it daily.

Pricing:

• I charge $200 per hour for large scale body work(ie-sleeves, full back or torso tattoos,etc.)
• One shot tattoos are priced according to how much work, the placement, and difficulty level of the design.
• Our shop has a $100 minimum

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.dedicationtattoo.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabriel_cancino_tattoos/
• Other: https://gabrielcancinotattoos.bigcartel.com/