Meet Michael “yves” Padilla | Tattoo Artist/Digital Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Michael “yves” Padilla and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Michael “Yves”, what do you attribute your success to?
The most important factor behind my current success would have to be a true focus on the process. Eliminating all external distractions, just understanding and focusing on the process itself and enjoying it every single day. The phrase that represents this perfectly is “chopping wood and carrying water”. Because I believe that greatness isn’t meant for a few chosen people, it’s meant for those who persistently pursue their dreams everyday and make that choice when they wake up. Focusing on doing the daily work and progression and being proud that progress regardless if others see it or not. Making a choice to do the little things right until you can’t get them wrong instead of stopping once you get them right. Once I chose to love the walk and the hardship more than the final destination then that’s when I finally started seeing my success flourish and go into the direction of where I dreamed it would.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
American tattoo culture has always been tough, thick and dark lines, and that’s never resonated with me. I developed a liking to delicacy and finer lines throughout my career. Finding my footing to display fine line with a heavy influence from eastern Europe to created something no one is accustomed to in the US. I’m most excited about my growth this year as I grow my community and skills. I got here from just consistently making the decision to put my art first above all other activities. Striving to be perfect only comes from perfect practice and consistently being your biggest critic and having an open and free flowing mind. It is never easy to fall in love with the boring tasks but you can achieve anything but taking the time to train and hone in on what is important. Something that was a harsh lesson was to never think you’re in competition with other people, but you are in competition with yourself. I struggled with comparing myself to others and it killed my passion for a small portion of time. I want everyone to know that you can achieve anything you want regardless of what people say. I would never take criticism from someone I wouldn’t take advice from. I feel like I’m very early in my career but I would like everyone to know that I only got here from consistency. You must apply discipline but more importantly consistency, because without commitment you’ll never start and without consistency, you’ll never finish.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would take them to the Fort Worth botanical garden and the Dallas Arboretum, some very underrated places to explore and enjoy some of the metroplex’s hidden gems that most don’t appreciate. Definitely take them to Birriera y Taqueria Cortez because I am bias but we have very underrated Mexican food and would love if Dallas got recognition for their Mexican food. For bar drinks my favourite would have to be Taverna Rossa because not only is their pizza amazing but their cocktails and numerous draft choices can’t be beaten. And for another small addiction I have, Sweet Saigon, is the best sugar cane place I have ever tasted! Lastly, whether you like baseball or not, going to a Texas Rangers game is always so fun because of the warm and involved crowd but their fans are always loud and exciting!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would love to give credit a couple of people, first my best friend, Vy ,@vy.tats, because whenever I had started my choice to become a tattoo artist she followed my art account and always supported me, even when we had never met each other before. Then we went through our apprenticeship together, gone through all the rough patches and growing pains of being new and aspiring artists together. She always gave me the criticism that I needed to hear than wanted to hear. From struggling together to where we are now, she’s been the little sister that always pushes me and inspires me to be creative and take leaps of faith in my career. Next is my father, as cliche as it sounds my dad is my superhero and my role model as a man. He wakes up early everyday whether he’s tired, hungry, upset he finds it in himself to do everything to the best of his ability. He never complains whenever he has a lot to do. I’ve seen my father at very low times but I have never seen him give up on us or call it a day. He shows up everyday to be a man, a father, a support system , and an example to those around him on how to stay driven and focused on their goals. I always look towards him with such admiration because he truly is someone to I’ll always look up to. And lastly Yukler, @yukler_boo, I followed her on Instagram back in 2018 and ever since then she has formed my vision of what true artistry is, from her freehanded work to posting about nature. She has fallen in love with her drawings and has confidently displays it every post that I see and I would love to be able to demonstrate my love in a similar fashion.

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