“After over a decade of tattooing, Danny has learned that being a tattoo artist is more than just being a man with a needle…”
A Day Behind the Needle of a Tattoo Artist
ABOUT MY PHOTO ESSAY
by Raymond Pierucci
Danny Pando has been a tattoo artist for 15 years. He recently set up shop in Arlington, TX with his business partner, Javier Tamez.
Originally from West Texas, Danny was drummer in a metal band before becoming a tattoo artist. Prior to moving his business to Arlington, he worked in Denton. He is now an award-winning artist who has traveled across the country to showcase his skills at conventions while continually working to perfect his craft.
After over a decade of tattooing, Danny has learned that being a tattoo artist is more than just being a man with a needle. He takes the time to educate his clients to make sure they know what they are getting into, and he always wants what is best for them. He has taken risks for his business to become a better artist, such as changing his schedule to prioritize more of his time on drawing designs in advance. He has also raised his rates to reflect his expertise, telling himself that he would only lose the business he did not want. In the end, he believes, prioritizing his time to improve his artistic skills will be beneficial to his clients.
Meet Raymond Pierucci
Raymond Pierucci attends the University of Texas at Arlington, majoring in Journalism and minoring in Public Relations. He previously attended Mountain View College for two years, where he played on the baseball team and received his associate’s degree.
In addition to his studies and athletics, Raymond has worked as a communications intern for Volunteers of America Texas, supporting the organization with social media campaigns, newsletters, and media relations.
After graduation, Raymond intends to pursue a career in baseball, and during the off-season, he plans on establishing himself as a writer. His hobbies include watching and playing sports, outdoor adventures, and reading novels.
About AMA+UTA CreateCollab
Since the Fall 2022 semester, the Arlington Museum of Art has partnered with The University of Texas at Arlington and a senior-level digital storytelling class to explore a wide variety of contemporary themes inspired by the museum’s mission, values, and exhibitions.
Class projects include photo essays, one-minute documentaries, and brief audio stories.
Associate Professor of Communication Erika Pribanic-Smith teaches the class. She values opportunities to bring real-world experiences to her students.
“My goal is to give my students real-world experience in all of my classes, creating real stories using real sources,” said Dr. Pribanic-Smith. “Creating stories that will be published for the public to see, not just submitted for a grade, gives students extra incentive to put forth their best effort. Furthermore, working with professionals gives the students another layer of feedback to re-enforce what they’re learning in the classroom. I prefer to work with organizations like the Arlington Museum of Art who will benefit in some way from the students’ content so that we are providing a service to the community.”
