Don’t Judge a Book By Its Cover: Meet the Cryptic Family

While in Los Angeles, we visited Carlos Macia’s tattoo family and met some of Los Angeles’ finest artists and collectors. These men have dedicated their bodies to collecting stunning fine line black-and-grey tattoos and their unique stories are worth tuning in to.

“I saw my dad getting tattooed in the kitchen when I was a kid. I made a machine that night and tattooed myself.” —Carlos Macias

“I had a brand new car, my own apartment. But I gave everything up to learn how to tattoo. I lived off nothing.” —Pedro Rodriguez

“I wanted to be better. I had a choice whether to give in to everything that was going to ruin me or straighten myself out.” —Sam Trevino

“Where I came from taught me how hard life could be and how you can switch it. Once you change, everything else follows.” —Mike Avena

“I got my first tattoo when I was 10 years old…One of my friends did it out of a garage with a homemade machine.” —Tattoo Louie