Smivee Valencia

Where did you grow up?
I moved a lot as a kid but most of my early years were spent in Southern California, Santa Barbara to be exact. But Moved later to Detroit
and Salt lake City, but lived the longest in So. Cal.

How did you get interested in tattoos and tattooing?

I think growing up in a Mexican area I first started to fall in love with all the Prison style
Tattoos on all my homies big brothers, and just all the Chicanos in general. But I would have
to say I am super lucky to have a cool older brother, Brian who was getting tattooed long before he turned 18 so
I started to watch him go through the tattoo process.. and then Skateboarding it was part of the culture. Later on
my brother and his best Friend actually owned a tattoo shop in Goleta California.

I understand you had your wonderful daughter at a very young age that put your tattooing dream on hold. Explain that:

Yes, My beautiful daughter Leah was born 16 years ago.. and I wanted to be a tattooer back then, I was a Graf head Painting Trains etc. TBH! haha and My brother owned the shop and I was getting tattooed pretty heavily, and I wanted to do it bad.. but I could not commit, instead I had to take on 2 or 3 jobs to take care of my family. I worked a printing company and 2 car washes. It was rough, but I kept drawing tattoo related stuff. Later one of my buddies SILVA got some equipment and he tattooed alot of our bros and I kept the interest going
but I had to keep working. Eventually at the print shop I became a Manager and they transferred me to New Jersey in 2000. My ex (Leahs mom) is from Jersey. Shortly after arriving and buying a home we split up, but I got custody of Leah. Part of my agreement was I could not move, so I was stuck alone in Jersey, Just Leah and I.. So I started to draw more.. and started getting tattooed by a couple guys locally. During this time the print shop was bought by FedEx Kinkos and shit was getting bad and REAL CORPORATE, so I started mulling over the idea of tattooing again.

Fortunately you started hanging around a local shop correct?

Yeah I was lucky my neighbor opened a shop right up from my house I met him at the bar he said come by and hang out, I did and started answering phones, hustling clients, doing drawings for them, all the while I was taking care of my daughter working early mornings at the print shop and working the rest of the night at the tattoo shop..hahah My daughter was at the tattoo shop more than most people!!

Luckily they later asked you to apprentice, how did that go?

It was a dream come true at first man.. The Print shop was being moved to Memphis and closing our shop down, it had gotten so corporate I had to lay off the whole place man it hurt… I wanted to be a tattooer so bad, at this point going on 15 years, so I lucked out the print shop paid me a severance for staying and closing the shop and paid me for a year.. It worked out perfect. The tattoo gods wanted It, all was going good, but unfortunately the main artist who was teaching me was the only artist there so he was always SUPER busy tattooing.. The owner was not a tattooer. He was a Mean dude, Hated customers hated tattooers, shit he hated everything, but I was not learning at all, and when The main artist Bobby G (great tattooer) moved on, it was tough, he was a great dude. but he had to go to another place him and the owner were not good together. I was left alone a lot, not his fault…but I was forced to do alot of tattoos I had no business doing. Shit I was tearing people up BIG TIME, making dough but not in a good way man. So Bobby left and it was Shawn Berhman and I. Shawn was just starting his apprenticeship. We both were kind of thrown to the wolves. But I wanted it bad, I asked all my tattooer friends for help. I tried, here is one thing I want to say.. I hear alot of guys Bad Mouthing the people who broke them in, and My good buddy Ox owner of Jinxproof in NJ says it best.. “No matter what they did or how they did it, They still gave you the chance. They opened the Magical doors for you to learn.” I owe it to Bobby, Thank you brother for opening the doors, I know you would have given me more knowledge had the situation been different.

Some time later the owner of the shop who didn’t actually tattoo wanted out?

Yeah man, They just disappeared.. Some shit was going down the owner was kind of MIA we’ll say hahaha. and Shawn and I were left with a guy ( an older NYC tattooer) and it was us 3. Eventually the owner came to me and said “do you want this shithole” exact words. I said Yeah I do.. I knew I was not anywhere in my career to buy a shop I had not earned the right man… I am a true to tattooing so I called a friend I got tattooed by alot and asked him to buy it. I brokered the deal and he bailed on me last minute. So it was either buy the shop with the extra money I had laying around and with Devon’s help (my wife) or be screwed with a wack portfolio from a shop with a bad rep. So I decided to go partners with Shawn and the other guy, and we bought it. Not before another NJ TATTOOER whom everyone knows, came along and outbid us, and I was not going to be corporate again so I put in more money and bought it. We Totally changed the shop, I mean TOTAL 180. We had to spend the next year fixing up my bad tattoos (full time job hahaha) building a new better clientele, we had to start fresh, shit even worse than fresh we had to REBUILD.

So at this point You and Shawn Berhman own this shop?

Yes its Shawn and I now own Loyalty Tattoo in Kenvil NJ. We had to get rid of the other guy, he had some issues man, and at this point I had made really good friends with GREAT tattooers, and started to really learn to tattoo. We hired Chris Civello and he is a super good tattooer very under the radar tattooer, so versatile. he taught us a lot. and I became really good friends with Eric Eaton in Philly. He taught me alot about Machines, and technical stuff, and about Life man. Sue came to work at the shop with Chris, she showed me a lot about painting. I met my Idol Mike the Spike Schweigert and started to correspond with him about machines. Finally had someone build me some good machines. I met Ox and he taught me alot about the business. It was all working out. I still had The California guys too helping me. I had Eddie Perelta (senzala) helping me alot
with drawing on the spot and the hustle, and Krooked Ken became a great friend, who was really honest with me. shit they both were about my work they kept me level headed and gave me HONEST critiques of my work. I learned alot from them all.

I understand not to long ago you made a few trips to learn under another great tattooer?

Yes, I originally went down to Tasmania to work with Pauly at Blood Lust in Launceston. They were breaking the world record for longest tattoo session it was crazy 2 days straight. while I was doing a guest spot I met a real important guy in my tattoo career, JED HILL. He was also very honest with me. I went back 2 more times, and stayed in touch with jed, I hate to say this because it sounds cheesy and he will call me a name for saying it, but He is like a Father to me in a tattoo Sense (I have a great Mom and Step dad who support me big time!)
I started to tattoo with a purpose. I wanted every tattoo to look perfect like he taught me. I did not want to let him down or the client, or the other guys I mentioned, shit or myself. But he instilled that in me. Before I would do a tattoo get a picture and think man that was awesome. he would say stuff that needed to be said.. “that sucked” but he would go further and tell me how to correct it. He is really important to me. You know he is what every new Traditional Tattooer wants to be except he doesn’t have to try he just is one. He taught me that its okay to Be a TATTOOER, as long as you are a GOOD SOLID TATTOOER.

Now your artwork looks great but I understand you just recently started painting?

Thanks man, means alot. Yes I painted trains hahah, but never on paper until recently. About 2 years ago I started with watercolor/acrylic and Sue Baldinger and Chris Civello first showed me, but eh I lost interest. I had a new baby Presley Hope who is 4 and a new wife Devon, and I spent my spare time (hardly any) with them. Until Corey Thompson came into my life.. Another guy I owe alot too. He took the time and really showed me how to paint, and worked with me, and told me what was wrong. He didn’t blow smoke, He is an amazing artist.. Like Shawn, but Shawn did not paint much either, he is now! But Screech showed me how. I still suck, but I suck a lot less. I paint a sheet a day. Thanks to my apprentice Doc Crab who is also amazing. Love that guy, he had a big part in me getting better, he motivated the shit out of me. We paint so much its insane. Also Rich Fie is a machine and a great friend. He was doing so much flash I was trying to keep up, then he asked me to be part of a great group of guys SHTC.

So your are part of SHTC ( Sledge Hammer Tattoo Crew ) explain that and what you guys do.

Its such a great thing. Its a bunch of GREAT tattooers who came together to paint flash and use the money from the flash sold to help out some of our own (fellow tattooers) who have fallen on some bad times. We have one set out now that’s ready to ship, and another one ready to go soon. I mean I am so lucky to be rubbing shoulders with these guys. LEGENDS like Pete Giquinto, Ronnie Dell’Aquila (who works at Loyalty every other Thursday)Richie Montgomery, Robert Freund, Phil Luck, Rich Fie, Schweigert, and the list goes on and on.Dave Steele, Ruben Reyes, Krooked Ken, Eddie, Brian Fusaro, Vinny, and my new great buddy John Massie, love that kid him and I have been pushing each other too. But the crew is awesome. Eric Perfect hahah sorry I just want people to know what kind of talent is in it, and what an honor it is to be doing great things with such great TATTOOERS! If you want to buy the set just message me on Facebook!!

And now you own a successful shop?

Yes, I am partners with Shawn Berhman and we own
Loyalty Ink Tattoo
760 Route 46 east
kenvil, Nj 07847

it is Shawn Berhman, myself, Scott Althen, Doc Crab, and Chris Civello a few days a week. Plus Uncle Ronnie Dell’Aquila every other Thursday and Thursdays BTW are Traditonal Thursdays, we do Traditional tattoos at Traditional Prices.. Last week was Owen Jenesen week. This week is Brooklyn Joe! So its fun, We always have guest artists coming through. Eric Eaton was just here, Eddie Senzala. we have a website its being redone because of the changes lately.

our website is http://www.loyaltyink.com give it a few days to be up to date!

Now if people want to reach you about prints, paintings or tattoos how would they do that?

You can buy any of my prints or paintings on my website
http://www.smivee.com or facebook is easy too
http://www.facebook.com/smivee

and if anyone wants to book a tattoo or have me paint them anything just message me through the website or call the shop 973-584-7337 I always appreciate people messaging or calling me.

Any last words to the readers?

Just want to say thanks to you guys for doing such a good thing and shedding light on Traditional Tattooing. I think its kind of taken a back seat lately to other styles of tattooing. No disrespect to the other styles. oh and one last thing notice lately a lot of tattooers are getting down on the Biz and getting upset and venting alot on Facebook and online etc.. Dont sweat the small stuff, just keep painting and doing solid tattoos, The rest will all work itself out. You can only control what is around you so surround yourself with good people.. I did and it has paid off. Thanks again to everyone.. and My family, they made and MAKE a lot of sacrifices for me to be succesful. My wife and kids understand what its like to be married to a tattooer its hard work too.. THANKS SO MUCH!Without my family and my clients I would just be a Fat Production Manager who lives in Memphis and is still dreaming about drawing on people!