Self-proclaimed to be a third-generation tattoo artist, Franco will break down his generation classification. Ed Hardy, first-generation America, second generation with Jack Rudy, and third generation with the likes of himself and other newer artists who have been tattooing long before the tattooing fanaticism occurred. The reasoning behind the protection of the mysterious taboo trade of previous generations of artists is understood with perfect sense by Franco. Some may attempt to call his thought process hypocritical, but 15 years ago Franco never went to any shop and “bugged” anyone, he took it upon himself to perfect his trade skills on his own. Franco never wanted to be in a shop until he felt he was decent enough to do work. He never felt good enough about anything in his life, including his art and tattoo art skills. Only through humility-filled hard work did Franco come to believe he was talented enough to do professional work. Unfortunately the public doesn’t know that one doesn’t have to be good to do tattoo work; one may have a nice location and appearance of being established, but the work being just plain garbage is often the true reality.
A key element in making a good name is respect. People who are coming in for the wrong reasons can’t do it. Artists recognize who’s who and who’s been putting in the work paying their dues. No overnight superstars. He remembers reading the saying, “It takes 20 years to become an overnight success.” Liars get found out, but unfortunately unlike the streets or in other industries, there’s not much punishment for the disrespectful. All the people who worked at Taco Bell and at the movie theater, who thought it would be cool to tattoo, will be back doing what they did before the tattoo craze. Industries self correct themselves. One can’t rely on a celebrity or another person to get one’s work out in public. When not ignoring fake artists, Franco is dealing with “hate gravity,” people’s natural pull toward hate or haters by trade. People hate because they think one can’t do what one does, but they want to in the worst way. The truth is a hater can do it, but they have the wrong mindset and don’t want to work hard. The haters don’t understand the amount of work that went into getting to the point of unwanted envy and most haters will never come to understand why they hate. If they did understand the amount of effort and sacrifice it took to make a name, the hater would bow down, get on their knees, and start the suction process because their minds would be blown.
Making Home, Home
Orange County was free of tattoo shop saturation at the time, a fact that has long since been altered. Franco’s mind was not concerned about this great business fact when he opened his shop doors; the man got lucky at the perfect time. Most of the family was in business for themselves, so it was not a new concept to research for Franco. Not being punctual and providing his own title of a “f*ck up” provided all the motivation needed to become his own boss. There was, however, a detail Franco needed to work out before becoming self employed, a matter of respect and honor.
Franco’s friend Sean owned the shop operating in El Toro. Franco didn’t want to scuff up anyone’s shoes, but wanted to open a place in his hometown that he could call his own. Franco threw out the idea of opening up a new spot to Sean. Franco proposed closing Sean’s place and starting up a new place together. Seven years later they are still together and moving into an even bigger place.
An atmosphere of humility, teamwork, and feelings in which one artist is not better than another artist is what one will experience at Orange Ink House. A spiritually positive environment that developed over many trials, it purged the “tough guys,” the “haters,” and the “sh*t talkers” until the shop became home to the “perfect team.” Franco and his team have taken to doing things others may not believe in, like prayer in an attempt to make a true home away from home. All strive to improve all aspects of their lives and to help one other solve the problems found behind home doors.
A Lifestyle Of Changes
Many people come by Franco’s shop and drop comments like, “He wants how much to tattoo?” People don’t realize, or care to realize, an entire shop has to be run, bills outside the shop need to be paid, a family has needs, and Uncle Sam gets broken a piece of the pastry too. Family, other shop business, events, and sanity breaks have to be scheduled in conjunction with the limited time slot Franco has to create new art pieces on clients. Most artists don’t charge certain prices because they feel they’re cool, they charge them because they have no choice. Lifestyle sets the pricing, not a feeling of desire to stick it to the client. Once Franco comes up on a million or two, the tattoo is on his tab; Franco just wants to keep creating his art.
Art may change over time, one that shadows changes in the lives of the artists. Extraction of the positive, regardless of any change in life, can only help improve an art form. Inspiration is then spread through Franco and other artists by the compilation of positive change created by an entity of artists encompassing all time periods, from Michelangelo and da Vinci, to Jack Rudy and Freddy Negrete. Joy in life for Franco’s mom was art, joy in life for Franco is art, and the way of life for Franco has been and always will be art.
Franco is thankful to “The Source,” who created that which he’s blessed to have, and his single mother who never stopped believing in his abilities, have never left his heart and soul. Motherly verbalized premonitions of her son being a “great artist” without fail encouraged Franco to keep drawing regardless of his shortcomings in other subjects, ensuring not only the great artist we see today developed, but ensuring the creation of a humble, positive, spiritual human being. Most may never understand, relate or pay attention to the story and words of Franco Vescovi, and yet a modest amount of hope remains for those with closed ears to learn at minimum the lesson of listening to another’s spoken thoughts.