Meet Aaron Della Vedova | Tattooist and owner of Guru Tattoo

We had the good fortune of connecting with Aaron Della Vedova and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Aaron, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I opened Guru Tattoo‘s first location 20 years ago this November. At the time I was working alone in a private studio. I thought this was my dream! However, after working alone for a couple of years I realized the importance of being around other talented creative people. Right around this time a friend of mine, who had purchased a building to open a restaurant, ran into some problems and needed to rent it out. I took his offer as a sign to make my move and just like that, Guru Tattoo was born!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Art for me has always been about fun and as I leaned into my Tattoo career, I vowed to never lose that! I will admit that opening businesses and running them has had its challenges. I can’t say it it’s always been fun. However, it has always been fulfilling. I have learned over the years that this sense of fulfillment is the true reward. I am beyond grateful to be in a career that I truly enjoy. I am also extremely grateful to have people out there that value my art enough to sit down and go through, what is often a very challenging process, to create our art together. In that way there’s just no other art form like it out there!

As a tattooist , I am most known for surrealistic illustrative, large format, tattooing. I love having enough space to decorate the human form holistically and compose something that works with the shape of the body.

Above all, I like to be of service. To me giving someone a tattoo goes much deeper than just putting a beautiful piece of art on them. It’s about the whole experience. I do my best to make sure I am there in every way for my clients. Making sure they are comfortable feeling supported and in the hands of a true professional. Many years later it is the whole experience that they will always remember and cherish!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I lived in the San Diego area now for almost 30 years. Although I was not born here, it is definitely home! I can’t imagine, living in a more beautiful city. Not too big, not too small all the while perfectly settled in the most gorgeous landscapes!

There are so many great spots to mention I could never get to them all. However, I will list a few of my favorites.

Sunset Cliffs! I’m always amazed at how many people visit San Diego, and don’t even know where it is. Just south of another one of my favorites, Ocean Beach, Sunset Cliffs is one of the most beautiful undiscovered areas in San Diego. The cliffs above the ocean are gorgeous, and nestled between them are some of the most quiet, beautiful beaches you will find in Southern California.

Pacific Beach and Mission Bay are also amazing! With miles of boardwalk, moving down from the pier south to its winding path around the bay this is one of my favorite places to ride a bike or simply go for a walk and enjoy this breathtaking ocean landscape!

When it comes to food, San Diego is alive and well! One of my favorite restaurants is Born and Raised in Little Italy. You will be hard pressed to find a better steak in the downtown area. Try the uni pasta appetizer! It is to die for! For seafood I absolutely love Ironside, also in the beautiful little Italy District.

Another great place to spend the day is Balboa Park. Such a beautiful place it almost feels like you’re wandering through somewhere in Italy. With its great museums and beautiful landscaping this is a wonderful place to take the family and enjoy the day.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?

Above all, I would like to think Walt and Shirley Hoehn. My wife’s grandparents who loaned me the money needed to open my first location. When I think of the generation they came from, it amazes me that they had the faith and trust to invest in a tattoo shop of all things. However, that’s just the kind of people they were. They loved me and were willing to support, what must’ve seemed to them, my crazy dreams.

I also want to give a huge shout out to the author of The Four Agreements, Don Miguel Ruiz. His writings about Totec wisdom have been my Northstar throughout this journey.

I also would like to thank Mitch Horowitz for all his books but especially Cosmic Habit Force! In more recent years, I have used what I have learned in this book to propel me into new levels of success and fulfillment!

Website: Www.Gurutattoo.com

Instagram: @aarondellavedova

Facebook: Guru Tattoo

Yelp: Guru Tattoo

Youtube: Chats and Tatts

Other: Instagram @chatsandtatts @gurutattoo My wife and I also own @evolceskinspa @evolve_tattoo_removal