Wyze Guyz Tattoo Parlor’s owner, Omar Macias, subscribes to one philosophy when it comes to tattooing: Authenticity.
“We really don’t get any images from the net. That’s what we call ‘Google artists’,” he said. “If you show us a picture, we’ll use the concept, or we’ll help you develop a concept, but we use our own creativity and artistry to create the tattoo.”
The shop, which includes 7 artists, an apprentice and a barber, has been open for 2 and half years. Since that time, Macias has also been hitting the European tattoo circuit hard. He got picked up by the clothing line Unauthorized Ink, who sponsors him to take his unique West Coast/Chuco style and know-how to some of the continent’s premier tattoo conventions. He and a handful of domestic and European tattoo artists have since opened a studio in Dortman Germany.
“There are a lot of amazing artists in Europe and we’ve encountered a lot of talent there,” he said.
He credits the influence he’s absorbed while in Europe with some of the styles he and other artists at Wyze Guyz do, including Renaissance and Greek mythology. He also specializes in photo realism and portraits.
Just by checking out some of his work on Instagram (@omar_macias_tat2), you get the idea of just how hyper realistic his artistry is.
“That’s what it boils down to—we’re artists first,” he said. “You can have the best tools, but if they’re in the wrong hands, you get a shitty piece.”
He also credits his more than 20 years of tattooing, along with some pretty humble beginnings, for his innovative style and determination to create his best work in all the pieces he does.
“I learned the old school way, with a homemade machine and guitar string,” he said. “A lot of the shops now . . . don’t have any knowledge of that type of scene, the underground scene. They were born with a silver spoon in their mouths. I think somebody who came up with those types of roots has a little more appreciation for the movement.”
He does tout the benefits of the state-of-the-art tools available to artists today, but still lauds the artists’ innate talent as the true determiner of good work.
That talent has garnered him and his team multiple awards here in the U.S. and abroad. Their ability to create any type of tattoo is pretty much limitless, evident by awards like Best Black and Gray, Best Chest Plate and Best of Shows.
Macias regularly attends the Golden State Tattoo Expo, Musink, the Body Art Expo and Dortmund, Germany Tattoo Con, among others.
Macias stressed the importance of people being willing to throw down a decent amount of money in exchange for a superior product. He’s adopted the “you get what you pay for” mentality in terms of the service he provides.
“I’ve had some people say ‘you guys do badass work but it looks expensive,’” Macias said. “If it looks expensive you know you’re going to get good work. You’re getting a piece of art on your body; you die with it.”
Wyze Guyz Tattoo Parlor, 3012 Lee Trevino Dr., El Paso, TX
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