David Castañeda.

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✦ Styles & Signature

RealismPortraitLarge-scaleBlack & Grey

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✦ About David

Hyperreal portraits and large-scale compositions. Fourteen years of needle, three continents of guest spots, one obsession with light.

David founded Aristocratic Ink in 2024 after seven years working in private studios across Mexico City, Madrid and Brooklyn. His work moves between photo-real portraiture and large-scale narrative compositions — pieces that read like film stills when you walk past.

Reserve a session with David ▸ See David's work

01 Selected Work

David's portfolio. Recent and archive.

A rotating selection of healed photographs. Drop real images into each tile to replace the placeholders.

Featured

[ Photograph of completed half-sleeve portrait ]

Marlene, Half SleeveBlack & Grey · 18 hrs · 2025

[ Photo of astronaut tattoo, forearm ]

Astronaut, ForearmRealism · 9 hrs · 2024

[ Photo of dual portrait, chest ]

Father & SonPortrait · 14 hrs · 2024

[ Close-up of wolf eye ]

Wolf EyeRealism · 5 hrs · 2025

[ Photo of marble statue tattoo ]

Statue, ShoulderBlack & Grey · 7 hrs · 2024

Book David. Bring the idea — we'll handle the drawing.

Every booking with David starts with a free 45-minute consultation. No deposit until you've met. Average lead time is 10 wks; reserve early for weekend dates.

Reserve with David

David Castañeda.

David's portfolio. Recent and archive.

Book David. Bring the idea — we'll handle the drawing.

Tell us about your piece.