01/17/2026
First off thank you to my clients who put their trust in me when they sit in my chair.. I appreciate you.
Secondly I wanna address something that was said that I haven’t shook yet,
I’m new to town.. not tattooing. I’m not the apprentice just because I’m new here. I’ve been doing this for over 15 years.. and addressing me as “the apprentice” just really don’t sit well with me. Am I the best tattoo artist in the world .. no, are there new techniques that I still learn… yes. When I started this our machines still had cords, made terrifying noises, and had metals tubes to hold the needle bars…
Those machines still hang on a hook in my station like a relic from a different time.
Thirdly .. even if I was the apprentice.. let’s stop normalizing saying “if you need practice you can tattoo me” … Im good… were all good… because even apprentices have to pay for their supplies. There isn’t a free tattoo supply hand out happening. And as an artist I definitely don’t wanna tattoo you out of my pocket. The flash pieces that get posted by me ( the little just lines pieces) are because it’s slow season.. if I cut a deal on a full color piece it’s because I just really want to do that tattoo.. I either drew it, or I think it’s gonna look really cool and will be fun to do.
I appreciate all my clients, I appreciate that you want me to mark your body permanently, and if you get a piece I drew I appreciate that you like my art style.. (which just in case anyone was wondering is color.. lots of color… bright pieces, watercolor, patches, cartoons with bright colors, sparkles, sketchy splattery art… that doesn’t
mean I won’t do just lines.. I will I just prefer to do the styles I like because that’s where my passion for the art really shows)
No artist, not even the apprentices wanna work for free.. which isn’t free its money out of our pocket because we have to pay for the supplies, and if we are bored enough to just do a tattoo for no cost we have family and friends who will gladly sit down and be tribute… so lets stop saying.. you can practice on me or askin for free to you tattoos…
Thank you for coming to my TED talk.