From sleeping in my car to winning 5 awards at Villain Arts In 2020 I was a graphic designer in Portland, Oregon. I didn’t like my job and felt like something was missing. One bad day at work (and one call from a friend) pushed me to make the scariest decision of my life: sell everything I owned, buy a beat-up 2005 van, and drive across the country to New York to start over as a tattoo apprentice—at 31 years old. I lost friends, relationships, money, and my security. That first year I crashed on couches, slept in my car, worked every single day, and poured everything I had into learning as quickly as I could. There were moments when the shop had no business, when I was injured and couldn’t work, when I was sick, broke, my car getting robbed 4 times in 3 months. I was unsure if I’d made the right choice. I’ll never forget being buried in a blizzard with a burning COVID fever and digging myself out of that van. It was rough but I felt soo fulfilled. Every client who sat in my chair helped me improve and get one step closer. With each tattoo, I saved up for better machines, better inks, better seminars. Slowly, I started producing work I could be proud of. Slowly, I started seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. It wasn’t a straight line but I could see progress despite feeling like some days I wasn’t progressing. This weekend at the Meadowlands Villain Arts Festival, I placed across 5 categories. I got awards in 3rd best traditional, 3rd best lettering, 3rd best black and grey realism, 3rd Tatttoo of the day black and grey, and 2nd tattoo of the day color! Awards aren’t the goal—it’s always about the work—but this moment is symbolic to me. It tells me that the years of sacrifice, struggle, and stubborn belief were worth it. I want to thank everyone who supported my efforts: my clients (especially @cantjob Ray—you sat like a rock and believed in the process) you’re always a man of your word and I really appreciate that, my shop @rebelinktattoo_ridgewood and @rebel_ink_tattoo , and all the people who gave me advice or encouragement along the way. If this journey has taught me anything in this city, grit and determination will get you everything you want!
