What got you interested in tattooing:

When I was about eight or nine years old is when I decided I wanted to be an artist when I grew up.  I always thought that painters and teachers were typically a little nuts, so I decided I wanted to tattoo. Growing up, that idea was shot down for me left and right because “my skin would be ugly, I’d never make money, I could never survive tattooing.” So i decided that I would graduate early and find an apprenticeship somewhere and prove everyone wrong. I moved on my own when I was sixteen and I worked three different jobs in order to pay bills and maintain my apprenticeship. It was a lot harder than I expected, it was a lot of frustration and a lot of patience. But I want to be the best, I want to make people feel something from my art that they’ll never be able to explain. I want people to love their bodies and love their art, and I want to prove to people that tattooing isn’t how it used to be. It has evolved into an absolutely beautiful form of art and artists are growing every single day. I am so fortunate to be a part of this industry.

What are your thoughts on tattoos:

I think tattoos are beautiful. It shows you exactly who a person is without saying a word. I don’t think many other professions especially in the arts, take as much dedication as tattooing. We eat sleep and breathe it.

What style/genre tattoo is your favorite:

Since I’ve seen so many incredible artists demonstrate their styles so well, it’s hard for me to say that I have a favorite. It takes a lot of creativity for people to develop their own style and become known for it and I respect that so much. Personally, my brain and eyes see things as they are, so I’m drawn to photo realism. It’s so impressive to me that it’s hard to talk about honestly. There are so many details for example, in a human face that no one ever really thinks about. Some of these artists literally can pick out every strand of peach fuzz on a face and every crease in a chapped lip, and to be able to tattoo that on someone’s skin…it’s unreal.

Who or what influences your art style:

I can’t remember exactly which artist mentioned this idea, but in an interview he says, “most people don’t understand that a paved road isn’t just grey. They don’t think about the reflection of street lights, the hues from a sunset, it’s never just straight up grey.” I don’t know why I’d never thought of things that way, but ever since, I swear I’ve seen the world completely different. Another artist that influences me is Mike Dargas, an artist from Cologne, Germany. He does massive hyperrealistic portraits mostly photographed with dripping chocolate or honey. It seriously makes me emotional.