energized

after a couple days of post-vacation depression i am feeling much better about things and very energized. i talked to my good friend chance and my mom and they both helped me put things back into perspective. i feel ready for the challenge and im hoping to get back on track with some other things in my life that i have sort of ignored due mostly to business like biking and better eating habits and, probably most importantly, a social life.

good times with old friends are, well... good. it sucks that i don't get to see them more often but it makes those visits that much sweeter. it gives me something to reflect back on and something to look forward to. so goodbye post-vacation blues and hello 70 hour work week.

bitter sweet return

i am back from my vacation from work/tattooing. i hooked up with my best old friend Dave and we took off to Wisconsin to take in the scenery and visit my mother and brother. then back to Minneapolis where we did a little tattooing and then up north to thief river falls where i spent the better part of my pre-adult life and then left as soon as i graduated high school.

its funny because i usually feel very anxious to come back to Minneapolis when i am there and i usually just chill with my family the whole time. but this time was different, i went to a friends wedding and got a chance to be with all my close old friends all at once for the fist time in a very long time. a couple years at least. i got to hang out in the country and watch the fireflies. it felt good. it was the first time that i didn't want to leave when i had to leave. that was a strange feeling.

i had a chance to reflect on my life and my ambitions and frankly it scared the shit out of me. it was the first break from my 70hour/week schedule that i had in a few months and the first chance i had to look at it from the outside. i realized again just how much of a struggle it will be to continue to put off all the things in life i want to do until i get settled in to a new career hopefully as a full time tattooer. i miss my family and friends a lot. i miss the complete darkness at night and i miss the silence.

tattoin'

just a quick update on the apprenticeship. i dont have really any good stuff to talk about but i ahve been busy lately. im still taking appointments and i welcome people who come and visit me so so please do get a hold of me if you want to talk tattoo.

MONSTER INK TATTOO 651 488 3323

1088 rice street saint paul MN

busy time

i have finished my first week of tattoo work. it has been one of the busiest weeks in such a long time for me. it was rough. i went in to the shop an extra day so i could tattoo a guy who works at the bar across the street from the shop and i think that extra day put me over the edge. it was his first tattoo so i was a little extra scared.

i have tasted what it will be like to do this for a living and i realize how much of a juggling act it will be. especially untill i go full time and quit my other job.

luckily i have a few friends who have a lot of trust in me and my art. i got to do a few pieces that i drew myself with a lot of freedom design-wise.

www.monsterinktattoo.com

hours

for those who want work done, the best way to do this is for you to call the shop i work at while im there and we can work out dates and times.

my hours are as follows...

mondays noon to 9pm
tuesdays 4pm to 9pm
fridays 5pm to 10pm
saturdays noon to 10pm

i am normally off wednesdays and thursdays but i can easily make arrangements to be there those days for folks who can't come any other times. we can figure that out.

so please call me at MONSTER INK TATTOO 651-488-3323!

i look forward to hearing from you!!

tattooing

well, i have the go ahead to start bringing people in to the shop to get tattooed by me. this is a big step for me. im anxious to see what i can do with that. taking requests and dealing with people in that context can be taxing. but i think i can make it work for me. i just gotta keep pushing. it's hard to stay motivated to continue to evolve as an artist and be an apprentice and work full time. im trying to draw a lot and stay on track for the art show this fall, so hopefully things will work out. and hopefully all my friends who say they have been waiting for me to start won't flake out (hint hint).

and speaking of art show http://mplsdethcrew.tumblr.com/. check it out.

busy time

well im still pluggin' away at the monster ink in saint paul trying to work my way into the rotation there. things are going very well. i ill have my temporary tattoo license soon which means i can start tattooing myself and others soon. very excited to get started on that.

i've finally gotten back on pace for the big art show this year. details TBA. i did three pieces in the last three days. i was told i should try doing smaller stuff and thats what i have been trying to do. doing smaller pieces is really cool cuz i can knock them out in a short time and see the result right away. it really builds momentum quickly. i can do one piece and take what i may have messed up or did really well on it and apply it to another piece right there.

the weather has been a drag this spring. i only have one day off and i usually would have softball practice (yes i play softball) but it has been rainy every sunday. so my one recreational/social activity of the week has been dampened by the slow start of spring this year. im feeling very drained lately but i have my eye on the prize. i feel very motivated for the future. i have never dedicated myself to a cause as much i have to becoming a tattooer. it feels good already.