We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sabrina Ryan a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Sabrina , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

I learned how to tattoo through a traditional apprenticeship at a street shop off of a military base in New Jersey. I don’t think learning to tattoo is something you can rush or speed up since it’s a lot of trial and error, but definitely being consistent and being able to take constructive critisicm and absorb information helped me take leaps progression wise. I’d say my biggest obstacle in the beginning was myself. I was fearful of making permanent mistakes and it was hard to get out of my own head and just let go creatively.

Sabrina , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I have wanted to be a tattoo artist since I was a little girl covered in temporary tattoos from head to toe. Being able to live my childhood dream and give something to someone that they will wear forever is such a high honor to me and making my clients smile is my absolute favorite part of the job. I do a little bit of everything so i don’t have a set style of tattooing, which allows me to enjoy all the different types of art while i figure out what my niche is. I love incorporating strong linework in my pieces to give for a clean, sharp look whether thats black and grey or color. Im most proud of the relationships I’ve built with my clients and my tattoo family at Brand New Tattoo Studio that have made all the difference in my career as an artist. The tattoo industry has shaped me both professionally and personally. From the initial spark of interest in art to the decision to pursue tattooing as a full-time career, I’ve learned that this path requires not only technical skill but also a deep connection with people and their stories. The opportunity to help others express themselves through art is something that continues to inspire and motivate me every day.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

Support your local artists!! There are so many amazing tattooers and artists in general locally in your neighborhood that get overlooked for famous artists who are super talented, but also super expensive and sometimes booked out for months or even years. Staying in your community establishes relationships that stay with you forever and helps nourish the local shops that have been around for years. Tattooing is not just a form of visual art, it is deeply intertwined with personal expression, tradition, culture, and identity so finding someone who makes you comfortable and can provide what you’re looking for is more important than an instagram follower count.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I think my mission creatively is always trying to be better than I was yesterday and learn something new everyday. The goal post is always moving when you’re always evolving and I was taught that once you think you’re the best, you’re not. So reminding myself to try new things and push myself when i feel stagnant or comfortable is a moving force for getting closer to my goals.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @sabbytattz
• Other: [email protected]

Image Credits

Bayron Calderon