We were lucky to catch up with Alex Ivy recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alex, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

I work on a lot of projects where the client has scars covered up. This can be from surgeries, self harm etc. One that always stands out to me is a young lady that had knee surgery. Due to the way the area was opened and the unpredictable stretching of a knee, she was left with a disfiguring scar that effected her daily life. She hadn’t worn shorts or skirts that show her knee for over 20 years.
It was one of my most challenging projects to date because every time her knee straightened, the skin crinkled differently making any lines impossible to tattoo.
I ended up doing a beautiful cherry blossom branch that moved with her scar. No matter how the skin folded back together, it still looked like the branch.
She was so happy when she left. Though it had been a stressful day trying to make sure I got it right, it was satisfying to know this could be an improvement to her quality of life.
Soon after her appointment, I got an email that I still keep to this day. It was very simple. It said that she was very happy with the piece and thanked me. But then it said, “today, I am wearing shorts.”
That meant more to me than anything I had experienced in my career that far.
I have worked on so many scars and though they are challenging, they are always the most rewarding to see the beautiful change in people once the scars are covered.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name I Alex Ivy. I have been tattooing for close to 20 years now. I did not have a typical start to my tattooing career. I was barely out of high school when I was offered an apprenticeship by someone walking by as I worked on some art. I later learned this person learned to tattoo in prison and was not formally trained. However, they were kind and taught me all they knew. I learned the old school ways and to this day I still use some of the things I learned with him. But that partnership didn’t last long as I discovered he was not well versed in the sanitary and safety aspect of tattooing. I later ended up in apprenticeships and then having a private studio for a while before working in full time shops eventually opening my own studio.
I opened my own studio because after being in the industry so long, I was not comfortable or happy with the experience. I found the typical tattooing experience to be intimidating, stressful or just full of ego. So I opened a place where everyone felt welcome, privacy was offered to our clients and a peaceful atmosphere that didn’t harbor tension which you feel in a lot of shops. We are known primarily as a “tattoo spa” because our environment promotes more relaxation and fun along with a cleaner look as opposed to the usual black and red walls. There is a flavor of shop for everyone, this one just suites our clients best. I also opened the first disposable only studio in the PNW were tips, tubes and needles are never re-used supplying the most sterile workspace possible.
Here at Ivy Ink Tattoo, you are welcomed, we’re all here to have fun and you get the highest quality services in the area as we were voted the Best Tattoo and Piercing Shop in the PNW 2023. We offer multiple services that aren’t just tattoos. The artists, piercers, and esthetician here are all professionals with a few of them having a medical background adding to the expertise and excellence in our brand.
I have worked many years against a lot of opposition to create this studio and it has been worth every step.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

Absolutely. I spent a lot of time studying before starting out on each of my ventures. I graduated high school and dropped out of college after discovering it was a waste of time for me. It wasn’t specific enough for what I wanted to do. School of youtube was the best. I learned so much on youtube. It is a massive recourse for just about anything you want to do. You just have to search the right things. I learned how to effectively run a business there along with my own studying and research. I highly suggest starting there for anyone not knowing where to start.

I also read a lot of books. Most of them having to do with mindset. Your mental state and mentality toward entrepreneurialship and money is crucial in building a strong business or perusing what you really want to do. Without it, you stay where you are and never reach your potential.
My book list:
#1- Think and Grow Rich
-As a Man Thinketh
-Millionaire Mindset

Beyond those, there is no replacement for personal coaching

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My personal mission or goal is not live a life dictated by others. To be free, abundant and have a great quality of life along with time to spend with my kiddo. I never wanted to spend my days working for someone else. Working myself to the bone while someone else got all the benefits. I started running my own creative businesses at the age of 13 and have always had something going on that way.
The larger creative business was born out of necessity due to some work situations I wasn’t happy with. I needed to control my environment for many reasons between allergens to personality clashes and vision disagreements. Also wanting to build something for my family.
So I guess you could say, I took my greatest talent and build a business around it for my best chance of success and least likely chance of hating what I did every day

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ivyinktattoo.com
• Instagram: @alexivyart
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IvyInkAndCraft/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ivyinktattoo8097
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/ivy-ink-tattoo-kent
• Other: Ivy Ink Tattoo on Instagram: @ivy_ink_tattoo

Image Credits

Alex Ivy