We recently connected with Aleksandra Stojanoska and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Aleksandra , thanks for joining us today. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?

I’ve always known that I want to be an artist. It’s something that I was doing since I was little, drawing, painting. My dad is an artist so he was my inspiration and the biggest motivator. Long story short, I graduated from the College of Fine Arts back in my home country Macedonia. And then there’s this moment, when reality hits you: now what? Sure, it was great 4-year experience but no one really teaches you what to do next. Kinda scary. So I moved to the USA, knowing that here I will have more options to choose from. When I came to Miami I realized that the tattoo industry is only going to get bigger, so I hopped on that train. It was kinda experimental at first, didn’t know what to expect. But, I just love how everything was developing and I loved how I can create artwork on human bodies. During this 5-6 year period I witnessed the booming of the new tattoo era! And I was part of it. Still am. So, naturally, being a part of something revolutionary, the blossoming of all different techniques that can be achieved on the body brings a lot of growth and success, if you’re creative of course. People started to be more acceptable of having permanent artwork on their skin and that means more clients, more creative freedom and artistic and financial thrive!

Aleksandra , 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?

Good question and and could talk forever haha. As I mentioned I was always an artist. So painting and drawing was something that I always did. But when I started tattooing, it was a game changer. Not only technique-wise, but also the work with people. The canvas doesn’t talk back at you when you paint. But when you work with clients, it’s a collaboration that can bring the best out of you. Not always though, I have to have chemistry with the client and of course, similar taste. In the last couple of months I felt really drawn to more abstract work, I just felt that I can express myself better that way. I can express more emotions, movement and flow. And I’ve always like movement, there was a time when my biggest inspiration were dancers, from ballerinas to pole dancers. I love when the emotion is captured without using words. So, doing abstract work is similar, you’re portraying a feeling without using figurative elements , just pure composition and color that flows flawlessly with the shape of the human body. Like music with no lyrics. Like symphony. So I started painting on people. Literally PAINTING on their skin with a paintbrush and tattooing that painting. This technique is still fairly new to me and very thrilling. I was a little bit skeptical of how people would react to this because there’s not definite design beforehand, everything is done on the spot and there’s a lot of improvisation. But the feedback I’ve been getting is incredible! I’m so lucky that I have the most amazing clients who trust me with their skin and they would give me all the necessary creative freedom!
I’m so excited for all upcoming freestyle projects!

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

The lesson I had to unlearn is to stop try to please everyone. When I started tattooing, I was trying to please every client by changing the design according to their wishes. But, with experience I learned that not everyone has a creative vision and taste like I do. So I started saying no. I started turning down some clients who don’t match my vision. I wanted to be able to create something different and unique, not to be someone’s tattoo machine for them to get a basic tattoo that million other people already have. It was a little difficult in the begging but as I kept doing that, my audience filtered to this amazing loyal crowd that allows me to express myself the best way possible.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

One of the most rewarding feelings is transforming someone’s ideas into Art. Being able to devote my time and my mind developing something that will stay on someone’s body even after their death is exciting. Every day is fun and different. There’s no repetition and it’s never a monotone schedule. There’s always something new and thrilling when you’re an artist. I’m forever grateful that being an artist enables me to constantly seek for more inspiration and beauty.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.aleksandrasart.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ane_aleksandra/