Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Angel Mae Glutz. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Angel Mae thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I honestly don’t remember a time that I didn’t want to be a professional artist. Anything I pursued that wasn’t arts related was out of necessity or societal pressure. I even enlisted in the ARNG my senior year of high school in hopes of going to college… for what, I didn’t know, because all I wanted to do was make art. Half way through basic training, my left knee failed me. Official diagnosis, anterior knee pain. In layman’s terms, the physical demands of combat training has destroyed my knee and the front of knee would be in pain for the rest of my life. I was discharged and found myself homeless and unemployed.

I started staying with my cousin in the Jacksonville neighborhood of riverside. I pounded the pavement for 3 days looking for work. On the 3rd day, a gentleman was standing in front of his soon to open perching studio. He asked what on earth I was doing. I explained my situation and he offered me $20 to do some painting in the shop. I gladly accepted and got to work. He told me to come back tomorrow if I needed more work. This continued until the shop opened and I was offered a job as counter girl. This meant that I would clean the shop, sterilize jewelry and tools, and mange walk-in traffic. In between tasks, I would sit at the counter and draw in my sketchbook.

One day a man asked the shop owner why he wasn’t teaching me to pierce. His reply, “Angel doesn’t need to be a piercer. She needs to be a tattoo artist. Look at this.” He takes my sketchbook from me. The gentleman flipped through my sketchbook, informed me he was a local gallery owner, and asked if I had any larger works. When I told him I didn’t, he gave me a card and told me I should listen to my boss. The card was soon lost but the idea was planted. Could I actually make a living as an artist? Could I make it? (20 years ago tattooing was 99% male industry and if I’m exaggerating, it’s only by a smidgen.)

The seed was planted. I knew then that I wanted to be a tattoo artist and I didn’t stop until that goal was accomplished.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Absolutely. My name is Angel Mae Glutz. I am a 40 year old tattoo artist in Jacksonville, Florida. I have been a professional tattooer since the summer of 2006, when I completed a traditional tattoo apprenticeship in Southern Indiana.

While I am able to tattoo in any style, and will do so happily, fine line designs in black ink is what I’m most known for these days.

When I’m not tattooing, I am currently working on designing a tarot deck. I am also working on a webstore called Coven Art Collective that I hope to launch next year.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

All of my social media growth has been organic. I’ve never paid for ads or done something for the sole purpose of gaining followers. While that leaves me with a smaller social media presence than many artists with the same experience, I prefer it. Unlike viral or paid growth, Organic growth is sincere. You actually connect with your followers, fans, and supporters. I feel quality over quantity is key and my approach to networking has left me with the best, most supportive, client base in the industry.

My advice to new artists starting out is to connect with your clients. Talk to them, get to know them as people. If you’re sincere, those clients will build up your social media for you.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The connection.

Every one of my clients has my undivided attention when they’re in the shop. They share their stories, their joys and sorrows, successes and heart breaks with me. When someone gets a tattoo or buys a piece of art, we connect. I have honestly lost count of how many clients and art patrons have become friends over the course of my career and I wouldn’t wish it to be any other way.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: MzXiii
• Facebook: Tattoos and Art by Angel Mae Glutz
• Twitter: MissXiii