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

Aurora, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

This might sound a little cliché, but I honestly think every tattoo I’ve done—whether deeply personal or just something fun—has its own kind of meaning. Even if it’s something as simple as a frog in a hat or as symbolic as a birth flower, the fact that someone chose me to be part of that moment means a lot. Tattooing is such a powerful and ancient craft, and I know it’s much bigger than me. But getting to contribute to it, one piece at a time, feels really special. I’m just grateful people trust me to be part of their stories.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Aurora Sandelands, and I’m a tattoo artist based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I’ve been tattooing for just under a year now, after completing a year-long apprenticeship under my incredible mentor, Zack Kinsey, at his shop, Two Muses in Osseo, MN.

People often ask me how I got into tattooing, and I think there’s a common misconception that it’s this glamorous, lucrative path where you get to make art all day. And while it is an amazing job, there’s a lot of hard work, dedication, and humility involved that people don’t always see.

Ironically, I come from a family of tattooers—both my mom and stepdad tattoo—so in a way, I resisted it at first. Like a lot of kids, I didn’t want to follow in my parents’ footsteps, even if their job was cool. I was always drawing, always getting tattooed after I turned 18, but I kept trying to find fulfillment elsewhere. Nothing ever really clicked until my husband encouraged me to give tattooing a shot. From that moment on, I never looked back.

When I decided to pursue an apprenticeship, I knew I only wanted to learn from Zack. He’s a family friend who worked with my stepdad, Tom Strom, at Uptown Tattoo for years, and I had already admired his style and collected work from him. I brought him a portfolio of designs (which, looking back, were pretty rough), and while he didn’t agree to mentor me right away, he did offer me a spot at his shop to learn the ropes.

I took it seriously. I quit my day job, showed up early every morning to clean before he arrived, and spent my days painting, drawing, and quietly observing. I didn’t touch a tattoo machine for almost a year—but that kind of patience and commitment is part of doing this craft justice.

Now, a year in, I’m starting to take on larger pieces and I’m still proud to be working at Two Muses. I’ve also started a side business called Love & Linework, where I tattoo guests at wedding receptions—something unique that allows me to blend art, memory, and celebration in a really fun way.

Tattooing is something I’m excited to do for the rest of my life. The craft is much bigger than me, but I feel truly lucky to have found my place in it.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

There’s definitely a public image of tattooing as this incredibly lucrative, glamorous career—and while it can be rewarding, that’s not always the reality, especially in the beginning. This career is at the mercy of other people’s wallets, the economy, and your own ability to market yourself. For introverted artists, that last part can be especially challenging.

It’s also a slow, steady journey. Some people imagine jumping in and designing full sleeves right away, but that’s just not how it works. It takes years of consistency, patience, and practice—not to mention building up a clientele—before you reach that level. I’m decently busy for a new tattooer, and even still, there are weeks where I’m just sitting around, drawing flash, waiting for the phone to ring.

This job isn’t a quick buck. It’s a long-term commitment—a career that asks for a lot before it gives much back. So I guess, in a roundabout way, my resilience has come from putting in the work even when the money wasn’t there, and continuing to believe that if I stayed patient and kept showing up, success would come.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

As a newer tattooer, one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned from the artists around me is the importance of letting go of ego. Some of the best tattooers I know—people who’ve been doing this for decades—still approach every tattoo with curiosity and a willingness to learn. That really stuck with me. There will always be someone out there doing something cleaner, bolder, or more innovative, and instead of letting that be intimidating, I’ve started to see it as motivation. This craft is constantly evolving, and the only way to grow with it is to stay humble, stay teachable, and never assume you’ve got it all figured out.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.aurorastattoos.square.site
• Instagram: @aurorastattoos
• Other: Please check out my other business Love & Linework, MN’s premier wedding tattoo artist at
  www.loveandlinework.com
  @loveandlinework

Image Credits

www.heybabephotos.com
@heybabephotos