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

Ben, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Looking back at internships and apprenticeships can be interesting, because there is so much variety in people’s experiences – and often those experiences inform our own leadership style. Do you have an interesting story from that stage of your career that you can share with us?

When I was an apprentice, I was working all the time. I actually had to pay for my apprenticeship to get into tattooing. I was working 11 AM to 7 PM during the day at the shop and then going into work 10 PM to 7 AM at an overnight gig I had. I did this for about a year and as you can imagine it was not fun but it did teach me a couple lessons.

The first being; nothing worth having ever comes easy. The other, if I wasn’t willing to do it, it was a whole line of people behind me that were. When you’re apprenticing all you’re really doing is proving that you want it more than anything. It’s really a test just to wean out the weak and if anything working those long hours and feeling absolutely exhausted, only made me more determined to see it through. I think that’s exactly what artist are looking for.

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?

My name is Ben Violette and I’m a tattoo artist at New Vizion Luxury Tattoo. Like most other artist, I got into the industry through an apprenticeship. I apprenticed for a little over a year and I’ve been a licensed tattoo artist for three years now.

When I first started, I did pretty much anything that walked through that door in order to gain clients and experience. Although the past couple years, I’ve really started to slow down and specialize. Nowadays I mostly stick to black and gray realism and I like to specialize in portraits. They are hands-down, my favorite thing to tattoo.

I think if I pride myself on anything it would be my determination and get better and my customer service. I recently moved from Maine all the way out to Arizona looking for an artist that I could learn under.

Back home I was booked out 6 to 7 months and I had a very comfortable position at the shop I was working at. I loved where I was at but ultimately I felt like my skill level had plateaued and I feel as though I am way too new to feel that comfortable. I wanted a challenge, and I wanted to learn from some of the best artists that specialize in my style.

As far as customer service goes, I really try to provide a unique experience to all of my clients. I like working, mostly with custom designs that I can sit down with my client and figure out exactly what they want and put together a unique piece of art for them. I’m not trying to make tattoos that a million other people walking down the street have. I’m really trying to separate myself and my work from all of the Pinterest tattoos you see everyone walking around with.

I love working with people getting to know their story and what they want the tattoo to represent that way I’m able to give them a custom work of art that every time they look in the mirror they know they have something unique, and that was designed specifically for them.

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

I actually met Romero through a client of mine. I was tattooing at another shop when I first moved to Arizona. He had been tattooed by Romero and really loved his work but he was booked out too far and wanted to get in soon. Because I had just moved to the area I had a lot of open availability and I was able capitalize on that. His name came up again when I talked to my buddy, Matt, who is also a tattoo artist. He told me that Romero was opening up a new shop and his work was amazing. He suggested that I reach out to him so I did!

I reached out he looked at my work, and he wanted to set up a time to come in an interview. So after I went in and talk to him for about an hour or so, he offered me a spot at his new shop. He was opening up, which I am extremely grateful for. In the short time I’ve been with him I’ve already learned so much and being at the shop with all of these gray tattoo artist just continues to push me in the right direction.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I’m still working on building my clientele. As I said, I just recently moved to the area and I’m still trying to make a name for myself. Things have picked up a little bit in the past couple months which has been amazing. It’s a great feeling when someone reaches out to you specifically because they enjoy your work and want to get a piece done by you.

Tattoos last a lifetime so when someone wants to make that kind of commitment because they love your work, it means the world to us.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.benviolettetattoos.com
• Instagram: benviolettetattoos