We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Devin Noir a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Devin, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about how you got your first non-friend, non-family client. Paint the picture for us so we can feel the same excitement you felt on that day.

Oh wow, this really takes me back. When I first started tattooing, I gained most of my clients through dating apps, primarily Tinder (which I’m now banned from because you’re not allowed to conduct business through the app). I had it in my bio that I was using the app to develop my career and skills as a tattoo artist.

One of my clients and I matched, and after I explained what I was trying to do, she suggested getting a tattoo from me and then going on a date. Honestly, it was an awesome experience.

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.

Absolutely! My name is Devin Noir and I am the artist behind Devil May Cry Tattoo in Bushwick, Brooklyn. I am a very intentional artist, and my work is filled with meaning and symbolism and a journey towards becoming one’s best self. To me, tattooing is not just a job, it’s a practice that is sacred to me and allows me to assist people in becoming the most confident version of themselves.

In the last seven years, I have made it my mission to improve my skills. I work by a method that is organic and extremely individual; I meditate, perform grounding ceremonies, and may even read your energy to guarantee that the design I am going to implement on your body is something that speaks to you. I have realized that tattooing is not just a job but a way of life that requires daily work on the development of creativity, discipline, and self-control.

I would say that the one thing that I am most proud of would be the connection I get to have with my clients. Each tattoo is a story, a journey, a process of bringing their idea and vision to life in a way that is personal and significant to them. In addition to working with clients, I love helping young tattoo artists who are trying to make their way into the industry. I don’t just concentrate on the technique, I teach discipline, philosophy, and the right mindset that it takes to be a tattoo artist for life

If there is one thing that I want people to know about me and my work, then I guess that is this: I am not just a tattoo artist. I am the person who uses art to enable people to share their stories and to become transformed on the body. Each tattoo that I design, with black ink, bold lines or complex patterns, is a part of my journey and the journey of the person whose body I design it on.

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

To me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist has to do with the impact that my art has on people. When a client looks in the mirror and sees a piece that truly resonates with them, that’s an incredible feeling.

I am also proud of the fact that tattooing has shaped me as a person. It’s taught me to follow my own path, to listen to myself, and not get caught up in comparisons. I’ve learned that the only competition that really matters is with myself, constantly pushing to learn more and to uplevel my work.

Another huge part of what makes this so fulfilling is mentoring others. It’s as rewarding to watch apprentices grow into their own as artists, gain confidence, and develop their own creative voice as it is when I’m tattooing others.

In the end, it’s about the connection. Whether it’s the connection through the art I make, the people I meet, or the energy that is present during the process, that is what makes this work so meaningful to me.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

Most of my creative journey happens in solitude. Creativity requires space—physically, mentally, and emotionally. People see the final tattoo, the finished design, the outcome, but they don’t see the time spent refining ideas, studying, and evolving. However, that is the case for most of the jobs that require creativity; people see the final product and not the process. It’s not always easy to explain why I step away, why I need quiet, or why I don’t force ideas into existence on demand.

I’ve found that some of my best ideas surface when I step back and let them develop naturally. Creativity doesn’t work on a schedule. It doesn’t follow a linear path. It comes together in layers, through experience, observation, and time. People expect instant results, instant validation, and instant progress. But forcing something too soon weakens the outcome. The work needs time to take shape before it ever becomes something real.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/devilmaycrytattoo/
• Other: Booking link: https://venue.ink/devilmaycrytattoo?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaY8zchf1e9uxFjl6eaMdxLgZFY52a78czxqr6qwHhx1XMt3TuAJ9dkSGBI_aem_toMfRtTd2-ixV0Ynw4uwWw