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

Hi Elise, thanks for joining us today. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

I am infinitely happier as a creative, running my own business and making a living by changing the canvas of peoples’ lives. But I would be remiss to say that I didn’t often think of what it would be like to still have guaranteed income biweekly, a routine and schedule that I could count on and weekends off. It’s difficult when you have to miss events with people you care about, or work opposing schedules with your partner and I crave the structure that a “regular job” can provide at times. The last time that I really pondered going back to an office job was at my last place of work. I was offered and amazing opportunity to work with some of the most talented women in permanent cosmetics at an incredibly well known studio, the only catch was that I wouldn’t be able to tattoo there as well, so I’d be leaving tattooing behind. I made the choice to do so because I decided that I needed to see that path out. It was amazing, and I learned so much and I met so many wonderful and kind people. But I was having such a hard time getting clientele there and feeling like I was “in the right spot.” I wanted to just throw in the towel, and start looking for another job that could for certain provide the type of life that my family has become accustomed to living. I did a lot of soul searching and I made the decision to leave that studio to take the knowledge that I had learned and go back to the tattoo studio I worked in. It was really difficult because I worry a lot about upsetting people, and not seeming grateful – but I was sure it was a better move for myself and my family.

I took the plunge and jumped back into tattooing AND permanent cosmetics full time, and my schedule has been booked ever since. I don’t know how that’s happened, but I am so grateful for it. I was worried that I would seem like a fool just trusting that what I was doing didn’t “feel right” – but I couldn’t stand the idea of going back to working for someone else. Losing the ability to create my own schedule, to meet new people all the time and be able to create for them. Giving someone a gift on their body that lasts them a lifetime is such an honor and a joy to me. Getting to see their ideas come to life in front of us – there’s nothing like it. Sometimes, I feel, I need to fight for what my mind tells me is right for me – and I can’t see myself being any happier than I am in my crazy, chaotic and rewarding business!

Elise, 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?

My name is Elise and I have been around the tattoo industry for twelve years. I got into tattooing after I met my mentor, Paula Diamond and saw a strong female leading a shop. Growing up there were only two things that I ever really truly wanted to be “when I grew up” – one was a tattoo artist and one was a graphic designer. I just never really thought the tattooer dream was a reality, for either myself or females in general. My Barbies always had sharpie marker drawn on their limbs and broken sewing pins placed like body piercings on them. I’ve known since I was very little that I wanted to be covered in tattoos and had a deep appreciation for the art form. I have always been drawn more toward art than anything athletic. While most kids were practicing their sports and competing on multiple teams as a child, I was found in private art classes and doodling all over my arms. That made my parents really happy 🤣

Anyway, when I met Paula, I saw the first female I’d been exposed to that was leading a tattoo shop, making a good living and producing amazing work. She has a deeply engrained respect for the industry and the work that we do and she completed a really traditional apprenticeship where she learned to make her own pigments, solder her own needle groupings and build her own machines. I just started hanging around and asking her what I could do for her, and that turned into her teaching me how to tattoo and pierce. I learned to pierce so that I could quit my job as a barista and work full time at the shop, and from then I dedicated years of work into my apprenticeship and eventually earned my artist title.

I had a gap in between where some life stuff happened and I worked an office job as a graphic designer for many years. I count that as a blessing because it further honed my ability to create beautifully designed concepts and also gave me the opportunity to do the only other thing I ever loved.

I have been back in the industry for a year and a half full time and I have never felt more in love with it.

I specialize in black and grey fine line and soft peppery shading, and new (neo) school traditional style. I also offer microshaded eyebrows as a permanent cosmetic procedure. I feel like what sets me and my colleagues apart is our kindness, and humility in an industry that can be very tough at times. Our main priority is to make our clients feel as comfortable and heard as possible. We’re marking your body for the rest of your life and we want that experience to be as easy as possible while you feel completely excited and taken care of.

To counter the fact that I sit and am pretty rough on my body for a living, I started doing Lyra at a local aerial gym (Shine Fitness Studio) last year. I fell in love with it, and have found a confidence in myself and my abilities that I’ve never known before. I’m currently taking a course to learn to teach beginner Lyra students and I’m so excited to show them what I have found!

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

There is a mission guiding my creative journey, and while it’s absolutely important for me to be able to use my skills and abilities to give someone a lasting gift that brings them comfort, or ease in their morning routine or just plain makes them happy.. it is also to be present with my family as much as possible. Having my own business allows me the ability to be there for the important things, to match the days off and schedule that my husband has, and the flexibility to move things around when something necessary comes up. The fact that I love what I do is really just the icing on the cake.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

One of the big gifts of my job is that I get to touch people’s lives at times. I will never forget – one of my very first clients over a decade ago had me tattoo her infant son’s little tiny footprint on her. He had not survived pregnancy, and she wanted something to carry with her all the time to remember him. Almost every year, she reminds me on social media and thanks me again. Making beautiful artwork for people is the coolest experience, but being able to give somebody a gift like that is the most rewarding, amazing feeling.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/Elisepime
• Instagram: @elisepimetattoo
• Other: http://www.diamondtattooparlor.com/artists