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

Eric, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Do you feel you or your work has ever been misunderstood or mischaracterized? If so, tell us the story and how/why it happened and if there are any interesting learnings or insights you took from the experience?

In our studio we live and breathe our motto of #Changethestandard. Too us this is a blanket statement about how much of our beautiful industry is viewed because of such a small percentage individuals actions. So much has changed within our industry with many necessary new changes still to come. Our industry is becoming more and more focused on the safety of our clientele as well as the quality of our products and services.

Our goal has always been to create a safe and friendly environment for all individuals while giving them the most professional experience possible. Unfortunately there has been a stigma across the world involving individuals who have body art. In this new day and age so much has changed. Our industry is so much more accessible then ever before, with this we have seen a large rise in “scratchers” but at the same time we are seeing more and more private studio open all over the world with fantastic and knowledgeable artists that have less the 5 years experience but are leaders with in our industry.

As a tattoo artist and studio owner that has gone form dress blues (USMC) to tattoos I have received a vary diverse amount of judgment both good and bad. We are blessed with having a solid base of different industry’s professionals from doctors to electricians, lawyers to cops etc. This reminds us that every profession no matter how high or low on the latter people have tattoos to express them selfs.

Lastly and most importantly a huge part of this matter we love enforcing to clients is this: an employer will look at two equally qualified individuals that are heavily tattooed differently if one has beautiful work done by professionals vs someone who is covered in unprofessional work. The professional work will be hired over the unprofessional. Do your research on your artists and ALWAYS go to a reputable studio for your body art procedures!

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.

In our studio we are strictly artists focusing everyday on honing our craft primarily in skin but other mediums also. Some us paint, wood carve, spray paint art, digital art, welding art and so many more mediums. We gather inspiration everywhere around us by allowing this industry to engulf our entire life. Everything we do needs to be as custom as possible.

I truly never had a vision to be a tattoo artist until I sort of fell into it. I completely fell in love with this medium the first time I touched a machine. This is no hobby or job it is truly a passion / career to each of us. I found that my brain prefers to produce realistic artwork..

Each one of us has a stay we specifically work in different styles of tattooing.

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

As an artist the most rewarding part of our craft is the ability to get to know a story or understanding a thought someone has and turning this into a piece of art for them. Not only a piece of art but something they carry with them everywhere they go every day. Sometimes its a happy memory the individual cherishes and wants to remember forever. Other times our story is a vary personal hardship we turn into something beautiful in order to help the individual overcome past trauma. If it is a happy one or a traumatic one our goal is to make the experience here with us a great memory while creating something beautiful.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

Being an artist is such a diverse and complicated life. It can be so easy to support your favorite artists, social media has become such a detrimental portion of our life’s. Something as simple as interacting over social media, commenting , liking and sharing helps us dramatically!

Now of course on the flip side understanding what is good work vs bad is just as detrimental. When un professional artists are blown up it drives all of the professionals down. The people that are un motivated or hobbyist not only drive the passionate one down but create more work in the end. Getting a tattoo by a “scratcher” at home or even in an unprofessional studio make cover ups a difficult day for us.

My best advice is do your research on artists in the style you would like. Do not be afraid to reach out or stop in and have a convocation no artist is ever too busy to take 5 minutes to talk. At that any artists who will not talk is not worth your time or inspiration. Not only should you be sure the artists style is one you like but the artists is someone you will be comfortable with for upwards of 14 hour sessions.

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.limitlessinktattoostudio.com
• Instagram: @limitlessink2020
• Facebook: limitless ink tattoo studio
• Youtube: @InkwithEric
• Other: TikTok @Limitlessinktattoostudio

Image Credits
These are all work done by myself.