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

Alright, Evander thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

Anyone can become a Tattoo Artist today, I say that positively AND negatively. There are the artist who value the morals and ethics of becoming a true tattoo artist; then there are those who buy a machine off Amazon and go crazy on their friends without taking time to actually learn the process of not only becoming a capable tattoo artist, but a sanitary one also. With this being said, I do not look down or scold any artist trying to become a professional artist on their own who does not have the opportunity to get a traditional experience through a apprenticeship. I begun my tattoo journey in 2020 around peak COVID era, so you can imagine how hard it was for me to get accepted for an apprenticeship. I got turned down from EVERY shop I went to and decided to take matters into my own hands, studying all the things I needed to become a sanitary professional tattoo artist. A couple months later I took one of the biggest risks I’ve taken yet by quitting my 9-5 job and becoming a full time tattoo artist, I haven’t looked back since. Its been one of the best risks I’ve ever taken.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Hey there! My name is Evander Mendez , some know me by Evo, and some actually just know me by my business name ‘Evolution’. I’m a 27 year old Tattoo Artist born and raised in Cleveland, OH. I come from a big family of 5 sisters and a brother(you can imagine how growing up with 5 sisters is). I started Tattooing in 2020, and in 2022 I created Evolution Ink LLC to become an official business for myself in the tattoo industry. I am proud that I never gave up on myself. After every tattoo shop turned me down, every artist I messaged left me on read, and every doubt that flooded my mind, I didn’t give up and pursued being a good tattoo artist myself. This I believe is what sets me apart from most artist in my city. Since day 1 I’ve had a hunger to grow in knowledge, experience, and technique to allow me to do this for the rest of my life. I feel that I also give my clients a more pure and comfortable environment with me being a solo artist. I am able to create a sort of safe-haven for them to open up to me if they choose, or to just relax and watch a movie, just to take a break from reality with a little bit of pain and art that will last forever. Evolution Ink will continue to feel like a safe-haven for clients even as I begin to grow with more artist, I believe in a pure environment with pure genuine tattoo artists.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist to me is being able to not only convey your emotions/feelings into art and for me (tattoo artist) that art forever being on someone forever; but also being able to produce funds from it, and for some enough funds to do it for a living! Granting you to make/do art for the rest of your life if you choose!

How did you build your audience on social media?

I built my audience by being extremely consistent BUT not over doing it! There’s a sweet spot to how consistent you should be without annoying or turning off followers! Promoting content is a big tool to utilize also! It may cost, but it’ll possibly put more money in your pocket eventually and build your notoriety up in your area!    

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evolution.ink/?hl=en
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuea4u2e5Cax1iPwoVJV4gw

Image Credits
Charlotte Colon Kevin Cekanor