We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Felix Nieuwenhuis. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Felix below.

Felix , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?

I was always drawing, so the natural progression from there seemed to go to artschool but I didn’t actually know what field I wanted to work in. I then tried a tattoo machine from a friend, and after that I had a lot of people who asked me if I could do one on them, seeing as they liked my drawing. After art school I managed to find an apprenticeship, while still working in a bar. Then one day, I was working the terrace and there was no one there, I was very bored and at that moment a dove crapped on one of the tables, and I was happy I could actually do something. Right after I got a call from the tattoo shop if I wanted to do a bigger client, for some more money. At that moment I decided this was going to be it, and I quit my bar job a couple of days later. I’ve not done another job since.
I do think I would have liked to have stayed more true to my work, in the first tattoo shop I worked in I had to do every project that walked through that door, whether it suited my style or not. It’s great to experiment and branch out, but if you’re good at the piano giving a guitar concert might be overdoing it a bit,
In the 8 years since I’ve worked in 3 different shops, traveled around a fair bit to work in different places and attended quite a few tattoo conventions. I’ve also opened my own private studio. All of these things, mostly seeing different people work have helped in discovering my own way of work, though I’m far from done with learning.

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

My name is Felix, I’m a tattoo artist for 8 years now. I am not done developing my style yet, but I mostly do a combination of ornamental blackwork/geometry, surrealism and Korean/japanese inspired work. I just got into the business as tattooing started to reach its peak. The taboo of having tattoos is long gone and only grandparents seem to have a strong adverse opinion on the matter, I never thought I would become a tattoo artist, looking back I think if I would tell my younger self this, he wouldn’t believe I’d end up in such a – for lack of a better word – cool job, I’m happy this fell on my path and I do think it is my calling, or at least the thing that will cultivate my talents the best. It is hard work and it takes a life of dedication. Right now the industry is blowing up and many people are deciding to persue the same line of work. If this is your dream, go for it! If it is your dream to be a cool tattooer, maybe consider what you love. If it is drawing, for hours on end, and you like people, this might be the right thing for you. Don’t become a dj if you only play music and don’t create it,

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I don’t think I necessarily have an end game in mind, but I do feel that this line of work will allow me, looking back, to have made the most of my life. I wouldn’t say most of my talents, because I don’t think I was born with any extraordinary talent. I think I just never stopped doing what I loved which is drawing, naturally you will get good at it if you keep loving it. You don’t need to be good at a thing to do it, doing the thing will make you good at it.
This is what I feel my drive is, to get better, to keep surprising myself at what I can make. To get a request and to rise to the occasion, and make my clients happy in the process.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I think it’s good to not judge yourself too much. Yes you should be critical, and do the best you can, but sitting in front of a canvas and demanding it will be the best thing you’ve every done is not going to make that happen. Art is play in my opinion, and discovering what comes naturally, only to look up and find you’ve finished what might be your best piece yet is how I think the creative process flows.
At times I’ve struggled with being a very harsh critic to my own work, and this gave me a low self view. It’s easy to forget how far you’ve gotten if you only look at where you think you’re supposed to be.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @felix.tattooer