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

Lisa, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

One of the things I love most about tattooing is that every piece you make is meaningful in one way or another. I’ve tattooed people in the highest and lowest times of their lives, and they trust me to take care of them. It’s an exchange that I cannot even describe how grateful I am for.

I’ve helped people feel comfortable in their bodies, move on from hurtful memories, express themselves in a creative way, mark significant moments, share a special relationships, grieve, and sometimes even grow. Honestly, even a tattoo that just makes someone smile is deeply meaningful.

On a personal level, I really resonate with my clients who come to me looking for tattoos to ease bodily dysphoria or dysmorphia. A big part of the reason I started getting tattooed myself was to feel happier, safer, and more confident in my own body. I can only speak from my own experience, but it definitely has been a positive thing for me. Giving people that same feeling literally makes my world go around.

Lisa, 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 Lisa, but most people know me on the internet as Tender Stabs! I co-own a shop in downtown Phoenix called Solace Tattoo with my colleague and best friend, Libby. Our focus at Solace is to provide a reliable and comfortable tattoo experience while prioritizing quality and safety. Our shop has been in the valley since, 2016, though Libby and I didn’t join until 2019, and just took ownership this year in 2022! We’re very excited to continue to grow and improve our shop, our team, and overall experience for our clients!

Including myself and Libby, we have a total of three artists to choose from! We each have a range of styles that compliment one another, so there’s no tattoo we can’t take on! Right now, my personal favorite tattoos to make are chocked full of color, but don’t be shy about asking about any style! I also highly recommend checking out our shop page on Instagram to get an idea of which of our talented artists would be a good fit for your project.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I believe resilience is a key factor for any creative success, and tattooing is no exception. If there’s anything I’ve learned in my work so far, it’s that you will have a nearly endless amount of obstacles to over come. Whether it be learning a new style, taking criticism for your work, or going against all odds to carve a career out for yourself, resilience is what makes it possible to keep getting up and trying over and over again, regardless of the challenge.

Being a newer, queer, female tattooer comes with its whole own set of hurtles. I’ve encountered plenty of discrimination and resistance to the idea of me taking up my own space in this industry, but those stories are a dime a dozen, unfortunately. So instead of talking about that, I have a story that I feel more people will understand— about supporting yourself when no one else does.

When I initially wanted to start tattooing and seek and apprenticeship, I was met with a lot of disapproval from my own family. This didn’t particularly surprise me, considering our history, but the level of resistance with which I was met was what was really discouraging. I was kicked out of my home and was made to believe that my efforts were a massive waste of time. It was made abundantly clear that any support I needed would not be offered as long as I continued to choose tattooing as my path. To add insult to injury, they told me I had a better chance at becoming a gold medalist Olympic ice skater. Looking back on all of this, I now find it mildly funny, especially considering I’m literally the worst ice skater that I know.

When I look around now at all of the support I have, it’s sometimes hard to remember how hard things where when I started out. How I had to be my own support, my own cheerleader, my own driving force. It’s easy to hear negativity from those that are supposed to care for you and internalize it as the truth. This is when resiliency is the strongest tool in your belt. Only you know your truth, only you know what you’re capable of and what your heart wants.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My main goal is always to make each new tattoo better than the last! As well as to make tattooing as accessible as possible for as many people as I can. The artists that I look up to most share this perspective and have shown me that it’s absolutely possible (and in most cases, easier) to be happy and successful in tattooing with this mentality.

When I walk into the shop, I’m always excited to create something unique and exciting, connect with my clients, and grow as an artist! As long as I can do that, have food in my fridge, and put a smile on someone’s face, I’ve met all my goals!

Contact Info:

• Website: Solacetattoophx.com
• Instagram: @tenderstabs
• Other: Shop Instagram- @solacetattoophx Shop Co-owners Instagram- @libberosis