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

Maria, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

My passion for drawing has always been an integral part of my life. At every stage of growing up, I found ways to express myself through art, and this path led me to pursue a higher education in fine arts. It was there that I realized that creativity wasn’t just a hobby, but a path I wanted to follow professionally.

After graduating from university, I worked as an artist in the gaming industry. It was a valuable experience, but over time I realized that I was seeking more creative freedom and independence in my work. This led me to painting, where I created commissioned works and portraits. However, my journey was full of challenges and difficulties. Finding my place in the art world turned out to be much harder than I had imagined, but these trials helped me grow stronger.

Eventually, I unexpectedly fell in love with the profession of tattooing. This path opened up new creative horizons for me, though it was not without its difficulties, and things were far from smooth, as I had to learn everything on my own. Now I dream of making a name for myself in this field. My experience in various areas of art has given me a unique perspective and knowledge that I apply in my tattoo work. Despite this, I still have a deep love for painting and dream of combining it with tattooing, continuing to work in both mediums.

My creative career is a constant emotional rollercoaster: on the one hand, there’s my deep love for what I do, and on the other, the relentless self-criticism. My successes inspire me, but I always demand more from myself. Sometimes I create challenges for myself by setting increasingly high goals, but it’s this drive for growth and development that fuels my passion for my profession.

And I am truly happy that my work and style resonate with people, and that I can create art that stays with them for life.

Maria, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a tattoo artist with eight years of experience. The main focus of my work is large projects such as sleeves, back pieces, and leg sleeves. I also create individual tattoos on the shoulder or forearm. Every design I create is custom-made from scratch for each client, and I never repeat my work, which makes every tattoo truly unique.

My clients often choose dark themes, such as vampires and other mysterious characters. This gives my work a special atmosphere. I love mixing styles, for example, combining black-and-grey realism with Japanese elements, which allows me to create complex and unique projects.

I take pride in my ability to adapt designs to the client’s anatomy and create something truly unique for them. It’s important to me that the tattoo not only looks beautiful but also fits harmoniously with the body, highlighting its features. This requires attention to detail and an understanding of how the tattoo will “live” on the body.

My goal is to create tattoos that are true works of art, something that will stay with the person for life and reflect their personality.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I didn’t realize right away how crucial the media aspect is for building a successful career in the arts. Understanding that participating in festivals, getting published in magazines, and creating a personal brand can have a significant impact on your future came to me later. Even if you are truly talented, people won’t know about you unless you make yourself visible through media channels. Building a personal brand is an essential part of the journey toward recognition and success.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

Creativity is a journey that requires no less effort than any other profession. People often think that artistic works are created solely through inspiration, but in reality, inspiration is an infrequent visitor, arriving only when it chooses. The core process of creating art demands discipline, patience, and constant practice. To succeed in creativity, one must invest a lot of time and effort. Art requires the same level of dedication as any other field of work.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tzimisk_tattoo/

Image Credits

Self