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

Mia, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

I am the happiest I’ve ever been working as a full-time tattoo artist! I will say though that while it’s deeply fulfilling, it’s also incredibly challenging. I obviously love being able to pursue my creative passion and I’m super grateful that I get to do that. But in practical terms it’s also very hard, I feel a lot of pressure all the time. Still, I have worked “secure”, “regular” jobs most of my life, and the only way I’ll ever go back to those is the day I can’t pay my bills.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

You can see my work on my Instagram page, @StabbyPain.

My favorite tattoo styles are American Traditional, woodcut-style and illustrative, which is what most of my work consists of. I like to design flash that’s playful and maybe a little nostalgic, and I draw inspiration from the things I love, mainly skate culture, 80s nostalgia, horror, linocuts and nature.

My favorite part of the job is creating custom designs that bring my clients’ ideas to life. I love the collaborative process and getting to know the people I work with on a personal level makes the experience so much better.

For anyone interested in getting tattooed by me, I take pride in creating a client-centered, friendly environment where your comfort is my priority. Whether you’re up for a chat or prefer a quieter vibe, I want to make every session as welcoming and enjoyable as possible. My goal is not only to create a sick-ass piece of art but also to make the process as fun and pleasant as possible.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

Thinking that it’s too late/you’re too old to pursue a new dream or career. There’s not much of a backstory, but I did pick up tattooing in my late thirties. I had been thinking about it for about 10 years though, so I guess the moral of the story is if you love it, don’t hesitate so much and go for it.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

So many, but connecting with others through my art is probably it.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @stabbypain

Image Credits

Headshot photo credit goes to Ayn Averett, @concretefoxy on IG