Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Nadia Shinkunas. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Nadia, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?
In July of 2022 I took probably the biggest risk of my life to date, I packed up my life and started over 1500 miles away. I was living in Omaha, Nebraska, I had great clientele and was booked for 2- 3 months out. I had a great apartment just 5 minutes away from my shop, and I knew my city from one end to the other. But even with all of that going for me, I never felt “Home”. So, with the immense help of my cousin Annie in Long Beach, I decided it was time to give my dreams a chance and return to California. I made all the plans, gave away everything that wouldn’t fit in my 05 civic hatchback, and headed west! I crashed on Annie’s couch for 2 months before a studio conveniently opened up in the same building!
I’d say 90% of the risk was starting at a new shop, sight unseen. I was SO Nervous coming from a small midwestern shop to a big California shop! But, after being at Black Raven Tattoo Gallery for over a year now, its hard to believe I’ve ever been anywhere else. One thing however that seems a little backwards… I was sooooo happy to leave the red state of Nebraska, only to work in the one city in the area that Currently has a city council and mayor who thinks being LGBTQIA+ is a lifestyle choice, but Pickleball is worth a city wide celebration. Umm??? I moved to CALIFORNIA… didn’t I? But really, other than that, everything is great! I’m so happy I finally trusted my instincts and so grateful to everyone who encouraged me and let me lean on them. For a long time I considered myself a very Unlucky person… I don’t feel that way anymore. :)
Nadia, 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 don’t know if I will ever not feel guilty about I got into tattooing. I am the classic case of “it’s who you know”. I graduated from my 7th college in 2014 with a Bachelors in Studio Arts with a sculpture concentration. I loved ( and still do) creating 3D pieces out of all different materials, as well as 2D pieces that give the Illusion of being 3D. From 2014- 2017 I put on a number of pop up art shows, eventually starting an LLC – Random Arts Omaha with some other local art enthusiasts. Through these shows I got to know the amazing artist who opened his own shop and gave me a start in tattooing- Aaron Olivo. There are so many talented artists out there begging for a shot, and I just waltz in on my wave of sagittarius luck and get the opportunity of a lifetime. So I will forever have what is well know to any creative – Imposter Syndrome. I do however, realize the amazing gift I have been given and I will always work my hardest to honor it! I am overjoyed to be able to create art for people to forever adorn their bodies with. As important as it is to get the design right, I also pride myself on giving my clients a fun and positive experience that they will remember every time they look at the tattoo I gave them. I’m really just a big curious 5 year old who wants to nerd out with anyone willing to see what my brain can cook up! My current obsession is turning animals into cowboys! But my forever forever all consuming love is Cartoons. If you want to hear a 38 (almost 39) yr old scream for joy, ask me to tattoo a cartoon anything on you with all the colors.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
My driving force has always been my mom! I know that is super corny, but it’s the truth. She has always believed in me and had my back. She has overcome so much in her life and even through the hardest times, she made sure I never gave up on my creative dreams. My dad was a musician, my mom tells me she used to call herself “the other woman” because she knew music was his first love that she could never compete with. While music has a huge place in my life bc of my father, my creative passion developed into creating visual art. My mom is the one person who always understood how nothing else matters to me as much as art. I never have to explain myself to her, she just gets it. So I can’t let that all that support go to waste, she’s worked tirelessly to give me the life I dreamt of. Everything I do now is to honor that and sometimes I still can’t believe this is real. I talk to my mom a lot, we have a running joke that one of us is in a coma and this is all a dream. Just don’t wake us up! Endgame – a tiny house for each of us overlooking the beach, we think Catalina would be nice :)
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
Having control over my own life is so Huge! I got into tattooing after being in the regular job world for 20+ years. It has helped me appreciate my position immensely. I worked in retail, call centers, factories, parking garages, food service, hospitals, pawn shops, gas stations, art galleries, janitorial services and probably more that I’ve blocked out. Life is so much less stressful now that I don’t have 10 bosses asking for TPS reports clocking in and out at the right time, having to ask for time off – and possibly not getting it. That’s crazy to me now. I can’t believe I used to let someone else have control over My time. Now, I get an email with a few reference photos, asking me to create a tattoo of a frog wearing cowboy gear and shooting finger guns. Then I get to hang out with the people who requested this fabulous thing for a few hours, AND THEN I get to see their faces light up with joy when they see the finished product AND I GET PAID FOR IT. What else can I say, DON’T WAKE ME UP!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://hihello.me/p/2614b8b6-5866-486c-9ad1-bff3e61c4b14
- Instagram: @nadz_illa
- Other: https://www.blackraventattoo.com/artist-Nadia.asp