We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Nick Reynoso a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Nick, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.
I’ve been tattooing for 11 years, but when I lost my parents, I hit a real rough patch. I felt lost and knew I needed a change. So, I took a big chance and bet on myself and started looking for my own studio space. It was super hard to leave the shop where I learned everything and worked for 7 years – that place will always mean so much to me. But, deep down, I knew I had to do something just for myself.
Everything seemed to fall into place. I found this nice creative space in Ahwatukee at Ranch Circle Plaza. It was kind of hidden away but that was cool and had everything I needed – a private entrance, private parking, and it is in this really great area. So, I went for it.
Here I am, four years later, running my own studio, and it’s been great. Setting everything up on my own wasn’t easy, but I’m really proud of what I’ve built. Plus, it’s helped me find a nice balance between work and family.
It was definitely scary making that move, but it just felt like the right thing to do. My advice? If you’re ever stuck wondering whether to take a chance, go for it. Otherwise, you’ll always be asking yourself ‘What if?’.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
As a kid I was always into art but never thought I would be able to do anything to make a living off of it. I went to evit in high school and got into the automotive industry while still being able to be creative in the custom car scene I met Efrain (bugs) Gonzales who really opened my eyes to creating art for a living, seeing what he can do with candy paints and pearls laying out patters for graphics and beautiful pin-striping being around the custom car culture you notice tattoos kind of go hand in hand, anything to make you stand out from the rest, around that time I started getting tattooed by Tony olvera at Lady Luck tattoo gallery in Tempe. I was super interested in it all and was hooked,looking into all of the styles of tattooing learning of artist from all over who where amazing really pushed me to focus on art and get the courage to ask for an apprenticeship. After bugging Tony for a year or more still while getting tattooed by him he finally gave in and agreed to be my mentor my apprenticeship was for a little over two years i had the pleasure of working there for 7 years and now have been tattooing for 11 years. I pride myself on being able to do multiple styles of tattooing. I Enjoy bringing your ideas to life or re creating something you may already like and make it into something custom for you. My years of experience can help guide you to have an amazing tattoo that will look great and withstand over the years. From fine line script to large scale black and grey, clean lines and bold color work i love making it all.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The process, clients happy to see you,learning what they would like in a tattoo, making something we are proud of, hearing someone say the piece turned out better then they imagined. Watching someone smile as they see their new tattoo in the mirror for the first time. I think it is great to have earned peoples trust, It means so much when clients are comfortable and trust me and send their friends and family my way. Getting to know them, watching their stories unfold over time, and seeing them come back for more work. – it’s a huge part of why I love what I do.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.
Becoming really good at tattooing, or any craft for that matter, isn’t something that happens overnight. It’s more than just talent – not every artist or tattooer starts in the same place, after all. And just because something looks easy doesn’t mean it is. There’s a whole lot of learning, practicing, and just plain old sticking with it involved. Some of the simplest-looking designs can actually be super tricky to nail down.
The amount of sacrifice and dedication that goes into this kind of creative work is massive. It’s pretty much your whole life. There are those late-night sessions, hours and hours spent being your own toughest critic – stuff that no one else ever sees. Then there are the people who keep you going, whether it’s the ones cheering you on or the ones who doubted you – both have a way of lighting a fire under you.
What really drives most of us is the love of it all, the goal of getting better, of mastering your craft. It’s about always striving for more out of art.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @Tatt2_Nick