We were lucky to catch up with Omari Love recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Omari thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. The first dollar you earn is always exciting – it’s like the start of a new chapter and so we’d love to hear about the first time you sold or generated revenue from your creative work?

My first dollar as a creative came from one of my paintings that a loved one purchased from me shortly before he was sentenced to 5 years in prison. It was acrylic on canvas and the image reflected the torso of a woman. The support that I had received from this person for one of my creations opened my eyes to what I could do with my artwork.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a multidisciplinary artist is every aspect of the word. My main passion is music, but I mostly sustain myself through permanent body art. Tattooing to be specific. I’ve been intrigued by tattoos for as long as I could remember, and always admired the culture. In 4th grade, I did a class project on the iceman, who wore 61 tattoos that were preserved by the glacial climate. Ever since seeing my first few tattoos on my grandmother and father, I always wanted to be a tattoo artist, even though I didn’t quite understand how it worked at the time. Eventually, as I got older, and as information became more accessible due to the evolution of the internet, I got my hands on a cheap tattoo machine. I was 15 years old and completely clueless. I gave myself horrible tattoos all over my thighs, until I became discouraged. I took a break from the idea of tattooing for 2 years and focused primarily on drawing. In my high school drawing class, which I failed at the time, I was introduced to stippling, which is the process of drawing using several small dots. This is a style that I fell in love with. I eventually realized, while on my tattoo hiatus that this drawing style could probably translate well into tattoos. And then I began thinking about the iceman again and learned more about the process of hand-poke tattooing. The original style of tattooing. After doing a little bit of research, I gave myself a hand-poked tattoo using a 7RL needle, as well as India ink. I realized how much more control I had while using merely the needle, as opposed to a machine. This was how I broke into the industry. Because at the time, there weren’t a lot of tattoo artists where I grew up who went about tattooing in this manner. It was still very traditional. Which is why I was able to create such a lucrative market at the time. A lot of people gravitated towards me in the beginning because I created an atmosphere and experience that was far less intimidating than the shops. At first I was tattooing friends. Then, it was friends of friends. Then, eventually I was tattooing complete strangers, creating a name for myself all over the Twin Cities. Establishing connections and building a brand. I was 17 at the time and excited to embark on this new artistic journey

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My main goal that drives my creative journey is to pave a path for other creative individuals like myself, who may not have the prestige or resources to bring their creative ideas to life. I want others who might look to me for inspiration to feel as though they can pursue their ideas without the constant pressure of social media and conformity.

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?

I think what a lot of people who don’t have the same creative inclination might not understand, is the commitment. For some people, creativity is viewed as something that one might do in their leisure time, but for me, staying creative and active is a way of life that I’m committed to. A way of life that keeps me sane and balanced. Creativity is a priority for me and someone who doesn’t consider themselves creative might have a hard time grasping that. But frankly, I believe that everyone is a creative, whether they consider themselves or not. Some people’s creativity is dormant, and some people channel their creativity in ways beyond art.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.instagram.com/omari_eternal/
• Instagram: http://instagram.com/omaribleedinglove

Image Credits
Anna Bloda and Eliza Jouin