We recently connected with Phil Colvin and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Phil thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What was the most important lesson/experience you had in a job that has helped you in your creative career?
I learned important lessons from every shop that I was in, from how to treat my clients with respect and dignity to how to lead by example for my artists: always showing up early, working hard, and having a willingness to take on everything that comes through the door. The bosses that I’ve had in my career either showed me the right way or the wrong way to do it, but I learned the lesson regardless.
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?
My name is Phil Colvin and I have been a tattooer for 35 years. After completing a professional two year apprenticeship under Larry Perry in Phoenix, AZ, I traveled to Atlanta, Georgia in 1992 and began tattooing full time. After a brief stint tattooing in Miami Beach, I returned to Atlanta and opened my first shop Memorial Tattoo in 2006.
I specialize in portraits and large scale Japanese work, but I’m fluent in all styles of tattooing. My goal is to provide my clients with a safe, positive space and quality product that they can wear proudly for the rest of their life. Tattooing is a very personal experience and I’m immensely proud that people choose me to share in that.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
For me, seeing someone proudly wearing my art for the rest of their lives is unbelievably gratifying. Knowing that I’ve created a lasting memory and helped my client feel more comfortable and beautiful in their own skin is the best.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?
People have trouble understanding how much time goes into the creation of a tattoo: after the initial consultation, there’s sketching, adjusting, more sketching, collaborating – all to simply prepare for the tattoo itself. Once it’s time for the appointment, it’s getting equipment set up, sizing the stencil and placing it or drawing the image onto the body, getting the client adjusted and comfortable. Only then do we start the hours of getting that image onto the body. Then do the entire process multiple times a week. It’s exhaustive but the only way for me to do it right.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.memorialtattooatl.com
- Instagram: @philcolvintattoo
- Other: @memorialtattooatl