We were lucky to catch up with Rustem Khakimov recently and have shared our conversation below.

Rustem, appreciate you joining us today. Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?

For most of my life, I’ve been trying to make a living through my creative work. I’ve had a lot of different jobs, but I always come back to art. Before I became a tattoo artist, I was struggling to get by. I can remember a time when I had enough money to get to work, but not enough to get back home. But no matter what I did, I always tried my best and learned everything I could. Most of my jobs were somehow related to art, like engraving, airbrushing, making decorations and 3D models, painting portraits, and more. I had some office jobs too, which paid better, but I didn’t enjoy them. I always felt that I would end up doing something related to art, and that I had to love it. So I kept trying.

It wasn’t until I moved to the US that I started thinking about becoming a tattoo artist. I was already 28, and starting from scratch was really tough, especially since my English wasn’t good enough to connect with people or potential clients.

My first job in the US was as a cook at an Asian-inspired restaurant in South Beach. I got the job because I look Asian, and they didn’t have any Asian workers at the time. Looking back, I realize that it was kind of messed up, but I was grateful for the opportunity. Everyone there was great and helped me a lot with the language and adapting to the culture. While I was working there, I worried that I wasn’t using my art education and not doing anything related to art. That’s when I decided to try tattooing. There were many tattoo shops in South Beach, so I thought it was worth a shot. However, it wasn’t an easy transition.

I thought it would be easy to switch to tattooing since I had experience drawing and painting with different techniques, but it wasn’t. It took me almost a year before I felt comfortable tattooing someone’s skin. After getting my first tattoo, I didn’t think I could ever become a tattoo artist and hurt anyone like that. In theory, I had learned everything I needed to know to start tattooing, but when it came to practice, I was so nervous that I couldn’t hold the tattoo machine still. At some point, I almost gave up because I started to think that tattooing wasn’t for me. But I kept pushing myself because for me, it was either make it or go back home. Working in a restaurant wasn’t an option for me, so I didn’t want to waste this opportunity. For a long time, I did free tattoos to practice as much as I could. It was surprising to me how many people agreed to let me tattoo them, even though I had zero experience. I remember one guy who said that he didn’t care and that one day, I’d become a famous tattoo artist, and he would be proud to say that he had one of my first tattoos. That made me feel better and reminded me that no one is great at the beginning.

After a few months of practicing and having ups and downs, I got hired at a tattoo shop, and a couple of weeks later, I quit the restaurant. It didn’t make sense to work there anymore since I could make twice as much in half the time. It felt great and satisfying. The more I tattooed, the more confident I became. I started loving tattooing more and more every day. It made me happy.

If I could give advice to my younger self to speed up the learning process and get better in more efficient ways, I would say to buy quality equipment, even if it’s expensive. It’s going to be worth it in the long run. I made the mistake of buying a cheap tattoo machine for less than $20, and it broke within a week. Additionally, practice makes perfect, so practice a lot on a silicone skin first before attempting to tattoo on real people. And last but not least, take care of your physical health. Tattooing can take a toll on our bodies, especially the back, eyes, and wrists.

Now, tattooing remains my favorite full-time job. It pays all my bills and more. I’m grateful for the opportunity I was given and for everything this job has provided. I have more than I could ever wish for – I live in Miami, I have a car and a motorcycle that I once thought I could never afford, but most importantly, I get to do what I love and make a living out of it. I don’t even feel like I’m working. How awesome is that?!

Rustem, 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?

When I was young, I began to take an interest in drawing and painting. Eventually, I pursued my passion and attended college to become an art and technical drawing teacher. After completing my studies, I graduated from the University of Art in Russia and earned a diploma in Fine Arts.

I’ve always been a perfectionist. I wanted to be the best at whatever I did, not because I was competitive, but because it was important to me.

With tattooing, I faced many challenges, but I am happy that I overcame them and stayed true to myself. It was not easy starting from scratch, dealing with the language barrier, fear of failure, but what made it even harder was my family’s disapproval of me becoming a tattoo artist. I’m close to my family, so it was tough to go against their wishes. However, they now love all the tattoos that I do. I’m glad I stood up for my beliefs and goals and continued doing what I love. It has been one of the best decisions of my life so far.
Tattooing is unique because it allows me to make a difference in people’s lives. It is a personal experience that requires trust and connection. My clients trust me to create something meaningful and permanent on their bodies, which is a responsibility that I take seriously. I feel grateful that my work can bring happiness and closure to some of my clients, and I see tattooing as a form of healing.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Yes, absolutely. My creative journey is driven by the desire to make a positive impact on people’s lives through my art. For me, tattooing is not just about creating a beautiful piece of artwork on someone’s skin, but also about helping them heal and find closure. It’s a deeply personal and meaningful experience for both me and my clients. Seeing the joy and satisfaction on their faces after a tattoo session is the greatest reward for me. My goal is to continue honing my skills and expanding my artistic horizons, so that I can bring even more value to my clients and leave a lasting positive impact on their lives.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Sure, as I was saying earlier one of the biggest was the language barrier, as I moved to the United States from Russia and did not speak English very well. I also had to start from scratch, as I had no connections or experience in the industry.

Despite these challenges I continued to work hard and push through the fear of failure. It was not easy, but I kept going and eventually established myself as a successful tattoo artist.

This experience taught me that it is important to keep moving forward and believe in yourself.

Contact Info:

• Website: Iris.tattoo
• Instagram: Instagram.com/Rustem_fine_art
• Other: TikTok: @Rustem_fine_art Email : [email protected]