We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Steven Cedre a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Steven thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Do you wish you had started sooner?

I wish I started tattooing earlier. But at the time I didn’t believe it was a viable option or lucrative career path.

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?

I have been an artist my whole life. From drawing, painting, design, murals, custom shoes to now tattooing. I’ve been tattooing for 5 years now. I had a bicycle accident that led me to emergency surgery and that’s when in realized I have to start knocking things off my bucket list. This was one of the first things to try. I fell in love… here I am.
My art is focused on realism, color and pop art. Powerful and playful.

It’s challenging and fulfilling. From being part of someone’s journey and adding a moment in time or covering up a memory that doesn’t fit their future. All of my previous experiences as an artist led me to this point. Problem solving as a creative.
I think having experience outside of tattooing and being a business owner give me a different perspective on how I approach each client.
I want not only to give them a great piece of art but a memorable experience that they can reflect on.
To know that the pain was temporary and that I helped them through it with either laughter or empathy.
I am unlicensed pain therapist.
I share my stories and hopefully add a good one for each client.

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

In a stage way life has always found a way to steer me to focus on art 2 major points in life: First was over 20 years ago…. came home from work and laid on the floor of my son’s room. He was about 1-2 years old. He was jumping on his bed, fell off and landed on my head. He accidentally injured c2 and c6 of my spine and I lost my job because I couldn’t work. That led me into painting and customizing shoes…Sole Junkie was born. That lasted a while…I got scared from the recession and took up a job. I strayed off the creative path.
Second, 6 years ago….I was going downhill on my bicycle and hit a pothole. That led to emergency surgery of my left arm. 3 surgeries in total. That triggered the bucket list and that I’m running out of time. Started tattooing and haven’t stopped since.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

I feel society only values performing artists such as actors and musicians. Tattoo Artists, painters, writers, illustrators, concept and comic book artists are only admired and supported by each other and their niche followers. We aren’t promoted or compensated like the other entertainers. Yet we provide the visual images your eyes remember.
I think society should celebrate and share more of our stories. To give us more credit. To normalize visual arts as a lucrative investment. To get rid of the starving artists stereotype and compensate artists for what they are worth and not for what they think a drawing will sell for.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: solejunkiecustoms
• Facebook: sole junkie
• Youtube: solejunkie
• Other: Tik tok: Sole Junkie

Image Credits
All my images