We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful T. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with T below.

T, appreciate you joining us today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

Blessed to say yes, I am able to make a living tattooing. It wasn’t like that from day one. Being young and broke, might look impossible to get to the point where all your income is from creating art, but you gotta have tunnel vision. My folks would always say “ponte las pilas” basically translates to “get off your ass”. So did just that was able to meet mentors like Ness and Santana, they introduced me to the culture; Showed me the ropes and learn more than what I would have ever on my own. The game has treated me well hope it takes its time, I’m tryin really become a product of the environment. As of now I’ve had the pleasure to work with great artist, clients, participate in conventions and travel the country doing what I love.

T, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Everyone knows me as T, work at Tampa Tattoo Company. Specialize in black and grey realism, but enjoy experimenting in all forms of tattooing. Have a lot of respect for all the different cultures that molded together to make tattooing what it is today. Trying everyday to be fully encompasses that, to the point where tattooing is second nature. Thing about pride personally think it gets in the way of your creativeness so been trying to just focus attention on the next project and less on whats been done or accomplished. Would like all my clients to know, not doing anything special just the best of my ability, I’ma keep my head down workin. If you like the art please feel free to reach out.

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?

The way I see it we’re all creative maybe we can be more open minded. But people are naturally artistic. From the way we do our hair, to how we cook and arrange our lunch, to the small things like how we lay something down. Personally feel creativeness is something out this world. You just get random sparks of ideas and the more you sit and focus on the task at hand the more that emerge. Tattooing is for a special breed though- you have to be artistic, patient, known how to communicate with people, work with pain and be consistent everyday. You want to be enlightened? There are no short cuts for anyone in any craft. Work hard everyday and accomplish your goals.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Ego is the big one. I was recently blessed enough to go to Cali for an art exposition and meet a few of the pioneers in the game like Johnny Quintana & Charlie Cartwright. They hit me with some heavy game on how to respect the craft, work on your sketch book, work with your clients. No one likes the guy that walks around talking about other artists work and how they tattoo better. In reality the quiet artist that’s focused is usually the most respected. I had to shake off that childish mentality . Went home a humble man

Contact Info:

• Instagram: _ttheartist

Image Credits
Instagram @franks_been_dead