05/15/2026
10 years ago I walked into a little hole-in-the-wall tattoo shop just hoping for a chance to learn.
I had no idea that one decision would completely shape my life.
I spent the first few years learning the hard way — making mistakes, improving piece by piece, staying late, showing up every day, and just trying to become better than I was the day before.
After 4 years, I took a huge step and opened a shop with one of my friends. We poured everything we had into building it and growing it from the ground up. Long days, long nights, stress, sacrifice, and nonstop work — but also some of the best memories and biggest lessons of my career.
Eventually, I got the opportunity to work at what I considered the best shop in town. That opportunity pushed me to grow even more as an artist and as a person.
Life moved fast after that.
I moved to Georgia to work and build a life there, and later ended up in South Carolina. There were a lot of changes, a lot of uncertainty, and a lot of bouncing around trying to find where I truly fit.
But after all of it, I can honestly say I’ve finally found a shop and a group of people I’m genuinely happy to work with.
Tattooing has been more than a job to me. It’s been therapy. It’s been purpose. It’s been the dream I chased since I was a kid drawing on everything I could find.
Over the last 10 years, I’ve met so many artists, clients, friends, mentors, and coworkers who helped shape me into the person and artist I am now. Some of you probably don’t even realize how much you influenced me — whether it was through advice, criticism, encouragement, competition, or just watching how you carried yourselves.
I’m grateful for every shop that gave me an opportunity, every person who sat in my chair, and every artist I crossed paths with along the way.
10 years down.
Still learning.
Still grateful.
Still hungry.
