Alex Heizer

A good friend of mine in the tattoo business summed it up like this:

"I get to do what I love to do all day, every day. Plus, what other artist sells every piece they make?"

What better job to have than one that you love? The tattoo world is a rare one in the job market where every worker fights to get into their first position by putting in free hours at a company, sometimes paying for the privilege. In any industry there are standout companies which don’t have to worry about finding people to fill the few internships available, but even in those companies plenty of employees have "fallen" into their positions or just submitted an application along with applications at a dozen other companies. But ask any established tattoo shop and you’ll find they always have new people asking to be taken on as an apprentice, or to be given their big chance to work in their first shop. As an artist, I find it really great to be a part of a culture and industry that has so many energetic people come into it every day simply because it is what they’re driven to do!

Some may look at them as competition, but I know it’s hard to keep any close circles from getting stale. Especially artistic ones. Every new artist brings a new perspective and the opportunity to see something never seen before. These new perspectives and opportunities are what being an artist is all about, and what I love about going to work each day.

-Alex

This entry was posted on Thursday, March 06, 2008 and is filed under Work.
Tagged: work,love,shop,apprentice,art