This photo was taken nearly ten years ago, in a friend's living room.. Adam was a brave soul for giving up a chunk of his arm to me when I really didn't know what the hell I was doing.. lots has changed sinve those days.. Although I'm not necessarily proud of how I got my start tattooing, it made me appreciate the craft from a different perspective. And Josh, I'll never be able to repay you for offering to fork over the gear to get me started, thank you.. I've never had a true apprenticeship, and I never had a true mentor, there were a few folks who passed on some valuable knowledge, guided me and gave me a chance when I probably didn't deserve it or truly appreciate it for what it was.. thank you all, I can't begin to name you all, but you probably know who you are.. Thank you to every one of my clients, every person who let me ply my trade on their precious skin, thank you.. Thank you to every one of my teachers, contemporaries and predecessors, and any tattooer who has ever said a kind word about me and my work or given me the critical feedback I needed to progress.. I'm part of a craft practised by innumerable cultures over thousands of years, and that in of itself is amazing.. honestly, sometimes I don't feel like I deserve to be part of it all and I'll work until my dying day to give back the love that tattooing has given to me.. Here's to the next ten years of learning and progression.. my passion and dedication has only grown since the first time I picked up a machine and I can't imagine life without my creative outlet, career and the people and places I've experienced because of it.. I love tattooing, and tattooing has shown a lot of love back. I'm forever grateful....... #tattooartist #keepersofthecraft #respectandhonor (at The Foundry Tattoo)
