Today we’d like to introduce you to Ash Valentine.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Ash. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I was always into the arts growing up. One day in my junior year of high school, someone brought a tattoo magazine into class and everything clicked for me. Since then, it was my goal and dream to be a tattoo artist.
I had two separate apprenticeships. My first one was with a very traditional Oklahoma tattoo shop. With some of Oklahoma first tattoo artists. At this time, tattooing in OK had only been legal for six years. I was not a good fit for that shop and left six months later. I eventually went to Muse Art Tattoo and worked as a desk girl for a year and a half until I was able to be an apprentice. An apprenticeship lasts two years in Oklahoma. The first year, I was under Markus Muse learning business and painting every day. The second year, I was tattooing under him. After my apprenticeship, I eventually went to the “largest” all female shop in OK; Black Mint Collective. This is when my career really took off.
I would fly out to California to hang and tattoo friends ever since I was an apprentice. I guest spotted at Sacred Art Tattoo and Thunderbird Tattoo. After coming out to LA a few times a year, my friend Liz Campos convinced me to move out here! I am currently working at Suerte Tattoo downtown now.
Has it been a smooth road?
You can’t have highs if you don’t have those lows.
Trying to become a tattoo artist in Oklahoma is a hard one due to the fact that they made it hard for a reason. It’s also a male-dominated field of work. It was easy to lose touch of my femininity and look down on it. I would say stay true to one’s self and don’t lose sight of what you want.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
My profession is a tattoo artist but my artistry furthers to painting and enamel pin designing. My tattoo work is mostly blackwork and I specialize in floral work. I love putting beautiful bouquets on beautiful people!
I paint cute Ash-Trays and window panes. And I also started an enamel pin business with my best friend called BananaSprkl. We recently came out with a pin that has a little bundle of bruised bananas and has a banner that says “Bruised Babes” and I really feel like it speaks to every woman. We are all bruised either physically, mentally or emotionally.
What’s the most important piece of advice you could give to a young woman just starting her career?
You can do anything you put your mind to. Keep with it and stay humble.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://calendly.com/tatts_n_ash
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: Instagram.com/tatts_n_ash
- Other: Bigcartel.com/bananasprkl
Image Credit:
Heather Ferreira
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