Today we’d like to introduce you to Art Solis.
Hi Art, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I’ve been drawing from the age of 5. I already had a strong art presence in the arts community. At the time I was working at a bike shop building custom bikes. I was exhausted with the long days and the challenges that come along with working for someone else. A friend approached me with the idea of learning the art of tattooing, so I found a mentor and got to work. After bouncing around a few shops over the course of 3 years, I finally decided to take a leap of faith and go into business for myself and opened my own shop, Ink Station Tattoo.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
It’s been much smoother than what I was anticipating! I had owned a business years ago, so I knew the expectations. I have a great team; my life partner and my assistant have helped tremendously to keep me on the straight and narrow. When you own a business, you are required to work a lot more in order to cover the expenses and costs to operate. We’ve been open for 5 months officially and brought on another artist. The shop is thriving!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a tattoo artist and owner of Ink Station Tattoo in Battle Creek, MI. I would say what sets me apart is my diversity in tattoo work. I’m known for my versatility, my consistently and my wide range of tattoo styles to include, but not limited to black and gray realism, color realism, and traditional. I am most proud of the fact that I’ve been able to do and display many forms of my artwork in Battle Creek professionally since 2007 including but not limited to; murals for Color the Creek, airbrush t-shirts, tattooing, custom airbrush work on motorcycles, and body art.
What would you say has been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
Never do work for free. People will try to tell you that they’ll bring you more business, they’ll help advertise in exchange for tattoo work, etc. A lot of times as an artist you’re tempted to take on work in the name of trying to get your artwork seen, trying to bring attention to your craft BUT it never works out.
Contact Info:
- Website: Inkstationtattoo.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inkstationtat/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064343340375
