I have been telling my family that I was going to be an artist when I grew up since I was about old enough to hold a pencil. Of course, back then I didn't think that tattooing was the art I was talking about.. In fact, I didn’t even realize that tattooing was art until I got my first one. My best friend basically had to twist my arm to get our first tattoos together. (A heart with tribal thorns behind it that we picked right off a sheet of flash on the wall, small enough to fit under a quarter and placed on our hips so that we could hide it easily if we wanted to.) That tattoo is definitely nothing mind blowing as far as artwork goes, but it changed my mind and my life. It's dramatic, but as far as defining moments go there aren’t too many bigger ones that I can think of so far in my life. I watched the guy tattoo for the whole 15 minutes it took to complete it and I was convinced that I could do what he was doing. I also had my next tattoo planned before I left the shop. (I’m happy it didn't occur to me at the time but, of course anyone in the chair should think that what we are doing looks easy! That comes, as it should, after a lot of practice.) After that experience, it took a little while for the idea, that I could really be a tattoo artist, to solidify in my mind. Once it did, it took me all of one day to put together my art portfolio and go find myself an apprenticeship. Nate Montessi of Dv8 Tattoos in Concord, California took me under his wing and gave me my start. I did my first tattoo in October of 2004 after a few months of driving my poor teacher crazy with my enthusiasm. At the time I was working full time at a hospital doing clerical work to support myself, which I continued to do throughout my apprenticeship. Sometime in 2005 I realized that tattooing is not a part time job, and that if you want to be any good at all you have to dedicate your life to it. So I took the leap and quit my 9 to 5 in order to give my full attention to tattooing. Since then I have tried to keep Art as the center of my life at all time. Now when I am not tattooing, I am most likely working on art either for an upcoming tattoo or just for personal enjoyment and learning. Traveling to tattoo conventions and guest spots is important to me because it keeps me inspired and keeps me on my toes, so I keep it moving. I also continue to get tattooed by people who I admire and respect. All of this helps to keep me progressing and interested. I still love it all.