We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Suro Shinn. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Suro below.
Suro, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?
You have to be passionate only then will you find ways to make your art unique and creative.
Tattooing can be tricky when you become a full time day to day artist. It’s hard to sometimes keep the creativity when it’s a day to day gig.
Drawing, painting, working around other artists keeps me inspired. Also making flash designs helps clients with ideas for tattoos.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Hi my name is Suroshinn, and I’m a tattoo Artist based in Miami, Florida.
I have been tattooing for 12 years and my career started in Brooklyn, NY.
After I did my first tattoo on my best friend, in my Brooklyn basement, I knew this was the chosen path for me.
Since then I have worked at shops in New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Austin and Now Miami. I have also traveled and tattooed in Toronto and Madrid.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
An area of knowledge would be if I were to travel back in time and tell myself anything : “forget about what they say, get that tattoo machine” – I came from a time where no merchant would sell tattoo equipment unless you had a license or worked with notable tattoo artist / shop.
This industry has changed so much and so my only advice to the new generation of tattoo artists would be: “if you’re going to tattoo make sure you pull the best f****** line every single time or don’t do it at all.” Forget what the so called “veterans” would say, If you want to be a good tattooer, just respect yourself, respect your art and most importantly respect your client.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?:
- Website: suroshinn.org
- Instagram: Suroshinn
- Facebook: Suroshinn
Image Credits
Photo of me: @mike.teli The rest are taken by me.
