Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Andrew Patch. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Andrew, 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?
When it comes to tattooing, I try to have a healthy balance of being prepared and impulsiveness. I’ve found that being over prepared can sometimes stifle some of the energy and creativity. When I’m painting, sometimes I’ll have no game plan, and just see what happens as I go. I try to incorporate that freedom into my tattooing whenever I’m able.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I’ve been tattooing in Atlanta for 14 years, and I’ve worked at Southern Star Tattoo on Ponce de Leon for the last 10 years. Working on Ponce has been great because you encounter so many different people and there is always some kind of action going on! My goal is to the give the customer a tattoo that they will love, while also making sure it will hold up well over time. I want both of us to be smiling at the end!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I think having an optimistic outlook is so important. If your always looking for the negative in a situation, then you will find the negative. This is something that I wish I implemented earlier in my life. Persistence is also another important quality when learning a new skill. It’s ok not to be great at something in the beginning, but trying to improve is crucial. I think another powerful skill is listening. I think this skill would serve anybody well early in their journey. It’s nice to put your ego aside and realize that there are people that know more than you. Open your ears and soak up as much knowledge as you can!
How would you describe your ideal client?
I think my ideal client is someone that is familiar with my style of work, and has a rough idea of what they would like, but also grants me enough freedom with the design. I like it when someone has an idea in their head, rather than just saying ,” do whatever you want”.
Contact Info:
- Website: Southernstartattoo.net
- Instagram: @Andrew_patch
