Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Julian Solis. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Julian with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
Something my dad always told me was that “hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.” I don’t presume to have any special talent, but I am determined to be hardworking. It’s important for me to spend time every day working toward my goals. I once had a college professor call me “unusually dogged.” That was a polite way of acknowledging my stubbornness; when it comes to my success, I don’t see any other option but to put in the work.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
My name is Julian Solis, and I’m a tattoo artist in Houston, Texas. My work is bold, colorful, fun, cute, a little tough and has lots of heart. I’m proud that people see my tattoos and say, “hey, did Julian do that?” I love connecting with people and making everyone feel welcome. Getting tattooed is so vulnerable, and it’s my first priority to keep my clients comfortable and stoked on their tattoo experience. I was honored to be named Best Tattoo Artist on Outsmart’s Magazine’s Gayest & Greatest list in October 2023. That meant a lot to me, as it was reader nominated and voted – my clients are so supportive. As a non-binary artist I’m grateful for the opportunity to provide a safe space for folks in the LGBTQIA+ community, but regardless of where you’re coming from, if you’re in my chair we’re going to share a laugh and you’ll leave with a cool tattoo. When I’m not tattooing, I’m painting – I love making pet portraits and colorful still life pieces in either watercolor or oil.
Later this summer I’ll be launching my Patreon, where I hope to continue to foster connections with clients and create interactive content driven by what my patrons want to see. I’m really excited to see what kind of community I can build on that platform since it won’t be so reliant on the whims of The Algorithm. Patrons will get monthly rewards, as well as discounts to my online store, peeks into my sketchbooks, access to polls and exclusive raffles, and more.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
As a creative, I am my “product.” It can be very tempting to think of an art practice as something that you can only do when the muses are upon you, but the truth is, if I only made art when I felt inspired, I’d have little to show for it. The first quality that’s been the most impactful in my journey is consistency. This year I made the commitment to draw a new tattooable design every day. Now, almost 200 days in, I have so many designs for clients to choose from that they’d be hard pressed not to find something they like in the book! My drawing has improved and I’ve grown my client base all from that single act of consistency.
The second quality is maintaining a growth mindset. Learning how to tattoo was such an incredible challenge and the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I’m so grateful to have had an amazing mentor, and I also approach challenges with a growth mindset. That means I believe I can improve my abilities through learning, effort, and persistence. Each struggle is an opportunity to grow, and feedback, even when it’s tough to hear, is constructive. When you’re not in that type of mindset, you’re closed off from feedback and true learning. There have been times in my life where I’ve been in a fixed mindset – prone to frustration or believing skills are innate (I’ve either got it or I don’t) and having a growth mindset has been so criticical to my development both as an artist and as a person. Even now, when I’m struggling with something, I quietly repeat to myself, “I can do hard things.” Ten years ago, I might have said, “You’ll never be able to do this, so just give up.”
The last quality that’s had big impact on my journey is my background in customer service. Regardless of what product you’re selling, a customer should feel valued and like the product they receive has value beyond the tangible good. Without the support of my clients, I would not be able to do what I love every day – so good customer service is a priority of mine! My advice to folks who are the face of their business: Don’t lose sight of why you do what you do, which is to provide something you love to good people.
How would you describe your ideal client?
My ideal client laughs easily, is communicative, and trusts that I want them to love their tattoo. They show up to their appointment hydrated and in comfortable clothes. Brownie points if they pick something from my flash book! And to each of my clients old and new, I’m tickled that you chose me as your tattoo artist. It’s truly an honor every time.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.juliansolis.com
- Instagram: Juuliansolis
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