We were lucky to catch up with Anya Elsebai recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Anya , thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
I get my work ethic from making mistakes, and keeping a positive outlook! I’ve always been passionate about creating, and starting new hobbies can be exciting, yet challenging. I like a challenge, as long as I see some type of progress. Even if it’s small. Making mistakes has helped me learn, and it’s inevitable when trying new things. Viewing failure as another obstacle to conquer has pushed me to get back up and try again after learning during the process. The next time around usually goes more smoothly!
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?
My name is Anya, and I’m a tattoo artist from Minneapolis, MN. I create unique, eye catching designs that find their forever home on skin. I typically create my designs digitally, but I started drawing simply with pencil and paper. My love for drawing and creative expression inspired me to start tattooing in the summer of 2020.
As I got into tattooing, I learned that the process can be healing and help people feel more empowered in their bodies. Designs can also hold a significant meaning, telling a story and showing our individuality. Meeting people who connect with my work feels so wholesome and inspiring, and art has built a huge sense of community within my life. I don’t know where I would be without it, and I love the ways we can share our stories with one another!
Looking back, what do you think were the 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?
Remembering to exist as a human, outside of the standards society sets for us has been an impactful part of my journey. I always felt pressure to make money, and remember being told that art wasn’t the way to do it. From a young age, I wanted to be an artist. It has always been my passion, but the pressure to fit into a box made me feel limited to the things I could do. I felt the need to go to college, work three jobs, and constantly grind in order to be successful. But the grind was draining my creative energy, and I felt I was losing myself. I found myself in a position where I was working so hard only to feel unfulfilled, but the world had a way of stopping me in place and reminding me of the things that mattered most. My humanity, love for creating, and sharing a message with others.
Covid-19 suddenly put a halt on many people’s lives. I lost my job, finished up school, and had so much time to reflect on who I was and what was actually important to me. Regaining my time has brought me closer to myself and my passion. I started feeling creative again, and more in tune with myself and the people around me. That’s when everything started to click, and my business took off. Doing things my own way has always been rewarding, even if to someone else it’s not the “right” way. I think what matters most is doing what we love and acting in ways that align with what we believe in.
Looking back over the past 12 months or so, what do you think has been your biggest area of improvement or growth?
Finding balance in my life has helped me grow in so many ways. Once I started tattooing, I realized how many tasks I had to take on to maintain my business. Tattooing is strenuous, and there’s constantly work that can be done. Being in awkward positions while working puts stress on the body, and most tattoo artists are their own bookkeepers, do their own marketing & social media, accounting, and have to constantly draw designs. It can be a heavy workload, and it’s hard to set aside time to relax.
As I started to ease into tattooing, I began to feel overworked and realized that I needed more time to take care of myself. It became so important for me to have other creative outlets, hobbies, and time to rest. I started cooking more, playing guitar, exercising, and taking a break from work when I needed it! Balancing out my career and personal life has allowed me to focus on my health, creativity, and relationships, while fueling my passion.
Contact Info:
- Website: Housebabytattoo.com
- Instagram: Housebabytattoo
Image Credits
Imagesbyher.co
