Meet Ry T Spear

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ry T Spear a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Ry T 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?

My Grandmother.

My grandmother’s name was Marion. And she worked the entire time of my existence as a librarian.

She would work all day. Pick me up from school and then make dinner for my grandfather and myself.

She never called in sick. She was always awake, alert and happy every single morning.

And she was for the depression era. I think maybe I saw her cry a handful of times.

She always had a smile and always said “Work is thankless. You work everyday to afford the life you want to have OUTSIDE of work “

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?

The summer school of ‘91. I was stuck in A history class making up for the “F” I had received earlier that year.

Knowing full well I wouldn’t graduate the following year unless I had this credit. I was stuck. 4hrs a day 5 days a week for 2 months of my summer break.

One of the other kids in my class had a Tattoo Savage magazine. The only other tattoo magazine was Outlaw Riders magazine which displayed more biker breasts than tattoos.

Nonetheless I saw a brief example of what tattoos could be. That there could be art added to these old school traditional designs

I was hooked! I got my first tattoo at 17 and I have never looked back.

Art has been my only “gift” and I was never one for school. A rebel. I was more destined to be a warehouse clerk or forklift driver.

But tattooing was what I wanted.

At 28. With a brand new wife and baby. Along with our 2 year old I set out to become a professional artist.

I found a shop. I apprenticed. And after a year and a half I was asked to join the team.

Since then it’s been a whirlwind. Many shops. Lots and lots of tattoos and all the friends anyone could ask for.

I’m blessed.

I will celebrate 21 years in the Colorado tattoo scene this fall and I can’t wait for 21 more

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Hard work trumps talent!

So, if you have both. Or the willingness. This world and all its things

Are already yours.

As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?

Look.

Life is short. Really short. Ferris Bueller tells us to “Stop and look around or we might just miss it”

Life isn’t about work. It should be about family or friends. It should be about the people and things you love.

Work should be looked at as a means. Not the end. It can’t be what we are

Find something you LOVE. Research, set goals. Start small. Think BIG!

Have faith. Work hard and play hard.

In the end. If you really want it. It was already yours from the first time you began the dream.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Birdinhand75

Image Credits

@oneyearsoak