We were lucky to catch up with Joshua Muzzy recently and have shared our conversation below.
Joshua, so glad you were able to set aside some time for us today. We’ve always admired not just your journey and success, but also the seemingly high levels of self-discipline that you seem to have mastered and so maybe we can start by chatting about how you developed it or where it comes from?
Self discipline is a very important topic for myself as an artist. A few years back I was not in the right mindset/environment and wasn’t seeing progress within my art or personal growth in general. So I took a big step back from the things that were not providing me growth and cut out some people that were holding me back and promoting toxic behavior. I started really just focusing on how to become better at my craft. I’m personally scared of failing and not being able to support myself off my passion, so I feel that fear fuels my fire to keep enhancing my art and myself so that I can keep doing what I love.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I’ve been making art since I was little. It’s always been something that helps me sit still and stay busy. I’ve never like having to work a normal job where they control what I look like, or penalize you because you showed up 5 mins late. So during my early 20s I was working a janitorial job and was just unhappy. Since I was always drawing a few friends suggested I try and tattoo. I ordered some machines off Amazon (cringe) and started tooling around with them on myself and friends. After not wanting to be a kitchen magician I stopped and waited until I could find an apprenticeship to learn the correct way. Fast forward a bit I was laid off from my janitorial job and I found an apprenticeship. It was honestly not the best place I could have been when I look back on it, I literally wasn’t taught much. Just kind of thrown to the wolves, and made to do tattoos I was no where near ready for skill wise. Everyone always told me everything “looked good” not providing me any sort of constructive criticism to help grow. After putting up with that for 9 months I found a place that actually helped me grow and learn more. Throughout that time I’ve grown into where I’m at now. Took me a few years and some epiphanies to really get my focus fully on my craft but through self discipline and refocusing on what’s important, I feel I’ve made some real strides and now have the opportunity to move to a new state to work alongside some artists I truly look up to. It feels great to know my hard work is paying off and I plan to keep growing and learning as much as I can to become the best at what I do. 10 years down, here’s to another 10!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Practicing, studying and focusing on what’s important to you in your life can really help you obtain your goals. But also a healthy amount of letting loose and doing activities outside of your craft is super important. Helps you not burn out, no one wants to have a burn out which can cause artist block. Responsible shitbaggery if you will hahah.
How would you describe your ideal client?
My ideal client are the ones who come to me and say “I love your art and want you to do something for me, and you have full artist freedom.” Because in my mind, you essentially came to me because you like what I do and should enjoy what I create for you. I like being given an idea and then just making what I would with that idea! Obviously I want them to like it, but like I said, if you already enjoy what I create and you toss me an idea we can make you something we both enjoy.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @Joshmuzzy_tattoos
