Today we’d like to introduce you to Ryan Errickson.
Hi Ryan, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
We go through our lives trying to find our way. Success often can be found when we hone in on what sets us apart from the rest. What are we best at, better than the others around us. For some that’s baseball, math, sales, carpentry. We may even think we’re good at those things, though there were always a number of people better. But when it came to art and being creative, I found my way to stand out and excel above those around me. After we find that field, then it’s time to find the niche. For the carpenter, discovering their skill and passion for custom cabinets. For the salesperson, their love for music landed them in music advertising and promotion. For me, my niche in the art world became tattooing.
After living a teenage life of exploring, creating, and expanding my mind, I went to art school to learn a hands-on trade. Practicing fundamentals all the way up through lessons in practical applications of the classic profession of illustration. In the rapidly changing world of commercial art in the early 2000’s, computer art, graphic design, and stock images took over the traditional paintings and drawings used in book art, editorial art, institution art, and even greeting cards. I found myself painting murals for businesses and individuals while training myself how to work with computer programs to create art as well. The computer art helped me turn my paintings and drawings into artwork used in packaging, album art, products, clothing along with a list of other forms.
As a freelance illustrator I was working 80 to 100 hours a week for the first 3 to 4 years out of art school, though the money was tight. I was told by my accountant that I would have cleared more income by claiming welfare. I then had an opportunity to work in house at one the businesses that I had been creating artwork for their products. I took a role as an art director in their company, creating and managing all of their art and design needs. I laid out and designed the packaging with paintings and graphics, developed 3D models for products, designed their catalog, created animations for their website, developed ads included in flyers and newsletters, you name it. Though I spent most of my time behind a computer. I honestly began to loath what I was doing. I needed to use my hands.
The company that I had been working for inhouse was manufacturing utensils for the piercing industry, along with tons of other things. The owner gave me a stack of tattoo magazines to research so that I could develop marketing for their piercing supplies. While flipping through the magazines, I had the thought that this is cool stuff though I can do this better. I had always liked tattoos and had a couple at the time. I knew a couple people that were in the industry and even had tried to sell my own tattoo flash to tattoo shops as a struggling illustrator pounding the pavement and looking for any opportunity. With my misspent counterculture adolescence, I’ve always been a punk at heart. The wild and crazy nature of my being was being extinguished sitting in an office behind a computer.
I made a decision, I was going to spend the next month learning as much as I could from the 2005 internet about tattooing and how to get into the industry. I always say, after all of that research, I thought I had a good grasp of what I was getting into. If I had my head wrapped around even 10% of what is involved with tattooing and the industry, that would be an exaggeration.
I knew I had to start by looking for an apprenticeship. At this point in tattooing, you could not buy equipment from the 4 or 5 different tattoo supply companies without proving that you worked at a legitimate tattoo parlor. There was no Amazon or overnight delivery. It was a phone call ordering from a catalog with an account number attached to a shop address. They would then ship items to you within 2 weeks, also with the possible payment of COD, cash on delivery, through a money order. I don’t think that anyone does that any longer. How things have changed. I have a love-hate relationship with hitting the button that says ‘buy again’ and knowing it will show up within 24 to 48 hours.
In looking for an apprenticeship, I knew a shop. A shop that had a good reputation. And a shop that I knew 2 of the artists working there. The person that I didn’t know, in my current situation, was the owner. This is also before tattoo shops used emails, and way before DMs, so I decided the best way would be to stop in and introduce myself with my declaration of wanting to become his apprentice. The first time I spoke to him, he told me he wasn’t looking for an apprentice. A week later, undeterred, I came back. He told me again that he wasn’t looking to bring anyone else on. I had this in my head that I was going to make this happen, so I returned to speak with the owner a 3rd time. As I entered the parlor and walked up to the owner of the shop for the 3rd time, before I could open my mouth, he said, “Bring me $4,000 and I’ll bring you in as my apprentice.” he continued, “Don’t come back until you have the money in full, in cash, in my hand.” Persistence is what I tell everyone. If you really want it, find a way.
I’ve now been tattooing for 20yrs. I fell in love with tattooing in the first month of my introduction into the industry. I get to use my hands, and my training in the business of creating illustrations for businesses translates right into creating tattoos for individuals. Even better, instead of having bossy business execs making unnecessary changes to your art just so they can throw their weight around, I get to work with clients that are walking around in the everyday world just like me.
Another catalyst for me to leave that inhouse art director job to pursue tattooing was a perceptive piece of information given to me by my successful doctor uncle. At the time I was struggling with my inhouse position. My uncle said to me, “A job is work by definition, though if you don’t like that work at least 50% of the time, you should do something else.” I gave my 2 weeks’ notice the next day. Tattooing is hard work with its own set of obstacles and struggles, though I’ve been over that 50% enjoyment level for the entire ride.
I genuinely love creating art for everyday people to walk around with on their body. It started with a love of art and creating ideas into 2-dimensional pieces of artwork. And it turned into my love of the art of tattooing, the tattoo industry, and the tattoo culture. I believe whole heartily that’s what tattooing should be about. A young person that sees tattooing as a way to get rich or become famous should stick to filming themselves opening up sneaker boxes and trying on hats as an influencer. Put down your phone and camera and pick up a pencil or brush.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I opened my own shop with the premise that ‘slow and steady wins the race’. I still believe that to this day. The fable of the tortoise and the hare rings true more often than not. Calling the first location modest would be generous. A couple hand painted wooden signs. The art decals in the window were also painted by my hand. Linework shined up onto the inside of a small storefront’s plate glass window one late night with an old public-school projector circa 1975. It was just me. And the rent was $500.
Little by little the shop grew organically. Adding talented artists that wanted to work in a chill art centric and drama free environment. We moved to a larger location with great visibility. The shop has been enhanced and added on bit by bit.
As artists joined our crew, there inherently became those individuals that showed their true colors were not in line with our reputation and culture of providing a high-quality professional experience. I never saw myself being in a position where I’d need to fire someone. Though there are times that it needs to be done. Thank you, Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill, for your dialogue in the movie Moneyball in which Pitt’s character describes firing a baseball player like pulling off a bandage. Make it quick and to the point. Would you rather take 2 bullets to the head, or 1 to the gut and bleed out. Something to that effect. That scene has served me well in my approach to letting individuals go that aren’t working out.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Being a Tattoo Artist is a lifestyle and there is culture to it. Just like being an Artist is a lifestyle and has a culture. It doesn’t stop. It’s in every facet of your life. Finding balance isn’t a destination, it’s a constant effort. Everything we do as an artist is a part of being an artist, creating and thinking creatively. Making ideas into tangible things that make people feel things. The creative process begins when you wake and doesn’t stop until you close your eyes. An artist’s life should be art itself. A creative’s life should be an ever flowing and evolving piece of art. As Jim Morrison said, “Did you have a good life, a life to base a movie on.”
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Do your research. Find someone that seems to fit your vision for yourself. And then, be persistent. Persistence shows that you’re serious. If you give up easily, it shows to a potential mentor that you weren’t very serious to start
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.vividskintattoo.com/ryan.html
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryanerrickson/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ryan.errickson.2025
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@ryan.errickson.tattoo?lang=en
