Today we’d like to introduce you to Andre Servin
Hi Andre, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I fell in love with tattooing after getting my first tattoo at 18 years old. From that point forward I was in the shop getting tattooed every 2 weeks, I was still in High School and working part time at Target living at home with mom, it was standard protocol for me to get paid, immediately head to the bank and then the shop to get tattooed. When I wasn’t getting tattooed I would go and just hang out at the shop, I just wanted to be there… I would be there for hours, at all times of the morning, day, or night. By doing this I was able to meet my tattoo mentor, and build a relationship with him, which eventually lead to an apprenticeship.
I would go on to spend the next decade working 12+ hour shifts, 5-6 days a week, including periods of no days off. Just constantly trying to hone my craft and gain some real experience, when I wasn’t tattooing I would be drawing or painting, constantly attempting to push myself to the next level.
At about 11-12 years in, I learned I had a more natural ability at tattooing Black and Grey Realism, one thing lead to another and I am now currently working out of a private studio in Burnsville where I stay consistently booked 6-7 month at a time and focus on doing large scale tattoos. Living the dream if you ask me!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No way… it’s still hard. You ever find yourself saying “I just got to make it to the end of the week” but you say that every week? That’s what it’s like hahah now the struggle is a little different, it’s to keep up with the demand, and also making sure to stay hungry and keep pushing. Never get complacent.
In the past there where times when I felt I would never get better, or times that the shop was slow and I didn’t really have the skill and clientele to help pay the bills, thankfully my rent was payed every month, even if it was every penny I had.
I was kinda homeless during my apprenticeship, for lack of better words. When you’re an apprentice, you don’t really make any money, and it took a while until I reached a point that I was self sustaining with some consistency. My home situation went through a rough patch, growing up with a single mom money was always tight for the most part and my mom eventually told me they raised the rent and she could no longer afford it and was going to be moving in with my grandmother. That wasn’t an option for me since there was no room for me there. So I spent 2 years couch surfing and then eventually I would live in the shop, bust out a sleeping bag and blankets after hours and sleep behind the front counter.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a tattoo artist that specializes in large scale black and grey realism.
I’m most proud of my finished sleeves that look good from across the room.
The fact that I still deeply care about what I do, quality of work, effort.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
Luckily I learned this lesson pretty early on, but you got to save for a rainy day, or season! You never know what’s going to happen and when, best to stay prepared!
Pricing:
- I charge $1200 for a full day session.
Contact Info:
- Website: Www..andreservintattoo.com
- Instagram: https://Instagram.com/andreservin
