// MY JOURNEY INTO THE LOWBROW ART SCENE AND BEYOND.

Hey Gang, welcome to my blog! I’m excited to start this up by sharing some of my journey with you, from my humble beginnings to becoming a successful independent artist, tattooist, and crypto enthusiast. This space is where I’ll share my stories, insights, and tips that I’ve gathered over the years. Whether you're an aspiring artist, a tattoo connoisseur, or someone navigating their own path to success, I hope you find inspiration and value here.

Like many independent artists and entrepreneurs, my journey hasn’t been smooth. Throughout the last twenty years I have faced numerous setbacks and challenges that have often made me question myself and my path. My father passed away from a car accident shortly after my 9th birthday. This led to me growing up to be a bit of an asshole and countless interactions with the law including multiple criminal mischiefs, several minor in possessions, felony possession of a level-II controlled substance and (2) DUI. Mix all of that with my blunders in personal relationships, and it would be easy to put together why I was unable to truly find my footing in the world. I eventually developed the attitude that ‘everything in my life was my fault’ and ‘my sole responsibility to change.’ My shift in mindset allowed me to understand that every missed step along the path was a lesson in disguise.

After all the mistakes, I have managed to come out with more patience, grace, humility and perseverance. All core ethics that would later fit very well into the world of customer service, business/finance and down the road, would help me develop the skill of removing emotion from risk when it comes to building wealth.

There was a time in my life when I was giving a lot of myself to a handful of things. Guitar/band, skating, snowboarding, golf, video games, drawing, painting and writing were all staples in my daily and weekly routines. I was going to school for fine art full time, working behind a bar 30 hours a week, and overall, pretty drained at the end of each day. My friends were living for the weekend while I was making and saving money. Even though I was pretty focused on saving, I had zero idea what for… I just knew that the conventional nine to five was not for me. I had a fascination for art, and a desire to create something permanent and impactful.

On Mother’s day, in 2012, I graduated from Metro State University in Denver, CO as a Bachelor of the Fine Arts. I acquired a concentration in digital media, secondary sequences in drawing (6) and painting (3) and a minor in art history. Typically, this would prove for most to be a pretty worthless endeavor, in fact, during my thesis, I remember the professor saying something along the lines of “when you people are done here, there is no job waiting for you except the one you make for yourself.” And that quote has stayed with me to this day. As a grown adult in 2024 I find it to still embody the way I feel about my home country in general. If one lives in a free and capitalist society and has not yet developed the skills to start their own business and take advantage of a corporate tax structure then they have nobody to blame but themselves. There are infinite resources available for free for those who wish to seek them.

After my under-grad, I sort of putzed around in the Denver bar scene for a while, and wound up as the bar manager at a prominent location on Market Street. Here, I brought the bars liquor cost down from 33% to 17% in 30 days, which saved my owner almost $250K annually. That was the first time in my life I made someone else that sort of money, and thus had leverage when it came to negotiation. It certainly would not be the last.

Around the same time in early 2012 I was in the depths of spending a couple thousand dollars getting tattooed. One day while collecting my hatchet and peace pipe, my dude Nate says, “hey man, your art work is dope, we need an apprentice, you should come apply.” I had a feeling in my bones this was an opportunity that needed to be seized. I decide to get home and put together a portfolio like I was submitting for a gallery. None of the work I submitted was even tattooable, but I wrote a cover letter and designed a custom header for the whole portfolio. The owner of the shop thought it was one of the most professional things he had even seen and hired me on the spot. I quit bar management that very night in order to get back to scrubbing toilets and mopping floors in exchange for knowledge of the trade.

I find that opportunities happen every day and sometimes in batches. It is up to you as a businessman or a self-aware human, to take advantage of circumstances that arise, and structure them for your benefit.

As I accepted the apprenticeship and gracefully scrubbed the toilet and floor, I fully committed to put all my efforts into lowbrow art and tattooing. I focused heavily on developing proper technique and diligent application with the machine. I learned the basics of modern electric tattooing; clean lines, saturated colors, and smooth black and gray we’re embedded into my tool bag. I saw all that took place inside that shop as an opportunity and I absorbed everything, even if it was what NOT to do. Letting go of a management position for this new life commitment proved to be one of the best decisions I have ever made, and eventually opened doors for me that I had never imagined possible.

Fast forward to today, and I have transformed my passions into a thriving career. I’ve had the privilege of working with incredible clients, creating unique and meaningful tattoos to tell their stories. I have had the honor of being a part of some pretty incredible narratives. From memorial tattoos that celebrate loved-ones to intricate designs the represent personal milestones, each tattoo becomes a testament to the human experience. The stories I have learned along the way not only inspire my personal work, but remind me of the profound impact that visual language can have.

During my under-grad, my primary focus was in blending traditional with digital media, and currently I have reinvigorated my love for art and technology. My work today isn’t just about tattooing. It’s about creating and changing the customer experience, and connecting with my clients on a deeper level. I believe that my long list of achievements and ability to adapt is actually a testament to the power of persistence, and the willingness to embrace change.

My journey in the world of cryptographic currencies was driven by a curiosity and desire to innovate. Much like I predicted the early rise of WiFi and cloud driven internet features, I see potential for blockchain technology to revolutionize the artworld, and I have a heavy desire to be a part of that change. By integrating crypto into my business I have been able to expand my clients minds to different possibilities and opportunities, while simultaneously expanding my own creative horizons.

The intersection of art and crypto have opened new avenues for expression and laid the framework for the ownership of digital media. Digital art can now be limited to editions and sold as non-fungible tokens, which have the capacity to carry their own inherent value and sets of rules. I’m currently brainstorming many concepts using crypto to push the boundaries of traditional art media and tattooing. In general, this will be for another discussion.

Q3 2024 Members-Only flash sheet from @teddynigels.

In totality, if I could pass some lessons learned onto other aspiring artists, it’s that success does not come overnight. It requires dedication, hard work and a willingness to turn every outcome into a learning experience. For those aspiring to eventually make their own mark, on the planet or in the art world, my advice is very simple: stay true to yourself, be open to growth and never give up, no matter how tough the journey gets. Formulate a strategy on how to get to the next step, then line the pins up and knock them down.

Running a successful business is about more than talent; it’s about understanding your place in the free market, building relationships and continuesly evolving. My biggest tip for young entrepreneurs is to embrace technology. To stay informed on industry trends, and more importantly, always put your clients first without letting them walk all over you.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story. I am excited to be sharing more with you all in the coming posts, from behind-the-scenes looks into some large cover-up projects, to tips and tricks for aspiring artists, entrepreneurs and crypto enthusiasts. Stay tuned for exclusive content, including some opinionated articles from our ‘in-house’ critic: TeddyTwoCents, and the launch of the ‘members-only’ tattoo design flash sheets.

I am grateful for the support and encouragement from my clients and followers. Your belief in my work genuinely fuels my passion and drives me to keep pushing boundaries. Here’s to new beginnings, continued growth, and the first steps towards another journey ahead.

I haven’t decided on the exact topic for the next post, but I will be diving deeper into my creative processes and share some exciting projects that I have been working on. Feel free to comment if there’s anything you would like to discuss or topics that you would like to see expanded upon.