Today we’d like to introduce you to Shino Talbott.
Hi Shino, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
As a child, I grew up in tattoo studios. I had family members who were artists, and hours I’d spend in the shops after school lurking around stations in awe as they worked- always hidden out of the way but always there to watch. Art allowed me to express myself and quickly became a means to escape from the real world. It became an obsession, and I was on my way to creating a dream. Fast forward 2 decades, and it’s March of 2020. The world got shut down for COVID-19, and life looked bleak. I needed change. I desperately searched for something fulfilling when we came out on the other side. But there is never a good time to start a dream when the world is shut down, you know? I reached out to Levi Smith at the Jade Monkey Studio- a phenomenal artist of 20 years who just so happened to be the one who’d done all my tattoos and was a massive inspiration to me as a child growing up in that environment. They say never meet your heroes, but I was lucky enough to grow up with mine. He took me under his wing, and I had a grueling 3-year-long apprenticeship. It was hard, and there were times I thought about giving up. I’m glad I didn’t because, as of June 2023, I could complete my apprenticeship. Since then, I’ve worked steadily at his side, continuing to help the Jade Monkey Studio thrive and poking art onto amazing people I’ve been lucky enough to meet throughout this fantastic career. Levi is taking time away from the studio; I have managed it independently. It feels incredible to be trusted with a place that I hold so very close to my heart, and I’ve continued to build the Jade Monkey’s brand- but sometimes it’s also scary. To see your dreams realized is a different feeling, and I’m glad I made it here. Today, I have plans to continue helping the studio thrive, and a monthly event will be starting soon- the Monkey Fest. I look forward to learning and growing with our little studio, and I eagerly wait for Levi’s return so that I can continue managing it by his side.
Has it been a smooth road? If not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced?
I firmly believe that no dream worth fighting for has an easy road to walk down. There have been significant bumps, but there has also been steady terrain along the way. Covid hit the tattoo industry hard, as you can imagine- not being able to have clients come in for almost 2 years was a complex challenge we faced together, and keeping the studio open was rough at times. We continued to push forward, and with the help of our fantastic friends and family, we persisted and came out okay again. Today, the challenges we face are much less detrimental than during COVID-19. With the connections I built during my apprenticeship and after, work has returned to normal, and for the most part, so has our little studio. I’ve reorganized and redecorated, and most days, I don’t want to go home at the end of the day. It’s hard work, and some days when I’m done tattooing, my back aches, and my hands shake. I have little to no social life because I always work as a tattoo artist. I wouldn’t want it any other way, though, no matter how hard it can be sometimes. I love what I do and am thankful I can share what I’ve always enjoyed doing with the world.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. What can you tell our readers who might not be as familiar with your work?
I’m a Tattoo Artist specializing in bold color/outlines, cartoony realism, anime, and fine line work (like florals and such!) I’m also a traditional artist, primarily working with watercolors and acrylics on canvas. I love doing custom designs for clients, but I always try to draw up flash and “1’n’Done” designs.
Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
When Artistic Tattoo was still around, that’s where I grew up. I’d watch the artists work while occasionally slipping into the backrooms to play Neopets on their old computers. I’d also do food and drink runs for them, which made me feel like the coolest kid in town. While the artists were older and no-nonsense-looking men, they still were kind to me no matter how annoying I was. I remember seeing the live shows and events they’d have in the parking lot there, from fire spinners to body suspension by hooks, and being blown away at how different this world was. That studio is gone now, and I’ve lost touch with everyone besides my mentor, Levi, but the memories are still fond of me, and I hold them close to my heart today.
Pricing:
- Hourly rate: $80/HR
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/cyethefox
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cyethefox
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091097295204&mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Other: https://www.facebook.com/tattooMonkey?mibextid=LQQJ4d
Image Credits
Portraits shot by Kirsten Kavanaugh of Dark Stars Media
