About Me

I honestly didn’t plan on becoming a tattooer, but looking back, it feels like I was always headed in the right direction.

I was born and raised in Austin, and though I always wanted to make art, I took the “practical” route first: studying social work at UT Austin. Then, by pure chance and having made the right friends, I was offered an apprenticeship — a real shot at making art for a living. I was surprised at the opportunity but incrediby grateful that my mentor saw in me whatever it was. Naturally, I dropped out of school for the 3rd time, quit my job, and went full force into my apprenticeship.

I apprenticed at Gully Cat Tattoo under Skyler Payne and the late Mike Terrell, who passed in 2022 and whose lessons are in every tattoo I do. The gratitude I have for my mentors can’t be put into words—they changed my life and helped me grow so much as an artist and person. It was there I fell in love not just with tattooing, but with its history, culture, and tradition. I’m very passionate about my industry and my art. My work leans black and grey American traditional, shaped by artists all over the world — several of whom I’ve actually gotten the chance to be tattooed by. I’ve flown all over the country collecting pieces by some of the artists I look up to most, learning from every single one.  

I've been tattooing since 2020, and these days you'll find me at Best Kept Secret in Austin, with regular travel for conventions and guest spots. My travel dates will be posted on my Instagram. I take on custom projects and always keep flash ready for walk-ins.

For a while, I felt like I'd walked away from helping people when I left social work. There was some weird guilt around it but fortunately that’s changed. People get tattooed for every reason imaginable — memorials, milestones, fresh starts, or just because it looks cool — and getting to be part of something that significant in someone's life is the best part of this job. A great tattoo is a collaboration: your idea, my hands, and a good conversation along the way. The relationships I’ve been able to form with some of my clients mean the world to me. I’ve been able to find a way to help people through my work and pursue my dreams at the same time.

When I'm not tattooing, you'll find me in the garden, out on a trail with my dog, doing yoga, or hanging out with family, usually surrounded by more houseplants than any one person should own. It was my Covid obsession which got kind of out of hand. At one point I had over 70 potted plants, it was ridiculous but I love it! Every once in a while if I need a bit of a reset, I jump out of a plane.

If any of that sounds like your kind of artist, I'd love to work with you.