Meet Elise Pimentel | Tattoo artist, aerialist & fire eater

We had the good fortune of connecting with Elise Pimentel and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Elise, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
Work/life balance is an important and key factor in keeping your relationships strong and keeping your career moving forward. I’ve definitely noticed that as I’ve gotten older, and married, and inherited more family responsibility – my home life balance has gotten bigger but also more important to me. I remember just running and gunning when I was younger, but today I try to remember that I work to make my home life comfortable. If I don’t spend any time in my home life with my family, it’s almost like I’m just working to exhaust myself. I’m incredibly lucky to be able to get so much time with my family, and they deserve it.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I began my career in the tattoo industry thirteen years ago when I went with my friend to get a tattoo. I have been an artist my whole life, and she’d described what she was looking for so that I could draw something for her. The artist found out that I’d drawn the piece and our relationship continued to develop from there. After some months of hanging around the shop, I was offered an apprenticeship and over the next few years Paula Diamond taught me to pierce, tattoo and manage a tattoo shop.
Nothing about this was easy, we came up in a time where you paid your dues and earned respect in the industry so it was a lot of long, hard days of work in trade for education. I had to support myself so I managed to balance my daytime job with long nights at the shop to get my foot in the door. I have also always struggled with unmanaged, intense anxiety, so pushing beyond that to really find my footing and comfortably alter people’s bodies was very difficult for me. I was overwhelmed by the level of seriousness in the changes I was making to people, and I struggled with confidence there for a very long time. It’s actually part of the reason I ran away from the industry for quite some time. What I want people to know is that the most important thing you can do is believe in yourself, learn how to be kind to yourself, and always give yourself a break. It’s okay to be serious, but don’t take yourself too seriously. And pay attention to the needs of your mental health – your brain is just as likely to get sick as any other organ in your body. I realized that my mental health wasn’t just affecting me, it was hurting the people around me too. I didn’t even know how much I was suffering because I’d gotten so comfortable there. Mental health matters and you matter, take the steps that you need to, and know that so many people are here to support you.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Well we would definitely have to go check out my favorite sushi restaurant, Chihiro Sushi & Bar in Euless is THE spot around here for the best, freshest and most delicious Japanese fare around. They have the best coconut shrimp ever, too! For coffee or desserts we’d need to stop by Roots Coffeehouse or Buon Giorno for an oat milk chai that gives all of the oatmeal cookie vibes, and run by Mad Mike’s for the BEST homemade, no sugar added ice cream. Oh, and we’d definitely need to go get some of the sticky honey garlic wings from Pineapple Grill and stop by to see Cindy Shepard at her art gallery, Art Shotz – which features some of our most amazing local artists and creators!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I only get the opportunity to do the things that I do with the support of my amazing husband and partner; Gabriel. He encourages me to follow my passions and my dreams, pushes me to be my very best every single day and never says a word about the time commitments and long days.

Website: https://linktr.ee/Elisepime

Instagram: @elisepimetattoo