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

Hi Eric, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I’ve always been creative, or at least for as long as I can remember, so being an artist and pursuing an artistic career is the only decision that’s ever made sense to me. Being an artist, for me, is like constantly having an itch that I can never scratch enough – so having a career in art gives me every opportunity to pursue that metaphorical scratch!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I can’t say with any real confidence that there’s anything that sets me apart from other artists. I think we’re all similar in a lot of ways and at the end of the day it’s all about consistency and enjoyment.

I got to where I am today because of consistency and always enjoying the artistic process – whether I’m doing a big tattoo, a small sketch, or traveling to do photography, it all provides me with such happiness that I’m constantly reminded there’s nothing I’d rather be doing. Part of my success is my own personal determination and drive to be a better artist and businessman. I don’t do it for anyone but myself and I think that overtime it allows space for me to keep moving forward.

Professionally, as a tattoo artist, I owe a great deal to my mentor, Nathan Harris who taught me how to tattoo. It can be a tough industry to get into for a lot of people but he made the experience and learning process more than ideal for me and still does to this day. We work side by side and I’m continuing to learn from him on a daily basis, both as a friend and as a co-worker.

Overcoming challenges is a substantial part of succeeding in any creative field and I think it takes people who are willing to fail a hundred times just to succeed that one time, to finish that one piece, and then to keep doing that over and over. That’s the whole point of being passionate about something – that no matter what happens, you’re going to keep coming back for more.

I want people to see me as an artist, making art for the sake of making art. It’s really that simple. I’m not trying to change the world or give prophetic commentaries about society, I just want to make art that people enjoy looking at!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Ha! This question was not written for us highly introverted people. If I’m being honest, that whole scenario sounds exhausting to my brain. Didn’t see that answer coming, did you?!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My wife, McKayla. We’ve been together for 8 years and she has always supported my pursuit of art and creativity with confidence and patience. Having an anchor like that can really help anyone who is pursuing a creative career because there are plenty of highs and lows to deal with. She is a photographer and has a creative career of her own so she understands all of this and more!

Her instagram is @the.tucks

Website: www.tripleninefine.com

Instagram: tucktattoos

Other: My wife’s instagram because she’s a badass. It’s @the.tucks

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