Ashley Granderson Little Rock, AR

“ GOOGLE REVIEWS ARE NICE AND ALL, BUT WORD OF MOUTH IS A GREAT WAY TO FIND A GOOD SHOP.

ASHLEY GRANDERSON

Bit of a nerd. Tattooer, wife, and mom. I grew up in Arkansas, left, then came back to be with family. I’m not well educated, but I love reading in my spare time. I paint a little, watch cartoons with my daughter and play video games with my husband. I’ve been tattooing out of 7th Street Tattoo Studio in Little Rock for 9 years ⸺ What advice

would you give to someone about getting his or her first tattoo?

(A tattoo virgin) Google reviews are nice and all, but word of mouth is a great way to find a good shop. Look at tattooer portfolios. Talk to tattooers. Do they make you feel comfortable and put you at ease? Listen to their input. It’s our job to give you amazing work that you’ll carry forever! And, of course, really think about what you’re putting on your body. Make sure it’s something you want to carry with you always. You’ll be stuck with that tattoo for a while. Lastly, maybe start small. ⸺ What did your family and friends think about you getting into the tattoo business? Almost everyone was supportive. My Granny said I’d “ruined myself for a good man” (while bragging about me to her nurse); luckily, she was wrong. My mom’s exact words were, “girl, what the hell is wrong with you?” When I first told her but she came around pretty quickly. Before she passed, whenever I would post a tattoo online, she would be the first commenter to say how proud she was of me ⸺ What would you say is your favorite part of the job? The challenge of the work. I don’t care if it’s my own flash or someone’s Pinterest piece; the thrill of laying down a good line or when the shading to color transition comes out just right, it’s a damn good feeling. Also, is it cheesy to say the people? From clients to tattooers and my work family, I get the pleasure of seeing so many different walks of life and appreciating different perspectives ⸺ What do you think is in store for the future of tattooing? I don’t know, but I see so many young, amazing artists getting into the game now, and it’s so exciting to see what they come up with! The equipment is evolving, too; it’s so wonderful to have been in this game for almost two decades and see how much it’s grown and evolved. ✕