Today we’d like to introduce you to Nick Saralegui.
Hi Nick, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’ve been a fan of drawing since I was a kid. I was the type that would get in trouble for drawing in class and not doing my work. I was into collecting comics as a kid so they were a big source of inspiration for my drawings. As I got older, I started to study art a little more and got into painting. I was able to show some of my paintings in local galleries and even sold a few. I wanted to pursue a career in art, but didn’t know which direction to go until I had a few friends recommend tattooing. It was hard to find an apprenticeship, but eventually a friend of the family (tattoo artist) saw my work and offered to teach me. The first couple of years were difficult after having a fall out with my mentor and moving around to several different shops. With time and patience I was able to gain experience and now I’ve been tattooing over a decade. Tattooing has allowed me to turn my passion into my career. I even get to travel around the country tattooing, competing with other artists and meeting tattoo enthusiasts. And recently, I moved into my own private studio, where I plan on taking my tattoo career to the next level.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The early days of tattooing were a little rough. I had a fallout with my mentor early on in my apprenticeship. I ended up having to learn most of it on my own.
Also, I had quit my regular job to really focus on tattooing and the financial struggle was rough in the beginning. Not everyone trusts you when you’re a young, inexperienced artist so it’s hard to make money.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I have a new private tattoo studio in SODO. I have worked in street shops most of my career and can tattoo just about any style but I’m mostly known for tattooing black and grey realism. I take pride in turning peoples ideas into artwork they love. The most satisfying part of being a tattoo artist is when I see the the excitement and happiness on someone’s face after I tattoo them.
How do you think about happiness?
The sense of accomplishment from achieving my goals makes me happy. I like to challenge myself because it keeps me growing.
Kayaking also make me happy. I like being outside, I like the water, the wildlife, and the workout. I visit a lot of the spring in Florida and get to see all sorts of animals, especially gators.
And family! Spending time with my family makes me happy because we laugh and have good times together.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://NickSL.com
- Instagram: Nick_sl_art
