A Chat with Stacey Martin

Sourpuss (SP): How about we start out with an easy one, Where are you from? Stacey Martin (SM): I'm originally from Central New York, bounced around the state and lived in New York City for three years. In 2008 I moved to Texas. Currently living in the strange and beautiful city of Austin, TX. I think I'l be here for a while. SP: When did you get started in tattooing? SM: I started an apprenticeship in New York in 2003 at "the shop which shall remain nameless" and finished my apprenticeship at Apocalypse Tattoo with Michael Davidson between 2004 and 2005, So I've been tattooing professionally for 7 years. SP: Any apprenticeship horror stories? SM: There's always horror stories. Some, legitimately horrible and some I just consider team building exercises/ skin thickening ceremonies. SP: If you were written about in the newspaper, on the front page, what would the headline say? SM: "Funny In The Front, Business In The Rear," mainly because it takes a minute for people to realize I'm serious about business and not just a goofy blonde. SP: You not only tattoo you also paint & sell your stuff on etsy, what's your favorite medium to work in? SM: I dig pen and ink, liquid acrylic and water color, and some jobs/projects are best done digitally. Although I've been making "found junk" necklaces and resin setting tiny versions of my artwork in filigree bezels. It's super tedious, delicate work but I love it. SP: What's your favorite song to break it down to? SM: Trunk Fulla Amps by Self gets me pumped but that's the first one that came to mind. There are several others ;-D SP: If you weren't tattooing what would your dream job be? SM: Tattooing is pretty damn close to a dream job. I do like hosting and planning events though. So maybe hosting and planning events with an unlimited budget? That sounds fun to me. SP: Would you rather be able to visit 100 years in the past or 100 years in the future? SM: 100 years in the past! 1912! I don't even want to know what life will be like 100 years from now. SP: Garden Gnomes or Flamingos? SM: Both, actually. We rock both skeleton flamingos and a zombie garden gnome on the patio. I don't discriminate ;-D SP: Where do you see yourself in 10 years? SM: Let's see, in ten years I'll be 43 so hopefully not in a back brace, loaded on pain meds. In ten years, maybe a private shop/art gallery where I can host my favorite tattoo artists and regular artists alike.