Tattooing doesn’t stand still, even when we do. A long-term view on staying curious, avoiding dogma, and building a career that lasts.

I talk about tattoos a lot. I’ve written about them in my Total Tattoo column for over a decade now. A lot has changed in that time. I’ve talked about tattooing into cameras, over bar tables at conventions, in late‑night hotel rooms, and on podcasts that probably should never have existed.

When I started, I didn’t have a complete view of tattooing. Not even close. I had opinions, strong ones at that, but perspective only comes with time.

If you’re early in your tattoo career, a year in, two years in, maybe just finding your feet, this isn’t advice in the usual sense. It’s not a checklist or a set of rules. It’s a warning, and some encouragement, offered quietly.

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Email me if you want: [email protected]

You can read more of Pauls thoughts on his blog at: thisisourstodestroy.com