The Artist Altar

In this episode, I’m joined by Erica, a therapist, mother, and longtime seeker whose tattoos have become sacred markers of her healing journey. What began as an intention to honor her late father has transformed into a deeply intuitive collaboration where art, spirit, and embodiment meet.

We talk about how tattoos can become more than adornment: they can serve as love letters to the self, reminders of empowerment, and reflections of our evolving stories. From her early experiences with traditional tattoo shops to the safety and synergy she found in Earth Altar Studio, Erica shares how choosing intentional artistry changed everything about how she views bodywork, identity, and self-expression.

In this episode, we explore:

✨ The power of intuitive tattooing as a form of healing

✨ How art can hold the energy of seasons, grief, and growth

✨ Tattoos as adornments for warriors and as quiet personal reminders

✨ The difference between tattoos chosen in youth vs. those in later life

✨ Why co-creating art can feel like therapy, storytelling, and ritual all in one

This conversation is a reminder that your body can carry your story with intention and that art on the skin can be as much about spirit as it is about aesthetics.

If you’re feeling ready to dive into learning how to create intuitive tattoos like this or get one with me, I would love to meet you. Please reach out and say hi and let me know you are ready for more!

Connect with Erica Tumbaga

Instagram: @Erica Tumbaga

Linkedin: Erica Tumbaga

Website :www.compassiontowardsself.com

Connect with Me:

Instagram: @thejustinealmaraz

Website: justinealmaraz.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JustineArtStudio

I’d love to connect.

In this episode, I’m joined by a somatic healing guide and intuitive artist who helps others reconnect with their creativity through body-based modalities like sound healing, breathwork, and yoga.

We talk about what it means to reclaim your identity as an artist even when trauma, perfectionism, or self-doubt try to tell you otherwise.

From a childhood shaped by addiction and poverty, to the grief of losing both parents in her twenties, she shares how her healing journey led her to a path of deep embodiment and how she now helps others meet themselves where they are.

In this episode, we explore:

✨ Why healing often requires feeling, not just thinking
✨ The difference between visualizing and sensing in creative work
✨ How somatic practices like sound healing and yoga unlock stuck emotions
✨ Letting go of perfectionism and external validation
✨ What it really means to be an artist even without traditional “skills”

This conversation is a soft reminder that you don’t need permission to start. You already are the artist you’ve been waiting for.

Connect with Jennifer:
Instagram: @JenniferEveGuides
Website: jennifereveguides.com

Connect with Me:
Instagram: @thejustinealmaraz
Website: justinealmaraz.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JustineArtStudio

I’d love to connect.

In this episode, I’m joined by Alexandra Husmann, a member of Earth Altar Tattoo Collective and a former tattoo apprentice of mine. Alex shares what it means to carve out a path that reflects her values and honors her nervous system.

We talk about the quiet unraveling that led her away from conventional tattoo culture, and the thoughtful rebuilding that followed the moments of burnout, the desire for softness, and the deep trust in letting things unfold slowly.

Alex brings so much presence to this conversation. She reflects on the intimacy of her work, her boundaries, and how offering spaciousness can change the entire tattoo experience, for both the client and the artist.

In this episode we talk about:

✨What led Alex to trust herself to move into learning to tattoo and mentor under me
✨ How slowing down allowed her to reconnect with herself and her art
✨ The emotional labor of tattooing and learning how to hold space for her clients
✨ Saying yes only to what’s aligned,even when it’s hard
✨ Why trust, softness, and safety are essential in creative work

This is a tender, honest conversation about rest, reclamation, and reimagining the way we work. If you’ve ever wanted permission to pause, this one’s for you.

Connect with Alex:
Website: www.alexandrahusmann.com
Instagram: @alexhtattoos

Connect with Me:
Instagram: @thejustinealmaraz
Website: justinealmaraz.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JustineArtStudio

I’d love to connect.

In this episode I sit down with Mary Campbell, a former apprentice turned full-time tattoo artist who shares how her path unfolded from photographing weddings to creating sacred tattoo experiences from her private studio in San Diego.

Mary talks about learning to tattoo on a sailboat in Seattle, working in multiple studios, and eventually creating a home and studio space that’s both a sanctuary and community hub. We talk about routines, rituals, and the personal systems she’s created to support her body, mind, and nervous system while doing deep, energy-based work.

She shares how quitting alcohol became a turning point, how she prepares for full-day sessions with movement, food, and stillness, and how she holds space for clients by approaching each tattoo as a collaborative, evolving prayer.

In this episode we talk about
✨Starting as a wedding photographer and discovering tattooing through personal transformation
✨ Living on a sailboat and teaching herself how to tattoo
✨ Creating a private studio with a backyard garden, fire pit, and rocking chairs
✨Quitting drinking in 2021 and how it helped her reset her whole system
✨ Designing her life around nervous system care and embodiment|
✨ How each tattoo session starts with centering, preparation, and prayer
✨ Letting go of “intuitive” and embracing the term “freehand”
✨ Using a red and purple pen process for clarity and consent
✨ Tuning in to both her body and the client’s before every session
✨ Saying no to tattoos that don’t feel right and trusting her gut
✨ Why tattoos can unfold meaning over a lifetime
✨ Seeing herself as a vessel to bring forward what’s beneath the skin
✨ Feeling proud of making her younger self’s creative dreams real

Mary brings reverence, humor, and honesty to her work, and reminds us that when you create from devotion and curiosity, your style will keep unfolding in unexpected and beautiful ways.

Connect with Mary:
Website: http://maryswcampbell.com

Connect with Me:
Instagram: @thejustinealmaraz
Website: justinealmaraz.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JustineArtStudio

Thank you for listening to Her Ink Empire. Your empire is already unfolding, one aligned, intentional mark at a time. Stay tuned.

In this episode, I’m joined by Kathryn Eipl, Emotional Strategy Coach, Reiki Master, Sound Therapist, Yoga and Meditation Guide, and a truly multi-dimensional human. Kathryn’s story is one of deep transformation, moving from a high-stress career in entertainment management to finding her purpose through healing work, one brave, intuitive step at a time.

We talk about how she developed her Neuro Resonance Method, blending cognitive behavioral coaching, internal family systems work, Reiki, and sound healing to help people reconnect with themselves on every level — emotional, energetic, and physical. Kathryn shares her powerful experiences working with clients in recovery, those moving through life transitions, and even one profound story of supporting a client through her assisted passing with sound healing.

What I love about Kathryn’s work is how she brings her full self into the process. She draws from her background in psychology, her musical roots, and her own healing journey to create offerings that meet people exactly where they are.

In this episode we talk about:

✨ How Kathryn’s journey led her to create the Neuro Resonance Method.
✨ The ways Reiki, sound, and coaching support emotional and energetic healing.
✨ Her work with recovery centers, cancer patients, and end-of-life care.
✨ How sound healing works on the body and why it’s so powerful.
✨ The magic of integrating sound healing into sacred tattoo sessions.
✨ Why honoring ourselves through ritual and energy work matters so much.

This conversation is an invitation to honor your own healing path, to trust the power of sound, energy, and intention, and to remember that every step forward is sacred.

Connect with Kathryn:
Instagram: @eiplhealing
Website: www.eiplhealing.com

Connect with Me:
Instagram: @thejustinealmaraz
Website: justinealmaraz.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JustineArtStudio

We’d love to hear from you.

In this episode I sit down with Sergio Gomez, an artist, curator, and coach who shares how he sees his art career as all one thing, the studio, the gallery, the education, the coaching, and the curation. Sergio talks about recently returning from Chicago, where he was one of 33 artists invited to paint replicas of the ancient Olmec heads as part of a public art project celebrating Mexican heritage.

We talk about how he started Gallery 33 Contemporary, his coaching program with his wife, how mindset affects success, and why it's okay not to make art every day. Sergio shares how augmented reality and NFTs have played a role in his creative work, and how being an artist on a mission means showing up to create even when you’re not sure.

In this episode we talk about

✨ The 33 Olmec Heads project and how it became a self-imposed residency
✨ How Gallery 33 Contemporary and artist coaching began with a business workshop
✨ Why mindset and confidence are essential for an artist's success
✨ Augmented reality art using the Artivive app and how it brings work to life
✨ Why NFTs were exciting and why he stopped making them
✨ How he uses push and pull cycles for creating and selling work
✨ The importance of multiple streams of income not just one
✨ Why writing and making help clarify your mission
✨ “I’m an artist on a mission. I get to do this.”

This conversation is full of cycles, self-trust, and the reminder that you have to make work — even when you're not exactly sure what it is.

Connect with Sergio:
Instagram: @sergiogomezart

Connect with Me:
Instagram: @thejustinealmaraz
Website: justinealmaraz.com
YouTube: Justine Art Studio

More conversations like this are on the way. Stay tuned.

In this episode, I sit down with Kristine Schomaker—artist, mentor, and the founder of Shoebox Arts, Art and Cake, and the new nonprofit January Arts. Kristine shares how her journey as an artist and leader has evolved and how building community, offering resources, and creating space for artists has shaped her career.

We talk about her nonprofit launching this fall, her long-running Perceive Me project, and how navigating body image, self-worth, and the art world has all come together in her work. Kristine also opens up about dealing with depression, cancer, and how finding the right support changed everything. 

In this episode we talk about:

✨ Why Kristine started January Arts to offer affordable support for artists
✨ How her nonprofit will create artist residencies, fellowships, and a resource hub
✨ Her experience with Shoebox Arts, mentoring, and artist management
✨ The story behind her project Perceive Me and how it became a movement
✨ Her honest take on the gallery system, art coaching, and the need for community
✨ How she navigates money as an artist and why her work isn’t just about sales
✨ Why she believes artists should be their authentic selves—and find their audience

This conversation is a reminder that artists can do this without a gallery, that being your authentic self matters, and that building a community where artists help each other changes everything.

Connect with Kristine:

Website: https://www.kristineschomaker.net/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristineschomaker/

Connect with Me:

Instagram: @thejustinealmaraz
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JustineArtStudio
Website: www.justinealmaraz.com

Feel free to join my latest Tattoo Portfolio Workshop on July 26th, 10:00 AM Pacific Time, designed specifically to help you reach your dream of becoming a professional tattoo artist. 

This is your first stop on the tattoo journey!

In this episode I sit down with Ray Beldner, an artist, educator, and longtime mentor who shares his journey through the art world and how building community, mentorship, and practical knowledge have shaped his career. Ray opens up about moving from San Francisco to the Sierra foothills and now to Dallas and how those changes impacted his life and work.

We talk about what’s missing from traditional art education, how the outdated gallery model limits artists, and why connecting with art consultants has completely changed how he supports himself as an artist. Ray also shares how building community, from local salons to Tuesday morning Zoom calls, creates space for artists to help each other, share information, and make the art world a little less mysterious.

In this episode we talk about

✨ Why Ray believes there needs to be more mentorship and community for younger artists
✨ How his professional practices class helped artists understand how the system works
✨ The exact ways Ray would reform art school from core programs to alumni networks
✨ How art consultants help artists sell work every day and how to connect with them
✨ The many ways artists can build community in person and online
✨ Why making a lot of work and being ready matters before approaching art consultants
✨ How his Tuesday Morning Salon became a place where artists can gather ask questions and help each other

This conversation is a reminder that being an artist is a practice a lifestyle a career and a job and that we need to be very clear eyed about what we’re doing and how we’re putting it out there

Connect with Ray

Website and Mailing List http://www.raybeldner.com

Connect with Me

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejustinealmaraz/
Website: http://justinealmaraz.com
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JustineArtStudio

I’d love to connect

In today’s episode, I got to sit down with Kelsey Harper.

Kelsey is a clinical psychologist, a writer, a little witchy, and a survivor herself. She offers virtual therapy for folks with trauma, complex trauma, and borderline personality disorder across different states. She also hosts the Initiated Survivor podcast, where she speaks directly to the issues facing survivors of gender-based violence and sexual violence—and shares parts of her own recovery story.

Kelsey shares how intuitive tattooing became a key part of her healing journey. We talk about how tattooing brought her back into her body, the deep intentions behind each of her tattoos, and why her tattoos feel like an anchor point as she continues unfolding into herself.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

“I just want to feel whole again. And I want… whatever the whole is going to look like after this happened… knowing that I can’t go back to what I was like before, but wanting to feel whole with this having been my history.”

Connect with Kelsey:

Instagram: @kelseyjharper
Website: drkelseyharper.com
Instagram (Creative & Ceramics): @kelseysfavoritevillains

Connect with Me:

Instagram: @thejustinealmaraz
YouTube: Justine Art Studio
Website: justinealmaraz.com

In today’s episode, I had the honor of sitting down with Jessica Hitchcock.
Jessica is a self-taught artist who transitioned from working as a full-time Director of Finance and HR to building a thriving art business—without a formal art degree.

Jessica walks us through the years it took to build a consistent income, how she planned her financial runway, and why visibility was the key to her growth.
She shares how she uses Instagram, live painting events, and structured pricing to stay both creative and grounded as a full-time artist.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

🎨 How Jessica went from painting for fun in 2015 to going full-time in 2019
🎨 Why visibility through live events and social media changed everything for her
🎨 Her approach to pricing artwork and why she removes emotion from the numbers
🎨 The platforms that have worked best for sales—and why she keeps it simple
🎨 How she teaches artists to register their businesses, separate finances, and document expenses
🎨 The power of knowing your numbers and preparing a financial runway before going full-time
🎨 Her reminder that growth takes time—and why not seeing instant results doesn’t mean it’s not working

“It’s okay if you don’t see things right off the bat. That doesn’t mean it’s not working.”

Connect with Jessica:

📸 Follow her on Instagram: @jessica_hitchcock
🖥️ Learn more or grab her free finance roadmap for artists at jessicahitchcock.org

Connect with Me:

Instagram: @thejustinealmaraz
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JustineArtStudio
Website: www.justinealmaraz.com