Michael is out of office

This is Michael’s story, in his own words:

I was exposed to art a lot, and very encouraged to do it from a young age. I'd make my own characters and draw little comics. I've always been the type to draw constantly in class, like in the margins of study notes. I was always doodling.

I was inspired by the cartoons that I grew up on: Looney Tunes, Ren & Stimpy, early Simpsons—those more exaggerated feeling cartoons. And the alt comic scene and indie outsider graphic novelists are an inspiration. Art was just always around me. It was the only thing I felt like I was good at. I didn't really major in anything at New Paltz. I sort of studied everything because I didn't know what I wanted to do. I knew I was mostly interested in illustration. I dabbled in risograph and screen printing. Printmaking and animation were big for me. 

After college, I did some illustration on a professional level. I was making comics and prints and as far as animation, I made one or two short animations. I never felt like I had the patience for it, even though I love it and appreciate it. It takes so much time and work.

Every time I'd get tattoos from artists I respect, I always assumed they went through an apprenticeship. But it was like, no, they picked up a machine and tattooed their friends.

When I started tattooing, I went the self-taught route. This is a new avenue for growing artists. I went over to a friend's house and they were doing hand poked tattoos on themselves and they're like, “Do you want to do this?” I've kind of always wanted to do tattoos, but never felt like I could.

But then I sat on their couch and hand poked a design onto my leg. Every time I'd get tattoos from artists I respect, I always assumed they went through an apprenticeship. But it was like, no, they picked up a machine and tattooed their friends. And I was like, “Well, shit, let me try that.” With an apprenticeship, I’d be at a tattoo shop for nine hours, not making money. Self teaching felt a bit more achievable. Hand poking is where I started and I got all the materials to do that. I was hand poking myself and any friends who trusted me but not really any outside clientele. My friend Jelani asked, “Have you ever thought about doing machine stuff?” In exchange for a hand poke tattoo, he bought me a machine. I started practicing with it on oranges and fake skin. 

Until that time, I was working a dead end real estate job. I was there for eight years. It wasn't terribly fulfilling and definitely not something I wanted to do for more than a few months. But I just got very comfortable. Around 2021 is when the real estate office shut down officially because of COVID. I started taking tattooing more seriously and it sort of worked out. From there, I got a studio together with some friends. It was really just a bunch of tattoo artists who were working out of their apartments who needed a place. We all met and grabbed coffee and didn't all know each other, but the vibe worked out. It was lucky. I love making art come to life on someone's skin and seeing someone look at it and get joy from it. It's extremely humbling and I'm grateful to every person that comes to me. It's so different from other art practices because it’s so personal.

It's an interesting time trying to figure out ways to do what you love and still eat and pay rent.

Business has slowed down significantly from that first boom when I started. Returning customers will always hit you back up but bringing new people, it’s a job. I can't delete Instagram or anything because I need to be advertising. You take on so many different jobs like social media management and setting up your own calendar. I didn't realize how much really goes into it. But it's something that I love doing. So, you know, you just keep going. You have a bad month, you have a good month. I’m finding other ways to make art so that I can still live off it. I'm doing an illustration commission. I've been selling my own prints and shirts in my own shop to get people engaged that way. It's an interesting time trying to figure out ways to do what you love and still eat and pay rent.

I was pretty sure the art thing would be something I would do forever, but maybe not how I make money. It's sort of incredible to feel like, “Oh, this is it.” 

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All art, including self portrait, is drawn by Michael Giurato.

Artist Stories spotlights tattoo artists of all styles and backgrounds and shares their unique journey with the community.

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