Meet Artsy Ashlee | Female Tattoo Artist & Business Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Artsy Ashlee and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Artsy, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
A couple years ago, if you would’ve asked me if I’d ever own my own business – I’d laugh and look at you like you were crazy. I never thought that my life would be the way it is now. My thought process behind starting my own business was a mixture of being tired of running other people’s business and working alongside people that slacked on important things to me like work ethic and cleanliness.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Recently, I’m most proud of my new tattoo studio. Tiger Lily Tattoo moved into a newer, bigger space and I am so excited. I’ve finally been able to paint dope murals for my own business after spending so many years doing murals for Trader Joe’s and other commissions. I spent my early teens and 20’s working loads of jobs to pay bills and build an independent life I always wanted but EVERYWHERE I went, I introduced myself as an artist. I was always an artist first, then whatever I was doing at the time was second. I have worked as a cashier, photographer, graphic designer, mail carrier, toll collector and more. To be honest, working all those jobs has helped me build the clientele I get to tattoo today. I learned to always be humble. Never be too above something. Some of the best times happened at these jobs I’ve worked at and I’ve met some of the best people. Building the empire I have today, definitely wasn’t easy. It still isn’t. Everyday is a learning experience and it teaches me to patient not only with myself, but others. It’s such hard work but it’s so rewarding. I want the world to know that you can be a regular girl from NYC… specifically Staten Island, often overlooked, and make something of yourself. My grandparents came to this country for their children and their children’s children to have the American dream. No matter what life throws at me, I’m so grateful to be living my dreams.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If a friend was visiting me, I’d take them to Manhattan first. Show them the village. We could eat at empanada mama, insomnia cookies, and go to drag shows and have some drinks at industry. Another day, we could go to the beach in Island Beach State Park in NJ. It’s a short car ride away, but so worth it. on the way home, we could stop at a crab shack in Seaside Heights. Another day, we could go to Mad Hatters in Hoboken. We could do a paint and sip at my studio or get a tattoo, too!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My mentor, Justin Cruz. He taught me how to tattoo. I don’t know what my life would be like if he didn’t take me under his wing and teach me.

Website: www.tigerlilytattoostudio.com

Instagram: artsyashlee

Facebook: artsyashlee

Youtube: https://youtube.com/user/LocaToo