Meet Ashley Jelisa | Tattoo Artist & Creative

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

Hi Ashley, do you have any habits that you feel contribute to your effectiveness?
Meditation. Meditation has helped me through so many situations in my life, it’s allowed me to organize my thoughts and focus on moving with intention despite all of life’s challenges. Through meditation I’ve resolved obstacles in my personal life and in my business life. There are always so many things that I want to get done and sometimes it’s hard to just sit back and take a break to rest my mind and body without thinking about my list of todos. Another habit that has helped me succeed is journaling and writing. I like to write my thoughts, ideas and goals down. Planning and writing out everything step by step while being clear with what I am aiming to achieve and how I am going to achieve it. Researching is also a very important habit to have as well, always trying to learn more about what I’m doing and how I can improve my methods and strategies. Figuring out what ways can I elevate my business and expand.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’ve always had a love for art and creating in all its forms. From painting, sketching, digital art, graphic design and photography. One thing I pride myself in is that I have the freedom to do the things I love while still being able to making a living and support myself and my son. Being a tattoo artist has definitely had it’s challenges given all the things that come with being in this industry but I’ve learned that in order to succeed you have to continue to strive to be better in everything that you do. I always try to learn from others and allow myself to let go of old habits and mindsets so that I can make room for more productive and beneficial ones. I love to travel and participate in tattoo conventions where I’m able to visit a new place, make money and meet amazing people. The art of tattooing can be like therapy for both myself as an artist and to my clients. I love the fact that I can connect with my clients on a deeper level aside from the actual act of tattooing. As artist we have to hear our clients out, get inside their heads and understand their vision in order to provide the best experience. The entire process of doing a a tattoo, especially a custom or meaningful one is very intimate and personal and I’ve learned that I can heal and express myself through my clients and the artwork I create for them.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my friend were visiting my town I’d probably take them to Bare burger for food. I stopped eating red meat a while ago but I love that this restaurant not only has organic burgers, but they also have a lot of vegetarian and vegan options as well. Another place I’d take them to is the Cheesecake Factory, their food is really good, specifically the avocado egg rolls. If they wanted to see some nice views, I’d tell them to visit Little Puerto Rico by the water, it’s a nice chill area where you can hang out by the rocks and enjoy the sunset and sounds of the water. Lastly, if they were trying to catch some vibes and get turnt up I’d take them to Cafe Nunez in Manhattan. They have good food and the music is always good, plus the regulars and locals are great vibes. Everyone likes to dance and have a good time there.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to dedicate my shoutout to Mark Lawrence, my mentor and life coach. I met Mark around the time when I decided that I wanted to get into the tattoo industry. He saw the potential in me and immediately took me under his wing, helping me become a better artist while teaching me the ropes of the tattoo industry. He even started me off with my own tattoo kit when he felt I was ready to start so that I can practice and start working as a tattoo artist. Aside from being an art/ tattoo mentor, he also taught me a lot about life. Mark taught me about eating healthy, meditating and connecting with nature. He taught me the importance of getting in touch with myself and focusing my energy on the things I want to achieve. Additionally, he also connected me with other artist, entrepreneurs and professionals from all different fields teaching me how to network and build connections with others. Mark is a person that I can say has always believed in me no matter what and I’m very grateful that he came into my life ❤️

Website: Ashleyjelisa.com

Instagram: @ashley.jelisa

Twitter: @ashley_jelisa

Other: Tik Tok @ashley.jelisa

Image Credits
Instagram @chef_jpeg