Today we’d like to introduce you to Ahnika Angle.
Hi Ahnika, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’m 24 years old. I have an incredible partner who’s always supportive, even of my wildest ideas. He constantly pushes me to do my best. I’m thankful every day for him and our beautiful baby boy.
My family is pretty amazing too!
I love the outdoors, hiking, camping, snowboarding and paddle boarding. I absolutely adore animals. I have two dogs; a boarder collie named Juniper, a blue healer named Buckaroo, and a tuxedo cat named Hendrix. I have so many hobbies, including; gardening, baking, knitting, embroidery, wood burning, sculpting, jewelry making, and drawing.
I grew up in the tattoo world and fell in love with the art form. I remember watching my oldest brother create such incredible pieces. Whenever he’d watch me we’d sit together with my drawing supplies and he’d teach me how to draw different things; people, flowers, skulls, etc. He’d start with a yellow pencil and a simple sketch then move to an orange one adding more detail and finally he’d grab the red one marking out the end result. I truly hold those memories close to my heart, they are a big part of the reason I fell in love with art and tattooing.
The history of tattooing is a long one, and all of the artists who came before have definitely paved the way for artists today. Although Tattooing and Tattoo Shops have evolved through the years, they have always been a place for people of all walks of life. Tattoos can be a way to decorate one’s body, they can be meaningful, cultural, an inside joke or offer inspiration. There is really no limit to what tattoos can mean for the people getting them.
I love to create and feel very grateful that I get to do this for a living. It is an incredible opportunity to help create meaningful tattoos for people to carry with them everyday.
I started with a traditional apprenticeship, lots of drawing, cleaning, food runs and anything else to help around the shop. I’ve been tattooing for about 5 years now and am still early in my path and always excited to learn more.
I never intended to open a shop, but it kind of just happened. My first and most important intention when it came to cultivating the space was for everyone to create cool art that they are passionate about and to provide our clients with the best experience possible. Tattooing can be a very personal, vulnerable and intimate experience. Our goal is to make the tattoo each client desires come to life and to prioritize their comfort throughout the process. We have a talented and amazing group of artists offering a variety of art. We always make sure to pair our clients with the artist best suited for the piece they are looking for.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Being a tattoo artist gets glamorized nowadays, but it’s not always a cake walk. There are a lot of struggles to overcome as an artist. Finding an apprenticeship can be rough, especially one that will actually be beneficial in teaching you not only the skills to tattoo, but also how a shop functions and how to make a living tattooing.
During my apprenticeship I experienced a bit of harassment from artists in the shop. My mentor is incredibly talented but, unfortunately, didn’t have a lot of time to teach me. So, after I completed my apprenticeship I had to figure a lot of things out for myself.
When my brother opened a shop in Ogden I was able to help him with the remodeling and move in after it was finished. A few years down the road he decided to move out of state and was going to close the shop. I felt a bit hesitant and heartbroken about just leaving. We put so much money and time into the shop. We had also just started to expand and remodel more of the space, so I decided to keep the lease and rename the shop Thistle & Thorn Tattoo Studio.
I never set out on a mission to own a shop, especially at such a young age, but it all just kind of happened. There are so many responsibilities that come with it and honestly a lot of the time I just want to make art and not worry about all the business aspects, but everything happens for a reason. I feel very blessed.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I absolutely love nature tattoos, plants, skulls, bugs, animals! I adore anything whimsical and always enjoy doing black work especially when I get to add a pop of white to it.
I’m a big fan of black and gray, but also admire color.
American traditional will always hold a special place in my heart because it is a classic.
I think the best asset a tattoo artist can have is versatility.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
My best advice is to draw as much as possible and find an apprenticeship with a mentor who has the time to teach. Going to tattoo conventions is a good way to meet people and see what opportunities are out there, especially if you bring your portfolio.
Don’t feel like you have to jump on the ship of the first shop who will take you. I know apprenticeships can be few and far between, especially the good ones, but it’s always better to wait for the right fit and a real, genuine apprenticeship. Also, most good apprenticeships don’t make you pay. You’ll definitely have to work hard, but it’s all to prepare you for being a tattoo artist. Lastly, there’s a difference between building resilience and straight up harassment. You do have to be tough to make it as a tattoo artist, but you do not need to be harassed to learn and become a great artist.
Pricing:
- Pricing all depends on the piece your wanting as well as the details that go into it and the size
- We have a $100 shop minimum for walk ins
- We do offer tattoo starting at $60 for flash events and tiny tat thursdays
- We also have a mystery get what you get tattoo machine
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thistleandthornstudio.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thistleandthorn.studio?igsh=MXEyY3p3MXZsczk3MA==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/17EagfK7YM/?mibextid=wwXIfr
