Check Out Bailey Bateman’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Bailey Bateman. 

Hi Bailey, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Hi, my name is Bailey. I’m a Utah-based tattoo artist. I’ve been tattooing at Studio Elev8 in South Jordan for a little over 2 years now and it’s the greatest decision I’ve ever made. 

I’ve always been interested in art. I’ve been drawing and painting for as long as I can remember, but I started taking it seriously when I was in college. I attended the University of Utah on a Volleyball Scholarship, and for a little while, I entertained the idea that I’d be an art major. I took several art courses during my time at the U, but when it came time to declare a major, I learned that the courses required for a BFA (Bachelor’s of Fine Art) were held at the same time practice was… At that point I had to choose: free school or chasing an art dream. I chose free school and set my art dreams aside. I graduated with a degree in sociology instead but kept my dream alive with a drawing minor. 

In the years following graduation, I chased two career paths that ultimately ended up being totally wrong for me. My first job out of college was working as a counselor for the Juvenile Justice System and my second was a Jr. High Art teacher. When I was in my second year of teaching, I realized I wanted a career in art, but not necessarily working with children—it just wasn’t the right fit. During this time, I was getting tattooed regularly by my friend Mike Johnson (owner of Studio Elev8). Each time I visited Mike, I told him how dissatisfied I was with my job. I was ready for a change, I just didn’t know what I was looking for… I hit a particularly low point in my life where everything seemed to be wrong. I felt like I had made so many choices that “weren’t me” and it was starting to dawn on me that every second passing was wasted. 

Then Mike offered me an apprenticeship. 

At first, I laughed. Me? Tattooing? Yeah, I mean, I was an artist and I was fairly good at drawing on paper but tattooing terrified me. Ya know, it’s permanent—no erasers… I could never! Then I took a look at the shambles my life was in… In that moment I dove in headfirst and accepted Mike’s offer. 

My apprenticeship was a little different that most traditional ones. I was still a full-time teacher, so my learning took place mostly on the weekends and whenever school was out on holiday. As the school year drew to a close, Covid was sweeping its way across the nation, and by the time May hit and school was officially out, Covid had completely shut down the country. I was terrified. I had just quit a stable, 401k contributing, healthcare providing, consistent-paying career to pursue something that had absolutely no guarantees, stability, or safety nets. There was no turning back!!!

I think it was the fear that motivated me… From the moment I quit the school, I was at the studio full-time. It took a few short months for Mike to throw me my first machine. That was one of the most exhilarating days of my entire life. 

A few months went by where I was tattooing friends and brave strangers for “practice.” I was terrified each time. It’s not a feeling you grow out of, you kind of learn to thrive in the fire. 

Fast forward two years: 

I’m still working with Mike at Studio Elev8 along with 7 other artists that are absolutely beyond talented. My tattoo career has given me more than I ever thought it could. I have so many incredible friends, I have an army of clients that wait months on end to get tattooed by me, I’ve traveled to some incredible places and tattooed alongside so many veterans and absolute heavy-hitters in this industry. In two short years, I feel like I’ve learned a lifetime of tattooing knowledge, but each day I find something new, something challenging, something to improve. Every day, I try to actively improve on at least one element of my tattooing. If yesterday’s line work was challenging, today I am a lining wizard! Tattooing can be very self-deprecating. Each day I find myself dissecting my tattoos and finding areas that need improvement. It weighs heavy at times, but the people I work with are so knowledgeable and have so much experience to share, I find myself improving on my weaknesses at a seemingly exponential rate. I’m so lucky. 

Well, there you go! That’s my story in a nutshell… I’m so glad I finally found my purpose. If you thought the first 2 years seemed crazy, just wait for what I have coming in year 3… Join me on my journey by following the progress on Instagram (@batemansstudio). Cheers to year 3! 

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
My biggest struggle has been getting out of my comfort zone. First, it was getting out of the comfort of a stable job… The fear of not knowing how much money I’d be bringing in each day was pretty terrifying. Then it was getting out of the comfort of drawing on paper and trying to do my artwork on a new, 3-d canvas that moves! 

My biggest struggles and lessons have been: be comfortable being uncomfortable, be PATIENT, and don’t take yourself too seriously! If you take it too seriously, you forget that you get to do what you love every day! I have the coolest job in the whole world but sometimes is easy to get in a funk. 

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a full-time tattoo artist! I specialize in color and black and grey realism, but I love doing pieces that allow me to be free and creative! I’m most proud of my award-winning color realism tattoo of a jaguar I did on my friend (and fellow artist) Jade Lewis along with tattoos I’ve done on friends and family. Outside of tattooing, I love drawing portraits of famous artists and musicians. My latest piece is probably one of my most favorite: I did a colored pencil drawing of Post Malone. You can check it out on my wall at Studio Elev8 or buy a print for your personal collection! All of my artwork available for purchase can be found on my website batemansstudio.com 

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
DO IT THE RIGHT WAY. Don’t be a kitchen wizard tattooing your idiot friends with a $99 tattoo “gun” kit from Amazon. Find a reputable shop that has a vibe you resonate with. Look for artists that are proficient in a style you enjoy or want to learn more about. And when you find the shop that’s right for you, be PATIENT. Learning to tattoo is the hardest thing I’ve ever done and I’ve been an artist my entire life. Know art principles, and having decent talent will get you far, but if you don’t learn the technical side of tattooing, your work will suffer. Ask questions! You will never be a master. There is always going to be someone better than you, faster than you, cheaper than you, more booked out than you, winning more awards than you, but it is your job as an artist to seek improvement. No matter what that pace is, as long as you’re striving to be a better tattooer each day, you’re headed in the right direction. You got this! 

Contact Info:

• Website: BatemansStudio.com
• Instagram: Instagram.com/batemansstudio
• Facebook: Facebook.com/batemansstudio