I opened Spirit Gallery Tattoo in July of 2007. My business combines my love of painting and illustration with the transformational power of tattoos. It also provides a link between artists and the community. I wanted Spirit Gallery to be a place where tattoo artists could express themselves creatively in an environment that was professional and relaxed, and reach out to the community to teach, entertain, and inspire the public. The goal was to show high quality artworks by local and international artists, bring in workshops by talented professionals to give the community educational and entertainment options in downtown, and to help eliminate the stigma against tattoo shops and tattoo artists. Spirit Gallery Tattoo is a place where people can come in for consultations about their tattoos, ask questions about the process, and feel welcome and comfortable. I created the business with a vision of peacefulness, transparency and creativity replacing the intimidation and secrecy that is usually associated with the tattoo world. We welcome all kinds of people, and really enjoy giving folks their first or fiftieth tattoo!