Story Time.
Sometime during my transition from Everlasting in SF to covering shifts for Patty at Avalon in SD. I got the opportunity to work with Kari Barba at Outer Limits in Anaheim. Her flag ship shop. Which prior to my being there was called Twilight Fantasy.
That meant moving back to the LA area. I eventually found a place in Los Feliz to live with some friends. It was an easy thirty minute drive. Which if I didn’t time right, would take me two hours to go thirty-one miles one way. Rush hour traffic is no joke. Plan accordingly.
I had set my intentions with Kari as to what I could offer her. I came in knowing I needed the winters off to be free to develop my own custom works and have time to paint. I knew I needed time to recharge, so I didn’t suffer burn out. By taking the winters off was also a way to alleviate the pressure and benefit those artists that stayed put. I included my want to travel, doing a few guest spots a year and a few select conventions. Which I had hoped she would join me in my pursuit to find a traveling partner. She rarely traveled during this time. I did my best to re-inspire her to get back out. Anyway, my plan was to come in fresh after the winter off and help keep up with the spring through summer rush.
So, my first week at Outer Limits.
I recall walking into the shop to set up. Linda Tobin had her station right at the front as you walked in. And man, was she intimidating. She would look straight into your brain with these crisp icey blue eyes. Barely a smile present, just a head nod to acknowledge the eye contact. It took a bit to gently break through her “sizing me up walls.” Her wife was one of our main piercers. A mischievious vixon. And between the two of them. There was some powerfully fierce female energy to sift through. It took some finesse to not distrupt the balance that was already well established. Quite a vibe being around a handful of confident power house women.
Of course, it did make room for an instigator who had tried to get us to brawl.
But that’s a story to include in a post for another time. We can title that post, the trouble makers.
My first week was awesome. Besides realizing I had not packed my black pigment.
I decided I could squeek by with using some Higgins I found at the local art store.
Sure, I could have asked one of the artists to “borrow” some of theirs till my order came in.
That’s not how I wanted to roll. Being that guy. We all know those guys.
The shop was busy enough to keep five artists working full time with just walkins.
That first week went smoothly. I was able to show off my skill sets, doing anything and everything off the walls, drawing up custom works for people with a quick consult and set up, showed off my freehand abilities and over all work ethics in a congested shared environment.
I was feeling pretty proud of my new situation and high on the force of seeing a comfortable grounded future where I could thrive.
Then came week two.
As soon as I came in for my next shift, Kari and the shop help notified me that.
Thirteen of the tattoos that I had done the week before had lost all of the black pigment I had used on them.
ALL of it.
Vanished. Disappeared. Poof. Gone.
I had not used that pigment on everyone from the week before thankfully.
And I was fortunate to have received my pigment order before coming back onto my next shift. “Whew.”
I called each one of them and set them up to re-address fixing their tattoos. I fit them in between my on going shift and took on some extra shifts to make sure everyone was taken care of.
I believe, if memory serves me correctly. I was able to get everyone done before going into my third week. Mind you, I had done a full freehand tribal sleeve from wrist to shoulder, inside and out, traditional pieces with full color, but absolutely no black anywhere to be seen. It was weird looking. Most of the tattoo just needed their outlines redone. I don’t remember it taking me very long to correct my errors.
But it sure was a good kick in the pants by universe to stay humble.
Kari was a gem. I had not wanted to disappoint her in her decision to bring me onto her crew.
And there I go making one the worst career boo boo’s ever on my first week working with her.
Lesson learned.
Always have extra stock and make sure your travel bag in fully re-stocked before leaving the house.