Today we’d like to introduce you to Neil Palmer.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Neil. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I took an early interest in art. My Dad managed the graphics department at NASA, so I would doodle with him at his office or the kitchen table. When I was little my cousin came home with the classic barbed wire and rose arm band, so I guess that planted the seed. I never lost interest in art and creating, and I’ve always thought tattooing was an amazing concept. I made the move to begin to learn how to tattoo and never looked back. That was 20 years ago. I started tattooing August of 1999. Lots of ups and downs, but I never thought tattooing would provide the life I have now. Tattooing and my family; that’s my everything.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Overall it has been a smooth ride. I think the hardest part was just getting my foot in the door. Trying to get an apprenticeship was really hard back then. It was all about who you knew, and at that time I knew no one. I tried for a couple of years to get an apprenticeship but it never happened. Feeling very discouraged and angry, I was about to give it up and join the 9-5 zombies, but luckily a few of my friends helped to recharge my confidence and I decided to learn on my own. I worked from home until I felt worthy enough to work at a shop. Then I met a new hurdle, no one wanted to hire someone that hasn’t completed an apprenticeship. It took a while but I finally got a job in a shop. There was a guy there named “Slayer Mike” he had this huge slayer back piece, It was so tuff. He taught me a lot and always helped push me to become a better artist, person, and tattooer.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I currently reside at Main Street Tattoo Company. I’ve been here since the doors opened in 2015. Lucky about two years ago, I was able to become part owner with Ricky Cogburn and Allen Hoy. This is by far the best experience working at a shop I’ve ever had. We have a really great team here. Definitely my home away from home. I like to lean towards the American traditional and black and gray styles. But when I started tattooing you had to do whatever came through the door, so I’m pretty versatile. I think that’s one of my strong suits, being able to tackle different styles and not being confined to just one.
What were you like growing up?
I was a little shit back then, always in trouble for something. I didn’t have many friends growing up. I stuck to myself mostly. I was always drawing something, usually skateboard related. The artwork on skateboards was always so bold and tuff. Heavy metal was a big influence too. I got in trouble for drawing a church on fire. I used to draw one everyone’s book covers in school. I was just your regular kid from Clear Lake City. Hahaha, I thought I knew everything.
Contact Info:
- Address: Main Street Tattoo Company
1520 E. Main Street
League City TX 77573 - Phone: 2814721416
- Email: palmertattooing@yahoo.com
- Instagram: @sonikksinn
- Facebook: Neil Palmer
Image Credit:
Robert Contreras, IG – @eightysevenss
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