Today we’d like to introduce you to Tristan Tucker.
Hi Tristan, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I was born in Portsmouth, Virginia, in the greater Virginia Beach area. My parents were both in the Navy, and I am their only child. My dad was killed in action when I was young, and my mom and I remained in Virginia Beach until I was almost ten years old. After my father’s passing my mom and I moved around a lot so it was hard to keep friends for long periods of time and to entertain myself I would draw and paint. When I was seven years old my mom met a man who she had a romantic relationship with and he moved in with us. He became physically abusive toward both of us. My parents were both raised in Houston, Texas, and my great-grandparents lived in Houston, so one day we made our brave escape and moved to Texas with just a car full of clothing, and we never returned to my hometown. We were donated some furniture from the Women’s Shelter and that was how my life began in Texas. In all honesty, I was a very lonely child. I felt like I did not have the same opportunities as my peers. I was very shy and reserved, but I would come alive when I would journal and draw. Maybe I didn’t know how to interact with other kids, but I was not well-liked. I got labeled as a “weird” kid, and I was bullied. This led to a lot of self-loathing that later grew into a drug and alcohol problem that followed me into my 20s. At sixteen I was diagnosed with Bipolar I Disorder. It is a condition I have struggled with for as long as I can remember. Living with Bipolar Disorder, it is common to have thoughts of harming yourself. I had fears of being a failure, but I would think about how I know my Dad would have wanted me to be strong, so I kept going. When I was eighteen I started getting tattoos of flowers to cover my self-harm scars, I considered it “blooming” through adversity. I liked how for the first time in my life, tattoos made me feel like my body was worth loving.
In my teenage years, I dreamed of running away to New York City and being an artist. After high school, I got accepted to Pratt Institute and studied in New York City, but once again, loneliness followed me, and I would drink to calm my anxiety. I became deeply unhappy so I returned to Houston. I finally did return to Virginia Beach to visit as an adult and made new happy memories that helped me heal from past hurts. Back in Houston, I worked as a floral designer while still journaling and drawing, hoping I would find something to do in life that made me feel like I had a purpose – as I belonged somewhere. I already had a passion for tattoos, so I decided I wanted to learn how to tattoo. When I first became a tattoo apprentice I was still dealing with my substance abuse issues, and I was still unhappy with myself. I found myself repeating the same routine I had for years. I eventually told myself that if I did not change my lifestyle, I would never become who I am meant to be. I decided I wanted to create a life I could be proud of. Now, here I am, in my first year tattooing, helping other people love their bodies, as I learned to love mine through tattooing.
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?
I have had many struggles in my journey as a recovering alcoholic and drug addict. I would say the biggest struggle I faced was learning to not give up on my dreams while dealing with my mental health and becoming sober. There were so many days I thought I was undeserving of my opportunities.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a tattoo artist that draws inspiration from mostly Asian art, but Medieval and the Art Nouveau movement as well. In a world where there is a lot of ugliness – cruelty, bullying, tragedy – I want to create aesthetically beautiful art.
With my background as a floral designer, I incorporate a lot of botanical elements in my illustrations, and I enjoy making artwork that has a mythical look to it. Folklore inspired, like Japanese yokai and fairytales. I believe in making magic happen. I want to give people original works of art they are proud to wear.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I like that Houston has a lot of open space and greenery, but I wish we had a more prolific art and music scene.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artofmagick/
