Today we’d like to introduce you to Haap Peacock.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Haap. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Answering this question has always seemed awfully close to arrogance. *chuckles* However, I completely understand the need for it. After all, how does anyone get to know you if you can’t get past that feeling? That said lets step outside the comfort zone shall we?
I will keep this as close to a cliff notes version as I can lol. I have been fortunate/blessed enough to have lived a very challenging and multifaceted life. The 1st portion was spent on a horse ranch in Colorado, where I was able to survive an extremely abusive childhood, The silver lining was that I learned uncommon, useful and what could be termed as “exotic” skills. I learned to take and throw a punch, the ins and outs of basic ballistics, carpentry, masonry, and woodworking, how to work on cars, how to ride western, as well as equestrian saddle, as well as a plethora of other skills. If ever a person has a chance to spend time on a ranch or farm, I implore you to take it. The things you learn there are invaluable.
It was here that I developed a plan for my life (as many ambitious young men do.) I was going to be a fighter pilot! I knew the type of plane I would fly, the flight group I would be in, the ship I would serve aboard, even my callsign was picked out. Then like all well made plans, fate would intervene, I had to get glasses. So much for the life plan. As Mike Tyson once said “Everyone has a plan until you get puched in the mouth.” I would have quoted the elder Helmuth Von Moltke, but I think that would have been a bit melodramatic as there was no enemy here, and honestly this was a bit devastating as I wanted nothing to do nothing else.
In late middle school, the family I was a part of finally collapsed, and I moved to Southern Michigan, the Detroit area specifically. If you have never visited here I encourage one to do so. The place has a real soul, and many of the most influential artistic talent of our country has originated from here. You can almost taste its pain and pleasure by walking its flithy, depressing, and crime-ridden streets. It was here that I learned a many new “exotic” skills, and that many of my ideas of the world were either naive, or straight-up incorrect, and were then either destroyed outright or inexorably changed. At this time, I spent two years homeless and learning about all the glorious things that go along with it, like living out of cars, eating out of dumpsters, and food kitchens, and sleeping/squatting in abandoned buildings, just to name a few. It was here, however, that I would learn what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.
I was invited to a party that I would learn later was a “tattoo party.” To impress a young woman, I paid the tattoo artist to be at the head of the line. Yes, I was Tattoed for the first time in the name of romance lol. To answer anyone wondering, no I never got the girl. However, I obtained a career from it. Watching the artist fully do his “thing,” from the way he set-up and broke-down his area, how he stenciled or drew on the designs, to the way he set up his machines…I was taken, I was enthralled, I was enraptured, and from that moment on, I knew what I wanted to do. I wanted to be a tattoo artist.
For the 1st time since I was a cloistered young man from a backward rural home, I had a desire for my life. I spent the next several years looking for an apprenticeship. When I finally found one, I spent the next five years learning how to draw, re-learning patience ad nauseum, and doing anything I could and learning from anyone I could about the fine art of tattooing. At this point, I have to give a shout out to Steve Carian, Steve Pulford, Lottie, Patty, Freehand Robert, Jesse Kane, and Liquid Tattoo for the open door that they gave to me that got me to where I am. It would be during the early years of this apprenticeship, that I came back into my faith. After an intense spiritual awakening, and several weeks of fervid changes to my character, I would find myself complete between body, heart, and soul. Since then, I have called the Catholic faith home.
From there, I went to Massachusetts, where I would cut my teeth as a rookie tattoo artist, meet my best friend in the whole world, and be a part of him and his future wife blossoming into their life together. It was a really positive time of my life. I was successful, had a core of solid friends close by, was learning so much in my career, and for the first time ever, I looked to the horizon and saw light there instead of storm clouds. After a few years there, I would find myself In Houston Texas, where I am now. Like all things in my life, this part of my life has been as tumultuous as ever
Texas is indeed its own country inside of our United States, It took a year or two to be fully acclimated to this wonderful place, but once I did, I became very comfortable here. This stupendous land has so much to offer, from the artistic city of Austin to the soulful city of San Antonio, and the historic city of Galveston and my current hometown of Houston, I can say without any hesitancy that I love it here. It was here that in my late 30’s I finally had a child, my beautiful son Valentine. I also met the woman I recently became engaged to. I love you Jules, with all my heart. That is my story, and obviously I cut out quite a bit of the important parts, but I had to keep it as short and sweet as I could. Jerry Bruckheimer most likely lost interest a while back lol. If anyone is still interested in the gruesome details, all you have to do is come by the studio and get tattooed!
In all seriousness If you have made it this far, I wish to thank you for taking the time out of your life to read my story and for the opportunity for me to tell it.
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?
It is surprising to a lot of people that their own worst enemy tends to be themselves. Most environmental challenges are rather quickly dealt with, be they people or circumstances. However, dealing with one’s own personal flaws and insecurities alongside how they affect everyone in one’s life is not only terrifying but really laborious as well. A lot of mine tend to be of a rather personal nature so I’d rather not go into them here.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Kitsune Tattoo Company story. Tell us more about the business.
Kitsune Tattoo Co. is a sophisticated, private, upscale, appointment only tattoo studio focusing on custom tattoo work. We do offer same day appointments as well. Most modern tattoo shops tend to be very similar in both appearance and structure. We are unique in that our shop leans more toward an intimate environment, tailored to the individual client. It is a very unique experience amongst tattoo shops. While I can talk at length about this, the best way to experience it is to stop in and get a new piece done.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
What a loaded question! I don’t really believe in luck, but the randomness that life throws at you, and the fortune or misfortune of Gods favor I do believe in, The extremes of these have played a major factor in where I am, and I wouldn’t trade them for the world.
Contact Info:
- Address: Kitsune Tattoo Compnay
Salon 123
17675 A, TX-249 Ste. 23,
Houston, TX 77064 - Phone: 8325068557
- Email: unclenailbunny@hotmail.com
- Instagram: @Callibretto
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/Haap.Peacocok
Image Credit:
All work was done by me, and the only other people featured are my son Valentine Peacock, and my fiancee Julianna Kovacs.
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