Name: Sean Ambrose
Age: 28
Title: Owner, Arrows & Embers Tattoo
How long have you been a tattoo artist?
Nine years, and I've owned Arrows & Embers for the last two.
How many tattoos do you have?
I'm on a quest for one. There are too many to count. They all start blending together at some point.
What's your favorite tattoo you've ever had done?
My back piece. It took almost one year to complete.
Any tattoo regrets?
Lots.
Did you get all your work done by the same artist?
No. It's almost like a house, where different parts of me are rooms done by someone else.
What was the most painful tattoo you've ever had done?
The palm of my hand. I was going to get the other one done, too but decided not to.
What's the most time-consuming tattoo you've ever done?
I invested 60 hours in a sleeve for someone before. Usually clients like that come for between four and eight hours at a time, whatever they can handle.
Have you ever made any memorable corrections or changes to a tattoo?
One client had a fairy tattoo that must have been 20 years old. It looked like a big, black blob, and we brought it back to life.
What's the strangest body part you've ever tattooed?
You can definitely use your imagination. I've tattooed almost every body part. I shy away from that stuff now, but when you're learning, part of the learning process is knowing when to say no.
Have you ever done any matching/combination tattoos?
No, I don't repeat any of my art, and I don't repeat any other art, either. If someone comes in with a picture from the internet, I tell them we have to change it. It's sort of an honor code. Every tattoo should be unique, like a person.
Is the customer always right or do you try to talk them out of things sometimes?
They're not always right, but I do my best to try to make their vision come to life. We have an extensive consultation process beforehand, where they can see it on paper and on skin. I can sketch it on your body so you can better visualize it.
What percentage of your customers are drunk at the time?
Zero percent. There are some old-timers that think that's how it's supposed to go, but if they come in with a flask I say, 'Let's reschedule.'
Hidden talent?
Playing music. I play guitar, mandolin, a little bit of piano, harp, fiddle, saxophone – although I try to keep it exclusively guitar right now.
