Today we’d like to introduce you to Angela Ponce
Hi Angela, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I started my tattooing journey in Colby, KS. My fiancé and I moved a lot from the panhandle of Texas, to Iowa, to Kansas, and back to Texas but this time in Waco. I kept changing jobs because of my fiancés job. While we were living in Kansas I just graduated with a bachelor’s degree of graphic design. But living in a small town with not that many job opportunities…this degree was basically useless. Once I realized this, I decided it’s now or never and I wanted to try and get into the tattoo industry. I shamelessly admit I started doing stick n pokes from my home in Kansas and tattooed coworkers and friends (they actually came out pretty good). But one day while my fiancé and I were driving the around Colby we noticed a little tattoo shop. We were both shocked to see this since this town was so small! I knew what I needed to do. The next day I got my art portfolio ready and asked for an apprenticeship. The shop was called skin revolution and it was male dominated. They liked what I had in my art portfolio and I got my dream opportunity of becoming an apprentice. In the state of Kansas things are way more strict compared to Texas. I had to do 1800 hours of being in the shop. I had to tattoo 50 completed pieces. I had to do at the end of all of that a state physical and written test. All in the span of 6 months. If you don’t get this done you will have to start all over. Unfortunately the shop became very negative, uncomfortable, and toxic once I got near to finishing my apprenticeship. I’ve been told it’s like an old school way of appreciating. Being the only female tattooer in a male shop that’s an apprentice is not a good mix hahaha! My demeanor changed and I would just come in and tattoo because I wanted to be a tattooer so badly it’s my dream! But after all the sweat, blood, ink, and tears I got fired through a text message. I was told that it wasn’t going to work and I was “not serious enough”. After 4 months later …I finally got to convince my fiancé to move out of state and we did to Waco, Tx. I made a list of tattoo shops that I wanted to apply to. And the first one that was on the list gave me that opportunity to tattoo again! I currently worked for Embrace the Choas for about year and something months and I couldn’t be any happier.
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?
It has not been a smooth road. Being called lazy, dumb, and not serious as a tattooer from the people that was suppose to build you up is such a bummer. It can ruin your confidence as a tattoo artist. Most of the struggles come trying to stand up for myself and to myself. Like most artist that care about their skills we tend to nit pick every little details. Sometimes it can get worse where it feels like self hate and feeling like a “fraud” it’s so weird haha!! But thanks to fiancé Tommy Weil, family, friends and fellow artists like Aimee Bell I’ve been improving that type of mindset for sure!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a tattoo artist. I love doing custom, fine line, and American traditional tattoos. I usually love doing black and gray tattoos but when I’m doing American traditional… colors all the way! I am most proud of my fine line tattoos and custom tattoos! I don’t really know what sets my art compared to others. But I’d like to think what sets me apart from others is making sure that my clients feel secured and comfortable especially for the female clients. The last shop that I worked at I would have females come up to me and personally ask me if I could tattoo them because the males from the shop made them feel uncomfortable and nervous. I take pride knowing that I can make anyone feel heard and safe being with me! It’s always my number 1 priority!
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
My fiancé (Tommy) and I are eloping to Las Vegas and getting married by an Elvis impersonator in April 26th 2025! I’m super excited!!!
Pricing:
- $120 per hr
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @trashink_tattoos
- Other: angela.inktattoos@gmail.com
