My frigid baptism into tattooing was the most painful an self affirming moments in my existence .. The winter of 2008 while living in New York gave way to my interest into "The Craft" . Due to personal issues, I found myself homeless & jobless in an unforgiving city . After much effort and failures along the way, I found myself begin turned down by every tattoo shop for an official apprenticeship . Some due to matters of race & others due to lack of social acceptance. I set the machine down for the next 3 years ,.. Only touching it from time to time for pure enjoyment amongst friends & loved ones . Not noticing how a new love and passion was growing within ,.... By the summer of 2011 I couldn't take it anymore ,.. I ventured out once again to seek my happiness through the painful sting of the tattoo machine . And on July 7th of 2011 I got my first job at a tattoo shop ! It was a old beat down biker shop . Where once again I ran into issues due too racism and ignorance . I was determined to succeed. I put together the little bit of money I was able too and open my first tattoo booth in a crappy little flea market in Tampa fl . My next goal was to push the limits of my skill on a daily basis , tattooing to the point of exhaustion was a daily joy while reaping very little benefits . In between working for myself I also took up a job tattooing out of 727 tattoos in St.Petersburg fl . And after a year of back and forth I was able to save up and open up "IronBlood Tattoos " April 20th 2013 ! Were I currently own and operate my dreams one tattoo at a time ... But , this is only the begging Of my journey ....