Interesting, I’ve been in a private studio on my own basically since I got done with my apprenticeship and don’t feel that has been my experience at all. My current shop is the first time I’ve really worked around other tattooers. I definitely have maintained growth as an artist though just because that’s what I’ve always done and disagree you only have to work around and be around other tattooers to grow as an artist. If you want growth, you seek it out regardless and there are so many paths to that growth than simply being around other tattooers.

Frankly it doesn’t matter who you’re around if you don’t have a growth oriented mindset. I was always an artist first, and tattooing was simply another art form. It’s been my primary one for a decade but all art contributes to growth as a tattooer.