Today, we’d like to introduce you to Lyndzee Lawver.
Hi Lyndzee, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My life has been the culmination of many lucky moments, all of which I am grateful to have experienced. When I was 12, my mom took me to watch her get a tattoo at a shop in the sticks of Georgia. I was immediately enamored with the idea of tattooing.
At 15, I went to a small shop, that’s long since gone, with my poor quality drawings. The owner gave me a mop and said I could hang out. Ultimately, I was fortunate enough to find a half-baked apprenticeship with the most skilled artist in the shop at the time. I did my first tattoo when I was about 16 on my first mentor- it went horribly, but it was the true start of a lifelong pursuit. From there, I had a winding & rocky road to effectively tattooing.
Fast forward to the present- I’ve been tattooing in the Savannah area now for more than nine years and I can safely say I have found my Ikigai here with you all. Ikigai (pronounced e-key-guy) is the culmination of all the helping hands I’ve had over the years. I aim to share my luck and passion for art with you all.
I’m grateful for all the people over the years who have let me be part of your story.
Alright, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
Sometimes it feels easy, but maybe because I’ve already surmounted so much. I’ve had a lot of set backs in my career; I’ve had a lot a random acts of kindness as well though. Dealing with nay-sayers is something I think every person alive can relate to.
Really though, some of the biggest challenges I’ve encountered generally revolve around the individual struggle of ‘what I want VS what’s expected of me.’ The notion that ultimately I can only do so much has also been something I’ve always had a hard time accepting.
We’ve been impressed with Ikigai Tattoo, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Ikigai (e-key-guy): a reason for being. A Japanese concept that refers to what gives a person a sense of living, a life purpose.
I opened the Ikigai Tattoo in September of last year with the immense help of my partner, Thomas Smith. I went into this endeavor with the intent of having a space to share a meaningful experience with my clients while creating professionally applied tattoos. I think we have accomplished that and then some!
Brief thanks again to Thomas. We truly wouldn’t have made it without him. We were fortunate enough to secure enough space to allow other artists to pursue their Ikigai as well! We operate on more of a collective format than a traditional tattoo shop, check out our website for more information on individual artist.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting?
Live with passion. What’s the point of it all, anyway?
Contact Info:
- Website: Ikigaistudios.fun
- Instagram: @ikigai.sav
- Other: Thegoldensparrowtattoo.fun
Image Credits
@parriesphoto and Boe Parries
