Today we’d like to introduce you to Mac Mariscal.
Hi Mac, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My story started in my early days as a high student at Mountain View High School in Buford, GA. I would spend most of my time drawing on the borders on my worksheets. I was really into graffiti at the time so that’s what I would mainly draw. Tagging my name all over, until it got me in trouble. My first write-up in school was for drawing instead of paying attention lol. I guess that’s when I knew my passion was art…it absorbed all my time and attention. I never knew how to keep myself out of trouble, so I would sit in ISS and detention all day and draw on my friends with sharpies and give them fake tattoos. My fake tattoos gained a lot of attention when I drew an entire sleeve on one of my classmate’s arm. Took all day. Everybody wanted to sit with me at lunch to get their sharpie tattoos haha. It became a thing at lunch, after school detention, even on the bus on the way home.
I knew in my heart I wanted to be a tattoo artist ever since. Having a traditional 9-5 never interested me. My parents were always super supportive of what I wanted to do. So when I was about 16. I decided to drop out of school and start working to make money to buy myself tattoo equipment. And so I did. Not only was I figuring out what the rest my live would look like. I was finding myself as an individual. I started to embrace myself, my sexuality, my career choices, etc. Coming out to my family was a really hard stage in my life since they didn’t take too well at the beginning. So I moved out at 17 and started tattooing out of a friend’s house, who let me stay on their couch for a few months. My tattoos started to get better and better over the years. I started gaining clientele and building a reputation. It was a long process since I’m self-taught. But slowly, it started taking off.
Tattooing took me all over Georgia. From tattooing at hotels, motels, sketchy houses, getting robbed, getting broken into, to going to rich folks condos, tattooing rappers, etc. I learned a lot over the years. Failing and failing over and over again. Until one day…
The opportunity of my lifetime came around and fell into my DMs on Instagram. A brand new shop opening in Lawrenceville, ga. (Endless Ink Studios) They saw my work through a high school friend of mine. The shop owners were willing to work with me, even though I had no shop experience, young, self-taught, and very immature. They believed in me. So without thinking twice, I went, set up an interview and met with the owners. Tattooed in front of them. As their lead artist hovered over my shoulder, picking my tattoo apart. It was nerve racking…but…boom, I landed the job.
I knew at that moment it was only up from there. Once I became a licensed, legit tattoo artist, I started to gain more posture as an artist. I started to attend tattoo conventions, travel out of state to guest spots at other tattoo shops, my work started getting awards in tattoo contests, etc. As I grew as an individual and as a tattoo artist, more doors opened up. I started working at a pretty reputable, high-volume shop in the mall of Georgia area. (Wild Tribe Tattoos and piercings). Which is where I am located at right now. Buford, GA.
Looking back at all these memories, I couldn’t be more grateful for all the love and support I had from everybody since day 1 to present day. I wouldn’t be where I am without them. I live the life I always dreamed of as a kid. Im in love with my job, my work, my routine. Like Drake said, haha. It’s true, when you love and protect something you’re so passionate about it will always take you exactly where you are met to be. As long as you keep the 3 A’s in practice. Attitude. Association. Action. (Something my dad always told us as kids). And anytime we had to step out of our comfort zone, he would say: “Solo es otra aventura” (“It’s just another adventure”).
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Not at all. My biggest struggle was having to be self-taught.
Nobody that I reached out to for mentorship was interested in teaching me how to tattoo. So I had to find my ways of learning and researching.
Getting broken into my apartment and losing all of my tattoo equipment, all my rent money a week before rent was due, my electronics that I used to tattoo. All gone. That was a bump on the road I’ll never forget. But the universe has always had my back and I always found a way to keep tattooing.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a tattoo artist. I specialize in black and gray realism.
I most know for my black and gray portraits and award-winning work.
I am most proud of my journey and how far I’ve made it.
What I think sets me apart from others is how stubborn I am. I don’t take no as an answer. Which can be good and bad sometimes, lol
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
My association. My social circle. It has played really good and really bad in life and in business. It has taught me that not everybody is out for your best interest. But there are still numerous people who will always do right by you. It’s just hard to find them.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Instagram.com/Mac_sharony
Image Credits
Motley Moments Photography
