Today we’d like to introduce you to Richard Parker.
Hi Richard, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My name is Richard ‘Made Rich’ Parker. I’ve been an artist my whole life. I always knew I wanted to be a professional artist but didn’t have an exact idea on which medium would get me there. I started my tattooing journey drawing tattoo ideas while I was in prep school for my teammates and friends at home. There was no TV, limited internet, no phones, just my sketchbook. One day I came and one of my friends I sold a drawing to for $40 showed me that he got the design tattooed. He told me paid $350 for the exact drawing, from there I knew I needed to pick up a tattoo machine and that was the lane I needed to be in.
After prep school and then tattooing out of my dorm room in college, I started a brand called ‘Think Before You Ink’. I was producing mini-documentaries of people in different industries having them discuss how the tattoo process or industry correlates to their own. I had interviewed people in the likes of Nigel Sylvester, Bas, Brittany Slam, and Coco & Breezy. Without it being in my plans, brand soon became a tattoo shop. The ‘Think Before You Ink’ tattoo shop had a 7-year run. Many NY artists were birthed there and plenty of national tattoo artists had passed through guest spotting. We’ve housed Tatu Baby, Miryam Lumpini, Joey Hamilton, Darnell Waine, Boneface, and many more.
Although I loved the community I was able to house, after owning and operating the shop from such a young age, I felt it was time to not resign for another term and put my focus back into myself as an artist and commit to the origins of the company. That is where I’m at today. Today the company still serves as a community for artists. Our website publishes tattoo news and articles as we continue to roll out bigger projects that are in the works and rolling out in the near future.
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?
The road has been far from smooth but only as difficult as I allow it to be. I have always been the kind to be resolution driven as opposed to problem. I lean into what works. The most difficult thing about building has been not having an immediate mentor. I tend to think I have been well ahead of the curve in my projects and establishments so not having the guidance most business owners relay on has been difficult. A lot of learning fro my mistakes. It has cost a lot of time and money but it’s all been worth it.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a full on creative, but tattooing is my bread and butter. Off skin, I’m a conceptual artist. I’m more driven by the why as opposed to the how. My versatility as placed in an array of opportunities I’m extremely proud of from a young age. I have been on 2 seasons of Ink Master along with 2 of their spin-off shows, I was about to have a clothing collaboration with an established brand in Malaysia where I designed a drop for them and had a tattoo pop up in their flagship store, I was commissioned by the city to design the Black Lives Matter mural for Queens Ny. for artists to help paint, and I’m a great freaking dad. A lot of victories but I try not to get stuck on my laurels.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
My mom has been my biggest mentor financially. Helping me understand the mechanics of finances behind business and its structure. It’s been a tough roud because we had to figure it out ourselves but she’s the reason I’m still operating and able to build my business properly. Aside from that, many supporters, few builders. Miya Bailey was one of the few, if not only person I had to reach out to for guidance. Forever grateful for that.
Contact Info:
- Website: artmaderich.com
- Instagram: maderich
