Meet Matthew (Mick) Minyard | Tattoo Artist/Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Matthew (Mick) Minyard and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Matthew (Mick), we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I had spent many years working for someone else, having someone else be my boss. I’ve been tattooing professionally for 22 years and managed several tattoo businesses before. I felt it was time to branch out by myself and get ahold of my own career and not have someone over me or dictate my daily life. I wanted to create a safe and inclusive space where my clients felt open and comfortable in their own skin. It’s important to me to have people feel relaxed in the environment of the shop. Unfortunately, you hear a lot of the time that tattoo shops are known to be uncomfortable, or the artists were rude, mean, etc. We wanted to break that cycle and break that stigma about tattoo shops in general.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I started a lot like many old school tattoo artists, I started tattooing when I was 14 years old and quickly realized I could do this for the rest of my life. The first time I knew I wanted tattoos I was 6 and saw a heavily tattooed person and knew that’s how I wanted to look. I kind of fell into tattooing and the stone just rolled down the mountain from there. My ability to take on any style, knowing I will be able to pull it off with the best of my ability sets me apart from other places in the area that only have a specific focus. I am humbled in my ability and my art, I don’t let ego get in the way of giving someone a tattoo for the rest of their life. It excites me that I have the ability to pass on my knowledge to others knowing that they will be able to become the best they can be. I am proud of my growth, where I came from, and all I’ve learned in all my years of tattooing. No, it was not easy to get to where I am at, at this stage in my career. A lot of heart-break, and suffering for my art. I want the world to know that I always try my best to give people what they want and also to try and please myself with the art I try and produce.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would start off by taking them somewhere to eat, either Marco’s Tacos and Hotdogs in Longmont or possibly The Roost in lovely downtown Longmont. After lunch we would probably end up going fishing (one of my favorite hobbies) at Golden Ponds for Large-mouth Bass. A good destination to go to would be Estes Park or Garden of the Gods for a nice scenic time. Karaoke is always a good time and I would show them Park Center Lounge in Westminster (the food is good too).

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Tony (Anthony) Benbrook is an awesome business man and helped me out as much as possible to make my dream of being a business owner a reality. He owns and operates Viking Mechanical in Longmont, Colorado.

Website: www.blackkrakentattoostudio.com

Instagram: @blackkrakentattoostudio