Meet Paul Marino | Tattoo artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Paul Marino and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Paul, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
Work life balance is so important and it’s something that not enough people make a priority. I spent the first 15 years or so of my career working 10-14 hour days. I’d be in the shop at 10am and leave way past midnight everyday. I put everything I had into work which was great in progressing in my craft but I missed out on life. I’ve spent the past few years setting boundaries with myself and making home life with my wife and dogs more of a priority than work. Being in an artistic based industry I will always have to dedicate a lot of time to work to stay sharp and relevant, but making memories with my wife and dogs and with friends is much more important.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I have been in the art world since before I could walk. I had artists on both sides of the family and spent all my childhood filling sketchbooks, reading art books, and dreaming about tattooing. I started tattooing around 19 years old and dove head first into this industry. I moved to Philadelphia a year out of my apprenticeship and over the years worked in every kind of shop from street shops in the hood, to upscale appointment only studios. So I feel lucky to have learned and have experience in every corner of this industry. I spent years traveling and doing conventions and guest spots and have been lucky to work along side so many incredible artists. But tattooing can be tough. There’s a lot of pressure on yourself to constantly be putting out the best work and keeping up with the growing industry, but I always stayed hungry. I always wanted to be better than I was the day before. But almost 20 years in, one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is to remember to put your feet up and enjoy life outside of work.. I love tattooing and I have dedicated my life since I was 6 to this craft and I am so grateful to be doing what I love and the support I get from my friends, family and clients.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Depends on the time of year! During the winter we would definitely be snowboarding at Breckinridge for a few days then grab some food in Idaho Springs at Tommykockers or Beau Jo’s pizza. During the warmer months, maybe drive up Mt. Evans or Pikes peak. The Cheyenne mountain Zoo is one of my favorites, the haunted tour at Cave of the Winds, and if you’re a meat eater, Cowboy star in Colorado Springs is a solid choice. One of mine and my wife’s favorite things we did last summer was drive to Florissant Fossil Beds at 1am during the darkest part of the sky with our dogs and a bunch of snacks and you could see the Milky Way in the sky it was awesome. Didn’t see any UFO’s though.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I dedicate this shoutout to my wife who always supports me and makes me a better man. Also to all my friends and clients over the years for the continued support. And lastly to my uncle who passed away, who introduced tattooing to me at a very early age and has always been my biggest inspiration as an artist and tattooer.

Instagram: @paulmarinotattoo

Facebook: Paul Marino