Today we’d like to introduce you to Felix Epperson.
Hi Felix, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’m a 5th generation Coos County Oregonian who ended up in ended up in Phoenix AZ in the mid 80’s. One of my friends there married into a tattoo family and that was my way of getting my foot in the door. I apprenticed with Larry Edwards in Austin Texas from 94 to 96 and tattooed there at Atomic Tattoo until 99. I then ended up in Lahaina HI and worked at, managed and then owned a shop in Lahainatown. We moved back to the mainland in June of 2006 and have been in Eugene since then. For the last 11 1/2 years I’ve been working at High Priestess in Downtown Eugene.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Tattooing is a hard craft to learn. A very unforgiving medium which the artist only has so much control over. No telling how a client will behave in the chair, and everyone’s skin is different, so you need to learn to adjust on the fly! Tattooing is a tough gig and has changed a lot in the 3 decades I’ve been slinging ink. Tattooing is a lot more accepted nowadays, so more people are getting ink. But. there’s also a lot more people trying to tattoo, so it has become an oversaturated market in most places. Not to mention, the lack of a steady paycheck, no employer benefits like insurance or retirement. Last minute cancellations and slow times of year can really cramp the budget!!!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a fairly versatile tattooer. Love working in color and combining American and Japanese styles. I’m also pretty good at covering up old tattoos and also restoring them when possible. And, having worked in Hawaii for over 7 years, I’m proficient at Polynesian style.
Any big plans?
I’ve been tattooing for over 30 years and probably don’t have much of a future because I’m almost 60!!! But, hopefully I’ll be in the chair for another dozen years or so!!! I just hope I figure out I should quit before other people do!!!
Pricing:
- Pricing varies wildly depending on the tattoo. Tiny and small stuff starts out at $120 for a minimum. Bigger custom pieces are by the hour, and my hourly rate is $175.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @felix_the_tat
