By Nova Images

 

A few years ago, I was recommended by a co-worker to go see Mike at Palm Desert Tattoo Co. since I had been looking for an artist to finish my Japanese style sleeve. Upon meeting Mike, I instantly felt a natural connection and asked if he could take on this project.

Through out our different sessions and conversations these last few years, not only is Mike Somers a great artist, but an even better human being, father, and husband. I can genuinely say he’s been a light in the tattoo community locally, but also someone that you can truly trust to do not only a killer job on your tattoo vision,  you will leave a better person just by the conversation you have with him. Maybe that’s just me speaking for myself, I know I have changed for the better through his words and his passion for his art. Take a minute to read my feature on Mike and his shop, and please support local artists!

Q:  Where are you originally from? How long have you lived in the Coachella valley? 

A:  I was born in Walnut Creek, Ca. in 1978. We moved around California alot when I was a kid. We finally landed in Lodi, Ca., about 30 minutes south of Sacramento, when I was in third grade. I graduated highschool there. Started my family there and ultimately started my tattoo career there. My wife Katie and I moved to the Coachella Valley in June of 2013. 

 

Q: How long have you been tattooing and what inspired you to take up tattooing? 

A:  January will mark 22 years practicing the art and craft of tattooing. I'd been a huge fan of the concept of being able to decorate our own skin since I was a small child. Neither of my parents ever had any tattoos, but when I'd see them on older people, it had always amazed and intrigued me. Although my initial career path never had anything to do with tattoos. Aside from being an artist at an early age, math and science were always my strongest suits. Having been discouraged by my parents from pursuing anything art related, I'd decided to work towards becoming a civil engineer. Diving into the world of tattooing was actually an idea of my best friend's back in 2001. Having veered off course from becoming an engineer by starting a family in highschool, by my early 20's I was deep into blue collar work and supporting a family. My buddy suggested tattooing as a way to share my art with everyone else. It was Christmas 2001, that I ordered myself a complete tattoo set from Ebay. By January of 2002, I was tattooing my friend in my dining room.

Follow Mike Somers on instagram at https://www.instagram.com/mikesomerstattoos/?hl=en

 

Q: Who taught you how to tattoo or were you self taught? 

A:  Initially, I was for lack of a better term, self taught. My buddy and I put our heads together and tried our best to figure it out, right out of the box. That went as well as it always does. It didn't really. Hahahaha! I knew that I needed some professional instructions. I took my book full of crappy tattoos and a ton of artwork on the road in search of an apprenticeship. After approximately 20 doors being shut in my face and some very choice words, the two of us began going to conventions, where we were able to walk up to the artists and ask them questions. This was perfect. We'd learn all day and go home and practice. Then make a new list of questions for the next convention. Rinse and repeat. We did this for a couple years with great results. I still needed more though. My buddy ended up getting a job at a local shop as a helper, breaking down, setting up, cleaning, etc. He would bring information back on a more frequent basis. This worked for about a year. In my 3rd year, I met my mentor, Lucky McGovern, in a Michael's art store. He would be the one that invested the time into teaching me the fundamentals of tattooing through American Traditional and a brief but traditional apprenticeship. Although I was eventually traditionally taught how to tattoo, I do believe that there's no one way to learn the craft and we should always remain a student. 

Q: How long have you owned your shop? 

A:  My wife and I haved owned our shop for a little over 4 years now. We opened our doors on July 22nd, 2019. I never set out to be a shop owner. We arrived at the idea when I realized that it was a goal of mine to control the environment, not only that I tattoo in, but the environment that my clients spend their time in. I want to offer the best overall experience. Everything from the vibe, smell, cleanliness, brightness, music, the greeting, etc. It's also allowed me to do my best work in my career. 

 

Q: Who were your biggest inspirations and motivations in this industry? 

A:  I've had a ton of inspirations over the years. Originally, it was actually Bob Ross that made me believe that anyone could get in touch with their artist inside. He also made painting look easy. If it wasn't for growing up watching him on PBS, I probably wouldn't have given art a fair shot and found my gift. Rick Walters became a huge inspiration and driving force for me in my craft throughout the years. Having been introduced to him by my mentor during my apprenticeship and receiving some very harsh words of wisdom and Papa's swift kick in the ass, I'd always looked up to him. Coming full circle and becoming an endorsed Sullen artist in 2016, I was able to rub elbows and share stories with him at a handful of our events before his passing. Fortunately, I was able to explain our almost two decade connection to him and how large his impact was on me and my career. Aside from Rick, I've always been a huge fan and junky for tattoo history, where we came from, what it took to share the craft, and the forefathers that made it possible for us to do what we do and be able to feed our families with art. My gratitude for what they've done will always inspire and motivate me to be better each day. 

 

Q: Is there a certain style you like tattooing over others? If so, why? 

A:  My roots will always be in American Traditional tattooing. I was taught and believe that the fundamentals of tattooing any style, come from American Traditional. I spent the first 12+ years primarily tattooing in the traditional style. Of course, over the years, I've studied and expanded into other spaces such as Realism (color and black and gray), Watercolor/Abstract fine art, Japanese, and even Permanent Makeup. 

 

Q: Besides tattooing, do you take on any other styles of art? Painting, drawing, etc. 

A:  As a business owner and full time custom tattoo artist, I don't have as much time as I'd prefer to paint and draw for leisure. However, I've always love Watercolor painting, drawing with colored pencils, and building things. 

 

Q: What are your goals as an artist, business owner and individual (personal goals) 

A:  Goals.... that's kind of a moving target I guess. 25 years ago, I would have said that I want to be rich and famous so that my kids could have the world and never have to look at the price tag. Today, as a new grandfather, husband, business owner and grateful human that's pushing 50 years old, my goals are to be a great, healthy example for my grandkids, a role model for younger artists either in the industry or just struggling with the idea of pursuing art as a career. Business will always fluctuate. Money will come and go. But we need to appreciate each day. Life can pivot on a dime. 

 

Q: What would you like to see different in the tattoo community? From others artist as well. Is there anything that can be done or changed for the better. 

A:  Where do I start? I tend to get a little passionate about this topic. I feel that every tattoo artist, at some point in their career, owes it to the industry to somehow "pay it forward". Whether that is in the form of teaching everything you know to someone who has the potential to be better than you, you donate your time to a cause that benefits our industry and community, or you're just simply a good human that makes decisions by weighing right and wrong, not taking the short cuts, and not being a gatekeeper to the new generation of up and coming artists.

Unfortunately, "the apprentice" is currently looked at by MANY as cheap labor and someone that gets pimped out for small profits, way too soon, with little instruction, at the expense of their education. This needs to change if we want the future of our industry to thrive in the way that it should. As tattoos become more mainstream and accepted, and technology in tattooing continues to advance, the quality of the body of work should grow at the same rate. However with the influx of uneducated individuals being able to tattoo in a professional environment without instruction for short term benefits only hurts our overall image as an industry down the road. This is the thing that will push for more regulations and control being taken away from us. Protect what we have now and just put in the work people.

*All photos courtesy of Mike Sommers and Nova Images

 

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DEAR CUNTY