Meet Jessi Murray | Tattoo Apprentice & Freelance Illustrator

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

Hi Jessi, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
I think when we’re younger we have a stamina that we take for granted. We operate in a way that feels like it’ll last forever; running on little sleep, pushing ourselves physically, getting by on whatever resources are available. But as a disabled artist I have had to painfully learn what it means to create a sustainable work life balance. The hardest thing I’ve learned is that rest can be productive and is absolutely necessary. It felt unnatural compared to the “go, go, go” life I had been living, but it has been key in breaking the working nonstop to burnout cycle. Relearning my body’s limits and building rest into my schedule has allowed me to stay consistent and produce at a high level without crashing. Work life balance can be incredibly overlooked but is fundamental.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As a tattoo apprentice and a freelance illustrator my efforts are often split into two camps. They inspire one another and are rooted in the same desire to use art and craftsmanship to offer a service that brings people joy, but how I think about them, in application, motivation, and what I hope to achieve are very different. As an illustrator I am very heavily inspired by different historical styles, my favorite being mid-century modern design. I love to infuse this style with more contemporary ideas. I think a lot of people want to look to the future, to always try to create something new, but for me newness comes to me by combining traditions and pop culture throughout time. If I had to describe my illustration style I’d say it’s queer, odd, and distantly familiar. Levity is greatly important to me, I don’t think there’s a point to life if you’re taking everything seriously all of the time! So humor and playfulness is a big aspect to how I design.

As a tattoo apprentice practicing in 2024 there are centuries of history to learn from and be mindful of. Right now my focus is more on becoming the best tattooer I can be, a unique stylization comes with time, but in order to reach that point you have to start by stripping your ego and truly build your fundamentals. Everything I create will always be informed by who I am as a person, my intersecting identities, and the communities I am apart of, it will always be different but I’d much rather focus my efforts on learning the craft than trying to make myself stand out. I think that’s a hard thing to face for people that are getting into the industry, that tattooing is bigger than you, if you’re serious about it and passionate, you’ll stand out with time.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
The Metro Detroit area is filled with amazing food and unique places to hit! I have to be predictable here and say the Detroit Institute of Art is always worth a visit, I’ve been going as a kid and it truly never gets old. For nightlife I have to say Siren puts on some of my favorite queer events I’ve been to in Michigan, it’s a true diverse space that I’ve been able to find a lot of community with. A drag show at GiGi’s is also always a good time. To be honest, I’ve just moved back to this side of the state since living in Grand Rapids for four years. I currently live in Clarkston and work in Pontiac. But as a 24yr old I’m constantly driving into the cities to discover fun things to do and everything still feels new! I will say that wherever you are, bowling is always a fun time.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I owe so much to my mentor Elyria Robinette. I came to her long before I became her official apprentice. I met Elyria when I was a kid in highs school (with no business being in a tattoo shop) but she always took my passion for tattooing seriously and treated me with respect. She gave me tips and advice for years before I was ready to begin my apprenticeship, and now that I’m in it she has given even more to help me grow as an artist and a person. Elyria is a rare soul that I am eternally grateful to know and learn from. I am endlessly inspired by her.

Website: https://linktr.ee/murrayslefthand

Instagram: Murrayslefthand