Today we’d like to introduce you to Madison Tomsic.
Hi Madison, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I started making art in highschool. I owned a vw bus that I painted all psychedelic inside and out. This led me to moving to San Diego where I found the festival scene. I was know as @buminthebus then and was living in my bus with friends. In the festival scene I started busting out my acrylic paints and painted my face and the faces of my friends. We traveled up and down the coast painting faces, selling flowers crowns, and selling little miniature paintings to get by. After a few years I decided to move to Maui and got a job as a henna artist. My boss saw my facepaint and art and figured I could probably henna. Doing henna really led to my desire to tattoo. While at a festival in Spain a couple years later we camped next to some guys from Guatemala who told me they had friends in Guatemala that were tattoo artists and that I should visit. So I decided to go out to Guatemala, I got hired as a facepainter/ live artist for the festival cosmic convergence and I started painting murals for some people and businesses in San Pedro. After meeting the tattoo artists in town who owned a shop and hostel they offered me an apprenticeship and I obviously said yes. So I lived and learned to tattoo in Guatemala. I then became @tomsictattoos. After that I bounced around the world tattooing and facepainting. Living in Guatemala, Costa Rica, San Diego, and Hawaii. I met the love of my life one day in San Diego leading me to hunker back down in San Diego permanently which then led to me eventually opening a little studio in mission valley San Diego called Eco Baddy Tattys. I was opened for a few years until my partner and I decided to do half our time in Honolulu. But honestly through out it all I always end up in San Diego since all of my favorite people in the world are here.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I think it’s always a bit of a struggle as an artist. I feel like life is a bit of a rollercoaster when it come to finances as an independent artist. Certain times of the year are definitely slower then others and this is in all facets of the art world. When I was doing henna in Hawaii spring and summer were busy. When I was tattooing in California winter and spring were a bit busier but definitely not the winter holiday time, holidays were usually very slow.
All this to say we as artists are always coming up with creative solutions to our struggles. Generally I try to have fun in the interim and try not to get imposter syndrome or feel down when some moments aren’t the most successful.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am primarily a tattoo artist. I focus on a fusion style of tattoos. I really like having an illustrative nature focused subject matter with ornamental and geometric elements as well. A fusion of two styles. I also really love having a color scheme of black and grey with a pop of turquoise, teal, and white.
I am really most proud of the custom work I’ve been producing for my creative clients over the years. I feel super grateful for all of the trust everyone has had in me and the sheer amount of custom work I’ve made for everyone.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
I primarily use eco conscious supplies. Nearly all of my disposable supplies are compostable. I am really trying to focus on creating a business that is environment forward thinking. I want to create the type of business I wish to see more in the world. The tattoo industry and really a lot of medical industries create a lot of trash keeping our clients and ourselves safe and clean so having new eco options that are the same quality of protection and don’t destroy the earth is too cool!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/tomsictattoos
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tomsictattoos
