Today we’d like to introduce you to Ben Miller.
Ben, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I would like to start by thanking you for the opportunity to do this interview A little background information, my name is Julius Benjamin Miller, but most know me as Ben. 1975 model, Jesus built, 17 year husband, father of three (27, 14, and 10), 33 year tattooer, aspiring artist in too many mediums, two decade small business owner, 24 years of mentoring tattooers, purveyor of puns, teamster at local trash talkers union, avid lover of shenanigans… originally from central Michigan, I was raised primarily by my grandparents on a 240-acre working vegetable farm. As long as I can remember, creating art has been my passion. Family members would say, “he started with crayons and never stopped”. I’ve enjoyed exploring different mediums, media, and facets of art including drawing, painting, woodworking, and small sculpture. Anything that doesn’t require an exorbitant amount of resources, I’ve dabbled in. In 1993, I discovered the art of tattooing. I’ve been in love with it ever since. In 2001, I moved to Charlottesville. While managing Capital Tattoo in the University Shopping Center on Ivy Rd I was also responsible for the production of tattoo conventions in Richmond, Atlanta, Cocoa Beach and Irvine, California, with tens of thousands in attendance. I was also tattooing at twenty plus other tattoo conventions yearly. After five years of the ultrafast pace of constant travel it was time to settle down and focus on a home. With the help of a great number of people, I opened up Ben Around Tattoos in the winter of 2006 at 701 W. Main St. in Charlottesville. Throughout the years of Ben Around, we have had the honor of being named “best of” or runner up by C’ville magazine for ten plus years. We’ve also been named “C’ville‘s finest” or runner up for several years in a row. I have personally won awards for tattooing nationally and internationally since 2001. The accomplishment that I am the most proud of is designing a unit patch for an Army Apache helicopter attack unit based in Fort Drum, New York. if you want to know more than that, come sit in my chair, I’ll make you a tattoo and tell ya some stories….and as usual it’s Always Good Times!
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?
In the words of Franklin D. Roosevelt “Smooth seas never made a skillful sailor”… my path has definitely not been paved in privilege or curated with creature comforts. Growing up poor on a farm and scratching a living out of the dirt had one set of issues. As soon as a I was able, I escaped the work and isolation of the farm for an entirely different set of issues in major cities like Detroit and Chicago. Farm life had not prepared me for the hustle of the city, and I got a proper education on city life in short order. Realizing like goldilocks that this situation was too crazy, and this situation was too boring, I settled for middle ground in Grand Rapids, MI. Without much guidance I fell in with a group of folks that some were amazing humans and some could lead a preacher astray. I’m no preacher, but let’s say I strayed. Wine, women, and song were the downfall of many a tattooer. The rock-n-roll lifestyle is a fast burning wick, there is only so long you can partake before the bill comes due. After watching countless friends throw away potential and with the help of a close friend I decided that wasn’t the life I wanted. In 2001 I moved to Virginia without telling a soul. So much so my roommate at that time was less than stoked when they finally put it together two months later that I wasn’t there or coming back. Virginia was an opportunity to start over, leave childish things behind, and carry forward as a new man, that’s exactly what I did. It hasn’t been all smooth seas since, but I’m learning to be a more skillful sailor…
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
As a full time working tattoo artist most of my creative itch is scratched.in the 9-5. In the day to day i focus on doing as many diverse styles as possible to be able to provide for specific desires and needs of clients and the imagery they’ve chosen. I enjoy highly detailed black and grey images along with Asian style tattooing. If I had to say I specialized in a tattoo style it would be illustrative. Outside of work I paint in various mediums watercolor, liquid acrylic, and oil. Also enjoy small sculpture and relief carving. Having grown up on the farm I enjoy “small scale” gardening and landscaping. My proudest achievement in art has definitely been designing a patch worn as part of a United States Army uniform. What sets me apart as a tattooer is my integrity, quality, and consistency. Showing up every time, listening, giving every project the dedication and respect it deserves, brinigng 100%, 100% of the time. If I can’t give you “A” game, I’m for sure not going to give you “B” game…
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Stay teachable. Know what you don’t know and readily admit it. If you’re the smartest guy in the room, you’re in the wrong room. God gave you two eyes, two ears, and one mouth use them proportionately, as it is better to be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. For every man will be held accountable for his words. Took me decades and some of these things I’m still working on. As for finding a mentor, make sure what the mentor has is what you want become because that’s all they’re able to teach you. When the student is ready the teacher will appear. Lastly everyone has something to teach you, even if it’s what not to do….
Pricing:
- Tattooing services are all based around $200/hr
- Art commissions are considered on a case by case basis.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.benaroundtattoos.com
- Instagram: @benaroundtattoos
- Facebook: Ben around tattoos
