Highlighting Howard Co. Business
Wild Space Tattoos - Changing lives one canvas at a time
More than words, but a story in itself … in just a few simple words, the work of Renee Thomas – Ren Robot – is described best. When it comes to unleashing her creativity, the type of canvas doesn’t matter – from brick walls, to canvas paper, a napkin, and her latest venture, human skin. While Thomas’s work can be seen at numerous locations around Big Spring, you can now see her art walking down the street as well. Murals and paintings have been one of the creative outlets for Thomas, since she graduated from nursing school, and over the past year she has expanded her choice of canvas and opened her own tattoo studio – Wild Space Tattoo.
“Since I graduated from nursing school I have had more time and been working on murals and other paintings which reignited my passion,” Thomas said. “I realized as I was doing that I wanted to do art that was more impactful to their lives, actually change their lives so I got into tattooing.”
With the right connections already formed, it simply took a step of faith and the desire to travel down a new path. A connection with an experienced and dedicated tattoo artist, Thomas took the step into a new adventure and expanded upon her canvas options.
“I had known Redd who had been tattooing for about 13 years, and he took me under his wing. He taught me how to do it,” she said. “I always knew I wanted to do art, but I never knew I wanted to do tattooing until I was talking to Red and he said, ‘Let me teach you, you might really like it.’”
After about a year of apprenticeship under Red, Thomas gained the ability and the courage to step out and open her own tattoo shop. While there are those who have a preconceived notion of tattoo shops, Thomas is striving to break those preconceptions and break barriers, inviting those who may not have considered tattoos as an art form to step into her shop and see the stories she is telling.
“While I originally thought I could never tattoo someones body, learning from Red, I have found the courage to do just that and tell a story in each tattoo. I like doing tattoos because I like changing someones life in an artful way,” Thomas said.
While many may think that the step from nursing school to tattoo artist is a big leap, according to Thomas, they actually fit quite well together and the medical background has helped her as she has stepped into the new art avenue.
“Having a medical background is something that I would want even if I hadn’t gone to nursing school,” she said. “My medical background has truly helped. It’s important to know if one of my clients is on blood thinners, if they are on certain medications, things like that because it will impact the ink and the healing process. It’s important to know these things that way I can alter the process to ensure they are going to have the best possible tattoo and design it in a way that will work with their body.”
Thomas actually contributes her decision to step into the world of tattoo art to her time as a night shift nurse. While shuffling two jobs to get through nursing school, free time wasn’t a word often found in her vocabulary, but in the few moments she had in between passing meds and making rounds on patients, she found herself doodling and in the process drawing the attention and encouragement of her fellow nurses.
“There were a couple of nurses who really encouraged me, all of them really. It’s because of their support that I decided to pursue art,” she said. “It’s crazy, but becoming a nurse and being surrounded by encouragement and motivation pushed me to pursue my art and open my own tattoo shop.”
Her passion for expression through art has been shaped from her childhood and the travels she had growing up. The ideas flowing through her mind waiting to find a canvas is part of what keeps her growing and pushes her to expand her talent.
“I’ve had a lot of different life experiences and when I look at art I think it’s a way to tell a story,” she said. “There is ornamental and decorative art and that’s fine, but I feel like I have a lot more to tell than just flowers and sunshine.”
She continued, “Everyone does. It’s my job to listen to people; their tales of why they want a tattoo and I translate that into images that I related to their story. It’s a way to communicate at a glance really.”
As a mother, a wife, a nurse and an artist, Thomas continuously strives to tackle the next mountain on her journey. In addition to opening up her own tattoo shop just a few weeks ago, she also still works as a nurse at Martin County Hospital and is going to school to earn her BSN.
“One thing about what I am offering is that I don’t want people to just think they are coming to just get a tattoo. You are coming here to get a story,” she said.
Thomas has even found a way to combine her passion for art and her medical background into one common goal. While she is barely stepping into tattoo art, she has already completed one tattoo that included restoration of a finger.
“They are called paramedical restorative tattoos,” Thomas said. “Eventually I want to do tattoos for breast cancer survivors, and there are a lot of people around here with missing fingers due to work related injuries; those are two of the areas I want to step into.”
Expression through art is one of the areas in the Big Spring community that Thomas wants to see expansion in. In an effort to support local artists, Thomas offers wall space for local artists to showcase their work and commission. Currently, she has her work on display on most of her wall space, along with a 12-year-old artist.
She also has a tattoo chair for traveling artists who are making their way through Big Spring and need to stop and make a little extra money before continuing on their way.
Encouragement in the art world is important and can make a big difference in an art, which is why Thomas wants to encourage all artists and do what she can to build up the beauty in the community.
“I want to be the best tattoo artist in the West Texas region,” she laughed. “I want to host guest artists here from out of state.”
Thomas continues to walk a new journey of focusing on preserving and revitalizing the art of tattooing.
“I love my job, I care about my job. I’m not a regular tattoo artist; I have a lot of passion for art and I have a lot of passion for a good tattoo experience,” she said. “I feel that this town has let people down left and right and that’s the new standard. I hate that there are so many good people walking around with bad tattoos.”
She continued, “It’s not just a bad reflection on tattoo culture, it’s a bad reflection on art period. Art should never have that kind of reputation.
There are a lot of people who have a tattoo that they regret and I am here to change that. Bad tattoos can lead to low self esteem. We as tattoo artists need to do better for our clients to give more people more self esteem.”
Utilizing art to elevate the atmosphere throughout the community has been her desire and passion for a few years now. As murals began to be placed around town, the beauty she was planting steadily grew. Now, as she is expanding her canvas options, she is looking to not only water that environment, but encourage others to grow as well.
“We aren’t here to just do 50% and get paid. I want to train those who think like I do and want to give 120% in the creation of art, and in the process elevate each other and excel in art,” she said. “Art is limitless. While there are those who think I am good, in my mind, I am barely reaching the surface. I’m not even there yet, there is still so much more potential. Every piece is a learning tool and an opportunity to grow.”
Wild Space Tattoo is located at 603 B South Gregg Street, right between Little Caesars and Envy Nails. To reach Renee Thomas, find her on Facebook or Instagram through Renrobot, Renmart, or simply stop in her shop Monday through Friday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.