Life & Work with Brandon Benge of Murfreesboro City Square

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brandon Benge.

Hi Brandon, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I have always loved to draw and have ways loved tattoos. My father had 2 from when he was in the Navy and I used to draw on friends with markers to simulate tattoos. I took all the art courses I could while in school, but unfortunately I stopped drawing in my freshman year of high school due to the teacher throwing pieces of mine away because “he didn’t like them”. O did occasionally draw from time to time but ut was not until I joined the Army fighter high school and found my self in Iraq in 2003. Some soldiers I served with would ask me to draw some designs for them to get tattooed once they got back to the states. I still didn’t have any interest in becoming a tattoo artist. After I got back from Iraq in 2004, I got out of the army and enrolled in school to become a nurse at Murray State university. I fort took my EMT course at Murray State and worked as an EMT while in school. After getting through most of nursing school I realized that nursing was not my cling. I then dropped out of nursing school and became a police officer and graduated college with a bachelor’s degree in integrated studies. As a police officer I utilized my skills as an EMT and resuscitated a 5 week old baby. After a few years as a police officer I was involved in a shooting that drove me to go back into the military. As was here that a neighbor of mine saw some of my art and asked is I would tattoo him if he bought the equipment. My answer was a resounding NO I have no idea how to tattoo, but this peaked my curiosity and I began to study the art of tattooing. I watched documentaries, read books and watched videos on the process of tattooing. After watching and reading about tattoo legends such as Sailor Jerry, Ed Hardy, Crazy Eddie and Lyle Tutttle, and Milton Zeise, I became a traditional tattoo junkie. I then did my first tattoo on myself and realized I had a talent for the art. After retiring from the Army I went back to police work while I spoke to local tattoo shops on how to become an apprentice and what type of art I needed to work on. I then decided to hang upbthe badge after needing knee and hip replacements and focused on becoming an apprentice. It took 4 years to become an apprentice and got my break at a small shop in Manchester TN but my stint there was shirt because the owner and head artist stole money from me and never applied for my apprentice license. I then moved to a couple other shops and was taught a lot from Isaac Velasco at Annuit Coeptis tattoo and Chris Whitney at Straight Edge tattoo. After my stint at these shops was over I took a small break and focused on my art and saved money to open my own shop. It was in 2003 that I opened PrimordialbInk tattoo llc at the salon suites in Murfreesboro Tennessee. I was at this location for a year where I was able to build my clientele and save to open up at a larger location on the Murfreesboro city Square located in the former public defenders building, where I am to this day. Its a good location where it has handicap access and the main entrance is in the alley between a local spot called High Society.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Its was a rough road to become an artist. I was an apprenticebfor almost 4 years and I jad a license in Wisconsin where I would travel to in order to try and get a foot hold there in case I moved there (which was athe plan). A lot of the struggles were tryingbto find a spot that would take on an apprentice and the amount of time spent unpaid tryingbto achieve the goal of becoming an artist

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am currently the owner operator of Primordial Ink tattoo llc, I specialize in American traditional tattoos, tattoo reworks and cover ups. I am known for having a calm demeanor, a funny personality and the ability to make anyone feel comfortable. I am most proud of the fact that I have made it this far with the help of a couple friends, my mom and a small 4k loan. I feel that the relaxed atmosphere, unique shop asthetics and the diversity of art styles amongst the artists at my shop set us apart from most along with the fact we are open later than the other shops in Murfreesboro.

How do you think about happiness?
Making others happy is what makes me happy. If I can ensure that someone’s ideas are brought to life and they walk out with a smile makes it all worth while.

Pricing:

• Shop minimum is $60
• Tattoos are charged by the piece not by the hour
• Will work on designs to give a tattoo a client will be proud of within their budget

Contact Info:

• Website: https://primordialinktats.my.canva.site/home
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/primordial.ink.tattoo
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1F7Uqwsiyf/