Ace Connell’s Wild New Direction

The COVID-19 pandemic, especially the lockdowns, have been a real challenge to
businesses of all sizes. Some businesses have had to close, some have been waiting it out
and others have had to adapt… wildly.

Ace Connell, co-owner of Regenerates Tattoo studio, was told at the eleventh hour that his tattoo
studio had to close for an unknown amount of time because of the COVID-19 lockdowns. “It’s the
not knowing that is the biggest kicker” he said when asked about how he handled the business
side of the lockdown. “We had to have the studio closed for almost half a year, but at no time did
we know how long it was going to be. In fact, when we were allowed to open back up, we were
told on the Friday that we could open again on the Monday”.

Ace spent the time during lockdown to focus on his artwork. “I’d wake up every day, play with my
kids for a bit, then draw for the rest of the day”. He’d always had an interest in wildlife art and
drawing animals. “When people used to come in wanting a tattoo of an animal, that’s what always
excited me the most, so I spent nearly half a year in lockdown drawing animals for about 10 hours
per day”.

When reopening Regenerates Tattoo Studio after the lockdown, Ace’s reignited passion for wildlife
art steered him into the direction of specialising in wildlife tattoos. “I wanted every single tattoo I
do from now on to be something I’m super passionate about, so each and every client is getting a
piece of me in all of my art”.

Without the lockdown and the time away from running a business and keeping a studio running
day-to-day, Ace would’ve never had the time available dedicated exclusively on finding his
passion. “Work post-lockdown has been really busy and booming. It’s almost like everyone who
wasn’t able to work was lying around the house all day thinking up tattoo designs. It’s been crazy
in the best way possible.”

When asked whether offering only wildlife tattoos to clients has harmed his business, he said that
it’s been the opposite “I think people can see how passionate I am about the wildlife tattoos and it
shows in my work. There’s a uniqueness whilst keeping consistency in my work. If someone wants
something that isn’t my speciality or something I wouldn’t enjoying drawing, I’d rather not do it.
Although it’s a business, the art is always first to me and I want my clients walking around with the
best artwork possible. If I have to recommend a different artist or even a different studio to a client,
I will. A tattoos artist’s passion shows in their work”.

Ace has also started taking his art of out the tattoo studio. Every week he goes on location to
different farms and animal sanctuaries to draw animals in person and create paintings and
drawings from his art studio in his house. His aim for the future is to help animals with his artwork
and work with different animal charities. “If I can do what I love and help animals at the same time,
I couldn’t be happier”.

Conclusion

Ace’s tattoos and booking info can be found at http://instagram.com/AceConnell

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