What I've Learned: Joshua Sellers

Photo By Sgt. Medina Ayala-Lo | Lance Cpl. Joshua Sellers, ammunition specialist technician, Central Magazine Area, native of Lee Summit, Missouri, does not wish to pursue a career in tattooing, but instead hopes to venture into the business side of things and provide an outlet for other artists with a talent for freehand drawings. (Official Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Medina Ayalalo/ Released)  

TWENTYNINE PALMS, CA, UNITED STATES

10.17.2014

Story by Lance Cpl. Medina Ayala-Lo 

Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center

By Pfc. Medina Ayala-Lo

TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. - Lance Cpl. Joshua Sellers, ammunition specialist technician, does not wish to pursue a career in tattooing, but instead hopes to venture into the business side of things and provide an outlet for other artists with a talent for freehand drawings.

Lee Summit, Missouri

Ammunition specialist technician, CMA

The only time I draw now is when someone wants a tattoo or they want me to put something together.

I started drawing when I was little. I guess my first drawing that actually looked good was when I was four or five and my grandma has it. It was a green monster that was in a coloring book that I had.

My mom said that instead of coloring I ended up drawing the picture instead.

The more I realized that drawing was my thing, the more my mom supported me. I just kept drawing and I started getting better and better.

I started going into contests in elementary school. I got one of them published and hung up in the library.

I think the first time I drew a tattoo was when I was 15. My dad wanted a tattoo and he said he wanted a skull with flames coming off, but he wanted the flames to be the American flag. When I drew it he really liked it and he wanted to get it, but he said ‘I want you to put you initials in the tattoo.’ So I put my initials in there as the back molars of the teeth. That was my first tattoo I ever drew.

I’ll ask them first what the tattoo means. If they say nothing, I really don’t put all my effort into it because to me a tattoo has to mean something. I like to ask them what the meaning behind a tattoo is. It gives me more of an idea of what to put together and how to draw it. And I ask where they want it so I can figure out how to draw it and how to go about it.

My mom started saying ‘you need to have people pay you to draw for them.’

I never did charge. You having a picture that I drew on your body already means a lot to me. I don’t like having people pay me for something that I like to do.

My satisfaction is seeing it being on someone’s skin and knowing that I drew that picture.

My first tattoo that I ever got, I drew it.

I don’t draw as often. Unless someone asks me if I can draw them a tattoo, I put everything aside.

It makes me feel good. Every time I draw a tattoo it always means something to somebody so I put a lot of heart into it. It’s calming.

I’ve always done some activity. I did football in high school, I did basketball up until high school.

Being a Marine you have that image in your head of a Marine just big and fit, someone who can pretty much do whatever you put in front of them.

I joined the Marine Corps and now I’m pretty much being paid to go to the gym.

It makes me feel better inside and out. Just like a tattoo I like seeing progress being made.

I wanted to show everybody that if you work really hard, it’ll show. If you push yourself.

• Date Taken: 10.17.2014
• Date Posted: 10.17.2014 12:14
• Story ID: 145340
• Location: TWENTYNINE PALMS, CA, US