No trends, no shortcuts—just soul. Here’s how Matthew Zumberge brings intuition into every piece of permanent art.
For Matthew Zumberge, tattooing isn’t just ink and skin—it’s a form of spiritual exchange. As the owner of Ethereal Tattoo in San Clemente, he holds space for meaningful experiences—often emotional, sometimes transformative.
Matthew’s work straddles two worlds: fine art and tattooing. On one side, he paints intricate, detailed canvases—pieces that take months and demand solitude.
On the other, he collaborates in real time with clients, building trust and translating personal stories into permanent marks. Both are deeply human, but the pace and energy of each practice are completely different.
He describes his paintings as internal—slow and meditative, often born from a specific vision. He’ll see an image clearly in his mind and feel a compulsion to bring it to life.
Sometimes, he paints in silence for hours. “It can be isolating,” he admits. “But I need that solitude to get the detail right, to stay in the process.”
Tattooing, by contrast, is relational. It requires him to be fully present with another person, to navigate their nerves, ideas, and emotions. He listens closely—watching body language, hearing what’s said and unsaid.
“It’s like energy work,” he says. “We’re sitting in this vulnerable moment together, and I’m trying to make something that’s really going to matter to them.”
That depth of connection doesn’t end when the tattoo is finished. “It creates a bond,” he says. “You remember each other. Years can go by, but you always remember who you shared that moment with.” Some clients become lifelong friends. Some return for more work. But all of them carry a piece of his art—and energy—with them.
Matthew was a painter before he ever picked up a tattoo machine. He studied illustration and fine art, but over time, he started craving something more hands-on and human—something that invited interaction. Tattooing gave him that. The more he merged his detailed painting style with the intuitive, relational nature of tattooing, the more it all made sense.
He built Ethereal Tattoo with a clear vision: to create a space that feels warm, intentional, and sacred. The studio isn’t loud or harsh—it’s calm, inviting, and grounded. People walk in and often say it feels peaceful, like a safe place to let something go or mark something important.
When he talks about his role as an artist, Matthew keeps coming back to intuition. He follows what feels right. Whether painting or tattooing, he doesn’t force things. “If I’m not into it,” he says, “I don’t do it.” That trust in his internal compass—refined over years of creating—has become his guide for both art and life.
Matthew sees creativity as something intuitive—like a current he taps into rather than something he forces. He talked about how sometimes he’ll draw something, and later the right person comes in and instantly connects with it. “It’s like it was already theirs,” he says. “It just finds them.” For him, art isn’t just a skill—it’s a way of listening.
In a world that often moves too fast, Matthew Zumberge’s work reminds us to slow down, to honor the body, and to treat creativity as a sacred act. Whether it’s a painting that took a hundred hours or a tattoo that took three, the care, intention, and presence behind it are the same.
Where to Find Matthew Zumberge & Ethereal Tattoo
🌐 Studio: Ethereal Tattoo, San Clemente, CA
📸 Matthew’s Art Instagram: @themutantart
🏹 Tattoo Studio Instagram: @ethereal_tattoo_sc
🖋️ Booking Info & Artwork: See posts and highlights on Instagram
Art convos 
Leave a comment