Hey Carola! Please give an overview of what you’re trying to promote. Thank you!
I am a tattoo artist, and the manager of Ink Life DFW, in North Richland Hills, TX. I began tattooing in 2016, and have been at this shop from the very start. When I first began tattooing, I was the only female in the shop. And so, as my career progressed, I decided that I wanted to help other female and alternate lifestyle artists in this male dominated industry. Now, eight years later, I have managed to build just that. And not just a gender specific team, but a group of artists that actually like each other and can work together. At Ink Life DFW we strive to produce top quality tattoos, as well as to have an understanding of our clients needs and individual healing processes. My female led staff caters to all walks of life, and our goal, aside from good art, is to welcome and make comfortable people who, otherwise, may feel uncomfortable in a traditional tattoo shop. My team coordinates with each other to find the best artist for each tattoo or piercing; you will get the most experienced artist in the shop for your piece. We also provide thorough aftercare information, and you will have access to your artist in case you have questions at any time.
The team of artists that I have built consists of five females, two males, one trans, and one non-binary. Each of us has a unique skill set when it comes to tattooing, and so we offer a wide variety of tattoo styles. From solid cover-ups, to watercolor, realism, impressionism, or custom tattoos, I have an artist for you. If you are interested in a piercing we can help you as well. Our lady piercer is renowned for helping her anxious clients be comfortable during, what is usually, a somewhat painful process. I am a creative nature, and I could not thrive in any other sort of environment. The tattoo family that I and my coworkers have managed to build makes coming to work everyday feel like going to a second home. They are not only my coworkers, but also my best friends; my partners in crime if you will. Our shop naturally is able to bring that same consideration and respect to our clients. The path to get to where I am has been hard, and many times I had thought of giving up, but the reward has been immeasurable. Hard work, and the cooperation of my coworkers, has made this business successful. I can look forward to many years of continued success as we all work daily to build our skill sets and improve our way of tattooing.
What was the biggest obstacle in your journey and how did you overcome it?
The biggest obstacle in my journey has been fear. Fear and being bipolar; which are very closely related. While I have only been diagnosed as being bipolar for a year and a half, my relationship with fear has been with me from the very beginning. I feared failure, I feared other’s opinions and judgements, I feared people knowing who I really am and being disappointed; I was hyper vigilant of how others perceived me. So how did this girl become a tattoo artist? Well, her artistic temperament refused to stay hidden. It crept out in the most awkward ways, until, around age 18, I believe my bipolar developed, making life at home tumultuous, and I consequently left. Within a few months, I was married, and have somehow managed to stay with the same man for 25yrs (and I have not always been easy to put up with).
In my early adulthood, I painted and sold art, but was always painting things that I hoped would impress people. If I had an original idea, I would change it to what I thought other people would like; never being true to my real creative self. My fear stifled my creative processes, and as my bipolar symptoms grew, I eventually sought professional help, and through the wonders of modern science, behavioral therapy, and medication, my life has changed in ways that I did not think was possible.
The greatest result has been learning to face my fears. To face them directly and walk towards them. In fact, I have learned that “that which both inspires and terrifies me, that is exactly what I should do”.
Follow that, and your life will change forever. I learned not to fear other people’s opinion, and to charge head on into whatever my mission is at the time, with singular focus. That is the key to success. And being brave enough to tell the truth, my truth. My truth is what I write, and my art. I must create art that is true to me, and work with clients in honesty. It is hard to be honest, it takes courage, and I am still learning how, and I still mess up, but still I must try.
Learning to manage my fear has enabled me to believe in my dream and to work towards it, and being honest about my mental illness and seeking help has allowed me to manage my goals in a successful manner. I try to bring these ideals into my workplace, to build my coworkers up and empower them. I am still bipolar, and I still feel my fear, but I don’t fear either of them anymore. I am free to create art that I love, and am free to admire others art without jealousy. I’m free to be me.
What separates you from similar organizations in the Dallas-Fort Worth area?
I think that every tattoo shop is unique, particularly as the tattoo industry grows and becomes more mainstream. And I do not wish to downplay my neighboring artists, as their art is all unique and necessary as well. So with all due respect to the local DFW tattoo shops, I believe that we are different in that our artists work together to coordinate on which artist is best for the client’s tattoo. We are not just here to make money, we also want to improve our skills by working in the art format that suites us best. We have built our team carefully; I am not interested in hiring the “best artists” per say, but the right artists, who can share a similar vision and grow together.
I try to lead by example, and share what knowledge that I have with my coworkers. We are not here to compete, but to help each other be better artists. Practicing these principles has allowed us to have faithful, return clients; and as they are referred to the appropriate artist, this allows us to have the best possible relationship with said clients. In the event that we are unable to help a someone, we are honest about it and are happy to send them to another shop, if they are the better choice. There is simply no use in being selfish with clients; there are enough to go around.
Is there anything you wished you would have known earlier in your journey?
I wish that I had learned good communication skills earlier on, particularly how to say “no”. Being a people pleaser has caused me to accept projects that aren’t right for me, and the net result when I “don’t say no” is that I am unhappy with the project and resentful as I work on it. This is not fair to myself or to the client. Creative work is always best when the artist can put positive emotions into it, when they know that the project aligns with their ability and values. Saying no, and clearly communicating what my intentions are has been a skill that I have had to learn. Asking the right questions has been vital as well. I have particular questions that I ask each new client, and then I try to listen carefully to assess if the project is good for me, and if the client is the sort of person that I will enjoy working with. I am not meant to work with everyone; the energies of the project, client, and myself need to align in order for it to be a good relationship. This again, is where having the courage to say “no” comes in. It is hard to disappoint people, but it is better to let them down at the start than to allow the relationship to continue being filled with anxiety and resentment.
Learning to ask the right questions, listening intently, and responding clearly has been a major game changer for me. I was not good at any of these when I first began my tattooing career, (and I still struggle with them sometimes) but reading books on communication and boundary setting, taking online studies about human behavior, and then putting the behavioral principles into action, has greatly improved my relationship with my clients. I must have a firm foundation of reality in order to create something wonderful with it. Ignoring my clients desire, and trying to control everything, just leads to suffering for the both of us, and no good art is made. But when I listen, communicate my true feelings on the matter, and then say no when necessary, I find that we are both ultimately happier in the end.
What was your upbringing like and did you discover your passion early on?
My childhood was very strange, and I have never shared it before. I shall try to be thorough, but not too long winded. First, some background. My father was in the rock and roll industry in the mid 60’s, playing bass alongside Jimmy Vaughn, rubbing shoulders with the likes of Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimmy Hendrix, the Eagles, and many other musical artists who were not yet in their prime. But when the rock life became too crazy, he changed to a spiritual path, becoming a Southern Baptist minister. Into that life I arrived. Either born to a rock artist, or to a minister, I was destined to be a rebel.
My upbringing was particularly restrictive, and as I lived on the church property, I drank, ate, and slept church. It was normal at that time, to preach hell, fire, and brimstone, and my young mind, being overly imaginative, took it all very seriously. I can remember from a very young age being deeply depressed, feeling that I was being watched, and believing that my behavior was a reflection of my family, the church, and god himself. I felt very intense guilt, shame, and terror of god’s wrath. I knew that I felt bad on the inside, but my need to people please left me incapable of asking for help. And if we are honest, it would have done little good. We had not the wealth of knowledge on mental illness that we have today. And so I disassociated, and behaved as best I could, and held it all in. I escaped into my imagination. I learned to draw, paint, act and sing; finding a way to self express through creative arts. I can also remember being five years old and seeing my first tattoo. I loved it! Art on a body, can you imagine that?! I think that tattooing is the thing that I always wanted to do, but feared that it was impossible because, what would people think?
Any links you want to share?
