My name is Haley, and I am from a small town in Indiana. I began my journey in the tattoo industry during high school, working front desk. Once I graduated, my boss took my on as a (practically part-time) apprentice. Not that I was part time, but my “mentor” was mentally and physically only there fifty-percent of the week. Luckily I had another very talented artist to work and grow next to; my good friend Kenzie Truong.
She began her apprenticeship while I was working front desk, two years before I would start mine. I watched her quickly become such an incredible, inspiring tattoo artist. Much of my work now, and likely forever, is inspired in part by her.
I did my very first tattoo on one of my longest and closest friends, my best friend, Cylee. She has always understood and accepted every part of me, and inspires me to keep going. She has always supported my tattoo career from the very start, including letting me do my first human tattoo on her. What a friend, sat like a champ. The sun to my moon.
click here to see my progression in ’24
I graduated my apprenticeship at the beginning of April, with increasingly less enthusiasm or empathy from my mentor. With the work environment becoming more and more hostile, my health was beginning to mirror the environment I was in. I had experienced issues with my stomach in the past, however never with such intensity as the week I had to quit. Not only did the work environment become so hostile that I was in the hospital three times that week, my boss was incredibly accusatory and cruel the whole time; worsening my symptoms. I had to choose between giving up on tattooing altogether, or move onto a new shop.
Starting a new job is always a little stressful, but why did the prospect of leaving this shop cause me so much anxiety and dread? My mentor had given me and the other young women, who had never worked in another tattoo shop, the impression that his shop was not only rare but special. That he was in incredible artist with never ending bounds of knowledge, offering something so unique at his shop; a close-knit group of passionate artists, and friends, with almost everything you need provided for you. Top of the line beds, most of your set up supplies, and well, that’s it. Roughly forty cents in materials a day, and a bed he had to purchase one time and use as a write off. The expensive supplies that we used everyday were quickly my responsibility during my apprenticeship (shop towels, saran wrap, inks). But from what he had described over the years of other shops, this felt like a steal! And for me, it was a pretty good gig financially, as I was on a 55/45 percentage post-graduation. But I was required to be there twelve to seven, Tuesday through Saturday regardless of if I had clients. And what I had to look forward to in booth rent was six-hundred dollars a WEEK. As I began realizing how miserable of a person he was, I began to wonder if his shop was actually so unique. And what I would soon begin to realize, is not only was his shop not unique, neither was he.
My bestie, Kenzie, had seen a shop opening in Plainfield, an all women’s shop. It was like a sign. And with the encouragement and support of my strong, loving mother, and the help of my very handsome and supportive boyfriend, I continued my dream into a new studio. In this studio, I would have a new-found ambition for my craft. I would go to other studios and realize what my future could really look like. I visited one shop in specific, The Artistry Realm, that boosted my drive like a damn supercharger. A shop full of incredible artists, from all over, that would knock my mentors work out of the water any day. And I began to envy their apprentices. Haven’t even touched a machine yet will be leagues ahead of me once they do. The time, patience, and passion put into their program is obvious in the product. And what I saw in that shop seemed like genuine family. This was the picture my mentor described to me as his shop, what was so rare and I was lucky to find myself in. But envy kills your spirit, so I chose to be inspired.
And that is where I am today, honing my craft, working towards my goal of specializing in ornamental/floral designs, with an already amazing clientelle, that is slowly growing in the indy area and expanding. My dream is to open my own shop one day, where I can apply all of the things I have learned to be good and productive as a mentor and boss. This industry is full of people like my mentor. He is not unique, nor was my experience. To anyone with the desire to become an artist, please know that if your mentor is warning you not to pursue other shops, fear mongering with scenarios from past shops, do not listen. Pursue ventures that seem like they will serve you, and leave when they don’t. There are incredible shops all around, that will give you a different set of tips and tricks at each station.
hayzinkz 