Doodles to day job: Interview with a female tattoo artist

Source: Heather Dunlop, Shannon tattooing a client.

Shannon Kelly is an incredibly talented junior tattoo artist at Body Art Tattoo studio in Ayr. She created her business account in March 2021, beginning with drawings on paper using various mediums and styles as she built her portfolio.

This led to an apprenticeship. She progressed from tattooing on fake skin to continuing to build on her skills and confidence before moving on to clients.

She tattooed her first client at the beginning of 2022 and has been tattooing ever since. Now a junior tattoo artist, Shannon has made incredible progress and built a loyal clientele. In this interview, she discusses her journey and what she has experienced while working to achieve her dream job.

What enticed you to become a tattoo artist?

I think I’ve just always loved art; I find it therapeutic, and whenever I had spare time, you would always catch me drawing and expressing myself through that.

Have you always wanted to be a tattoo artist?

At first, I wanted to be a graphic designer, but I don't like so many numbers, and that’s not me – I’m more practical and creative, so I started looking into tattooing and then it just kind of instantly looked right to me.

What process did you follow to create your portfolio, and what did you include?

So, I looked about and saw what kind of styles of art I like. I’ve always leaned towards more nature stuff like flowers, so I would start looking at inspirations on Pinterest and just try from there. I just drew as much as I could and got out of my comfort zone.

So, did you gravitate towards more art that you liked at first and then tried other styles as well?

Yeah, I thought I would try and get more comfortable with the art that I liked to do, then try to feel confident to do the stuff I didn’t think I was as good at.

Do you think that helped you find your niche style?

A bit at first, I thought I liked doing nature and flowers– and I do enjoy it, but then I found tattooing certain stuff is a lot different to drawing it. I’ve kind of surprised myself in that sense where I’m changing every time I’m trying something new, and I’m surprising myself still.

How did you choose what studios you presented your work to?

I mainly looked online to see what the artists are doing and what kind of work they have. I also wanted to go out and see eye-to-eye what their studios are like because you always get a different vibe than you do seeing online. Cleanliness and friendliness are so important to me. You have that gut feeling, I think.

Talk to me about your time as an apprentice, what responsibilities were you presented with?

My boss gave me an old tattoo machine to use, I was trusted a lot to practise on fake skin with that. Making sure that the place I was working in was clean and sanitary because, of course, that is the number one priority. Communicating with customers that came in, even if I didn’t know who it was, if they were just waiting for an appointment – just communicating with them, getting used to making other customers feel comfortable because it can be scary going into a tattoo/piercing shop.

For you, was it more of a mentorship with the other tattoo artists or were you more learning independently?

A mix of both, I think I felt like I was doing a bit more independently, but my boss would always come in, give me rough ideas, help give me pointers, and things I should try. He would watch me for a bit and then go off, let me feel confident on my own and then come back and see if I needed any help with anything.I think that was the best way to learn because I learn better by doing than watching.

How did you know when you were ready to progress from tattooing fake skin to clients?

It got to a point where I felt like I was just tattooing on fake skin because it was just fun and no longer kind of practising. I was just adventuring because I knew all the things to do. But then, when it came to tattooing on a person, you have that bit in your mind where you’re like, ‘Oh no, it’s scary, don’t do it” because it’s new. But then my boss, because he’s had so much experience, could tell I was ready.

What was the first real tattoo you did?

It was on my mum, and we did a Lilly on her. She was great, I think the first bit I was so nervous, I was sweating, and everything, but I was like, “I don’t know if I can do this mum, what if I hurt you?” and she was like “Oh it’s fine, I’ll still love you.” That was my first tattoo.

Did you feel more comfortable doing it on someone you know first?

Definitely. A lot. I don’t think I could have done my first tattoo on a client I didn’t know because I was nervous enough with my own mum. when I did have my first paying client, that was a whole other deal. Like you’re getting the gist of it, but I couldn’t have done it on a stranger the first time.

What tattoo styles/designs do you prefer to do, is it different from when you first started?

A bit different. So, at first, I loved doing flowers, and I still enjoy doing them. I think they will always have a place in my heart – there’s just something about flowers. You can do so much. I think I’m leaning more towards venturing into mandalas, dot work and doing more realistic animals, which I enjoy. I didn’t think I would, but again it’s so different to when you’re drawing it on paper I’ve surprised myself. I still enjoy flowers, though; I’ll probably always say flowers.

Is there a tattoo you have done that you would consider your favourite?

That’s a hard one. I don’t know, because I’ve got a few favourites, but they are so different. I’ve got a big mandala half-leg sleeve on a client, and it turned out amazing. Great black work, he sat brilliantly, and that’s my favourite mandala one. But I’ve done a realism-style octopus, and it just looks so cool and scary. It was so not my style at all, and I absolutely loved it. So, I think it would be between those two, maybe.

Source: Shannon Kelly, realism-style octopus on a client.

What challenges have you faced in your career so far?

I would say, trusting that your client is going to come in. Obviously, life happens, and you get your cancellations and I think getting used to that being normal and that comes with any kind of job where you’re self-employed, you make appointments, there is always bound to be clients that can’t make it for some reason. Which is perfectly fine, but when you’re new you think ‘Aw they don’t like me’ or ‘They don’t want to get this tattoo’ and you let it get in your head. I think that’s been more of a mental challenge than the actual tattooing part for me. 

What part of your career have you enjoyed the most so far? 

I’d maybe say a mix of the tattooing and the end results. I recently did a tattoo on a breast cancer survivor, and it was to cover up like the breast tissue where there was no nipple. I was so excited to do that design and then her reaction at the end – when she left I had a wee cry because I was so like, my heart was so warm and it made my entire day. I said to my boss as soon as she left “See that, that is why I love my job.” I think no money can pay for that feeling you get.

Source: Shannon Kelly, Tattoo for breast cancer survivor.

In what ways would you like your career to develop in the future?

I would definitely love to have my own wee studio and just have a bigger clientele. I would love to push myself and try, you can never learn enough. There’s always something and it’s exciting to learn to push myself and have so much knowledge when I’m older to be able to help tattoo artists in this same position that I’m in now.

Do you have any advice for anyone who would like to get into a tattoo career?

You just have to go for it and it’s hard, especially the financial side, when you’re learning because you don’t get any money usually. I thought I would be doing an apprenticeship for years and I ended up picking it up really fast because I just went for it, and I surprised myself. So just try to not let that wee voice telling you no get to you and just go for it. For those who are in an apprenticeship, you need to love it. It does take a lot out of your day, so you have to check in with yourself and make sure you do really enjoy what you’re doing, and you don’t get lost in the business side of it because it can be hard.

Shannon Kelly can be found here:

Instagram: https://instagram.com/shannonk_tattoos?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/batayr

*All images not sourced are the property of Shannon Kelly.