ohimjustfine asked: hi there! i really love your style and was just wondering two little questions. 1: how did you get the apprenticeship that led you into this career? 2: do you take any personal tattoo requests?

Thanks!

At The Art Institute of Chicago I had taken a couple of painting classes with Caroline Moody, who had been tattooing for a year or two at the time.  I was interested in her tattoos and her work, and quickly befriended her (in that way where all my closest friends think I hated them at first, I think it might be my permanent bitch-face, but I’m working on it…).  The studio she started at had an apprenticeship opening and she encouraged me to apply, which I did, after a lot of thinking and a spontaneous, but very persuasive tarot reading (seriously).    It was a huge commitment, risk, and a great divergence from everything that the Art Institute had directed me toward, but I’m very thankful I took the opportunity, and couldn’t have done it without her guidance and tough love.    I had gone after an apprenticeship my first year in college when I was still in Arizona, but I was far too young to even understand what I was getting into, or what it takes to truly do this work.  I’m very lucky to get to do it now.

All tattoo requests are personal in one way or another, I do mostly work that I draw myself, or at least put my own hand in.  I think what I post gives a good idea of what I love to do, as does my other art work.  If you have ideas, I always love to hear them!  Throw me an email at stephanie@blueskycomplex.com