Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristin Matthes.
Hi Kristin, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started my apprenticeship in 2014, but my love of art began far earlier in life. I have enjoyed the act of creating for as long as I can remember. My parents encouraged my passion and curiosity through different mediums as I grew up, and drawing was always something I seemed to come back to.
Unfortunately there was a difficult period in my life where I was unable to create, and I devoted most of my time to work and simply surviving each passing day. I wanted to feel accepted and to live the type of life that my “happy” friends and peers were living. But no matter how hard I tried, or what I changed about myself, that feeling never came. I became sick from stress, I felt like I was running out of time.
One morning I woke up just like every other, and was laying in bed staring blankly at my phone. The image of a person showing off their new tattoo was staring back at me. It was a slice of pizza upside down with an eyeball in the middle. Not very big and kind of silly, but it hit me like a truck in that moment.
I suddenly realized that there are opportunities out in the world I had never even considered, and I wasn’t going to find them laying in bed while feeling sorry for myself.
I immediately started researching tattoo artists in my area and everything I could get my hands on regarding apprenticeships.
Soon after, I got tattooed by a local artist whose work I admired. I showed him the portfolio I had been working on and asked for advice. Before I knew it, I was taking out the trash and watching everyone tattoo while I worked my other job on my off days.
Now I’m 12 years in the industry, and I couldn’t be happier.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Becoming a tattoo artist is a wildly different experience for everyone.
There is no standard for learning or the ability to teach, and much of tattooing has been passed down through word of mouth up until recent years, so my obstacles were unique to me.
There are no financial safeguards or scholarships while you learn, so keeping (often multiple) jobs while I apprenticed was taxing on my physical body, as well as my mental health. Without affordable insurance, healthcare wasn’t an option.
I survived on coffee and bananas and the occasional treat/meal from my coworkers. I wasn’t always broke, but I pinched pennies until they bled to afford my first machine.
I spent more time crying in the shop bathroom about my own shortcomings and fear of failure than I’d like to admit, despite the progress made day-to-day. It was a constant feeling of working towards an unreachable goal.
Sometimes it still is. Art is constantly changing and evolving with the world, and you have to keep up.
I am fortunate in the fact that my biggest obstacle was my own understanding of my craft.
Many of my peers have suffered far worse in order to achieve their dreams. Sexual assault and gender/race based discrimination were no stranger to our industry. The things some of them have had go through for their education, only to receive abuse instead, is truly heartbreaking.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a full time tattoo artist, and although I dabble in a bit of everything, my main focus is bright, colorful illustrations.
I have no problem recreating you mom’s birthday card signature or your dog’s pawprint, but my strength truly lies in my custom artwork. I specialize in unique color combinations and high contrast imagery that will last for many years to come.
If you were to ask my niche, I would say I fall under the umbrella of “neo-traditional” tattooing, which is a blanket term for many modern day tattoo styles you see. It includes varying line weights, bold, saturated color palettes, and unique stylization depending on the artist.
I am a huge nerd, so I love recreating your favorite anime or videogame characters, cartoons, D&D monsters, or really anything fantasy related. I can do black and grey, but my skills truly shine with a myriad of colors at my disposal.
I draw all of my artwork completely from scratch to give it a uniquely stylized look that my clients often ask for, and I can accommodate almost any request if you need a last minute change.
I pride myself in taking the time to really uncover what it is my client wants to get out of their tattoo experience, and do my very best to accommodate their needs. Some people need a shoulder to cry on while they get a memorial of their favorite cat, some people want a pink Velociraptor spitting fire while they tell me about their next big job opportunity. I aim to have the flexibility to accommodate all walks of life, and ultimately help you feel comfortable in your body..
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
This is a tough one, because most of my free time is spent drawing, and I do my best to stay off of my phone when I can. However, I do use one app constantly to remind me to do something other than draw!
Its called Streaks, and you basically program your often-forgotten daily tasks and it sends you reminders and keeps track of what you’ve missed or accomplished for the day!
Sometimes I will be so invested work that I forget how many times I’ve eaten, if I fed the cats, etc, and this not only will remind me to stop and do my task, but keeps track of whether or not I actually did it.
Highly recommend if you have ADHD!
Pricing:
- $180/hr
- $100 minimum
- Free 1 year touch up
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meowskitattoos
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/darkmattertattoos
