We recently connected with Tara Payne and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Tara thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?
Tattooing is a sacred art form to me. It has given me the ability to not only create custom artwork for my clients while getting to know them on a spiritual level, but also the freedom & flexibility to raise a family in the process.
I began my first tattoo apprenticeship in 2011, while my oldest daughter was only 3 years old.
Back then, the process of apprenticing involved getting offered the position, showing up, and at any point they were displeased you were fired. Duties included cleaning, answering phones, drawing & anything else the artists did not have the time or did not want to make the time to do – this is known as an old school apprenticeship. We learned how to make needles, mix ink, draw flash pieces and fix coil machines. It was an honor to start my journey when I did, but after seeing the contrast of today’s new-age apprenticeships, I realized you can learn a lot more when your creative process is nurtured rather than drilled into you.
The most important aspects of evolving from an apprentice into a tattooist were persistence & ongoing education. It is really important to find an environment that fosters your evolution & is a good fit as an individual.
As tattoo artists now, we are lucky enough to have the opportunity to allow our craft to be a source of full-time employment, without supplementing other sources of income. Today, it is possible to hone a personalized art style, instead of being a jack of all trades. In fact, refining and perfecting a personal style sets artists apart from one another and allows artists to embrace their unique love of the craft.
Unlike in the recent past, it is becoming much more common to be a standalone artist with your own shop. The things I love about this are the ability to engage in an intimate space, where the artist-client relationship and vision can flourish. After years of working in a shared space, it has been beautiful to witness the possibilities of my client-artist relationships blossom in an intimate space, where we can share more than just ideas about art and the process, but explore the meaning behind our tattoos and the impact of them on our hearts & minds. Further,
I am immensely grateful to have the intimate space I do now to embrace many of my clients as genuine friends, through our mutual gain of ‘ink therapy.’ In my future endeavors, I hope to pioneer artist collectives within the industry, which would allow for realistic paths to health insurance, retirement benefits and home/auto loans.
But for now, I am grateful every day to be able to practice my trade and share my passions with my clients in a personal and fulfilling way.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I got into tattooing because I always wanted to be an artist. I saw this as a way to both be an artist & improve upon the current atmosphere within the tattoo world.
I am proud of my work because it is original & I feel as though I can deliver a genuine and sincere experience, that can be therapeutic and uplifting – almost as a sort of therapy session. A fond memory that is taken to the grave.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
Responding positively to the art & creativity you encounter. In today’s world, hitting a like or share button not only propels the work you value forward, but it also helps the artist feel valued & appreciated for their passion.
Don’t just look, like & share, the algorithm is real.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
I attended the “Explore” conferences which has changed my life & business philosophy tremendously. These conferences focused on providing tattooists a platform to speak and share their ideas about industry trends, artwork, business models & techniques.
The best way to positively influence your type of business is to take heed from those who came before you and paved the way.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://rainingcrowstudios.com
- Instagram: @tat2tara
- Facebook: tat2tara
Image Credits
All images are of myself and my own original artwork