We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Heather Pendlington a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Heather, appreciate you joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

Designing a custom tattoo is a deeply personal process for many individuals. I have consultations with almost all of my custom clients because I want to make sure I can capture the vision they have for their tattoo. I’m a huge animal lover and animal themed projects always have such a special place in my heart. I’ve been so lucky to be able to collaborate with a number of clients to immortalize their fur babies. Tattooing dogs and cats is always challenging and rewarding. I love bonding with clients about what makes their pet the most perfect angel baby to ever exist!

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’ve been drawn to visual arts for as long as I can remember. I come from a family of musicians so I was very fortunate to be encouraged in my creativity. I discovered oil painting (my first love) in high school where I had some really inspiring mentors. Bob Putnam and Shannah Dean helped prep me for interviews and portfolio reviews for Governor’s Honors Program which is a four week intensive summer program. I was so privileged to be one of forty five students picked in the state of Georgia when I was a sophomore in 2013.

I started college in 2015 with the end goal of a BFA degree. I’ve never been particularly motivated by school, I think that’s why I love art so much. Being able to express myself with no expectations was the biggest appeal for me, and I quickly learned that I’m not cut out for a formal education. I dropped out to pursue a tattoo apprenticeship in 2017. This coincided with my struggle with alcohol and eventually finding the gift of sobriety. I was at a crossroads in my life and my mentor Dusty decided to take a chance on me. Dusty is a tough guy, but he’s also extremely protective of his mentees and dedicated to his shop. Dusty taught me how to work hard, be disciplined, and how to hustle in a competitive career field. I am forever grateful for the opportunities he gave me. I started tattooing in 2017 and graduated my apprenticeship two years later. I moved to a gorgeous shop in Roswell where I met my next mentor Nic. He taught me a lot about how I want to tattoo, and how I want to provide service for my clients. I started traveling and doing guest spots in 2020 to further network and find inspiration.

I opened Lucky Goose in 2022. I wanted a shop that felt like you were among friends, full of light and happiness. The team I started with will always have my gratitude. Lucky Goose is the amalgamation of every artist who’s taken a chance with me and dedicated their passion and positivity to make The Goose a special place. We pride ourselves in being a less intimidating tattoo shop, where the client is always heard and respected. Our artists and clients are the heart of the business, and I couldn’t run this shop with any kind of success without them.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding part of my job is helping my clients feel more confident. There’s nothing better than decorating yourself with a forever sticker to represent an important milestone, a loved one, or something silly just because. I know for myself, tattoos help with my body image.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

I think in the beginning I overlooked the importance of networking, studying art, and seeking more mentors and new techniques. Something I overlooked as a business owner was asking for help.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://luckygoosetattoo.com
• Instagram: hez.tattoos & luckygoosetattoo

Image Credits

headshot by @suzannaamedia