We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Rachel LeClair a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Rachel thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.
In the tattoo industry, there are hardly any requirements set forth by state and county regulations. Traditionally though, someone wanting to become a respected tattoo artist must complete an apprenticeship under an established artist/shop. I began my apprenticeship in December of 2017. My mentor was Jon Kindvall, owner of Jon’s Custom Creations Tattoo Shop, located in Greeley, Colorado. I completed my three-year apprenticeship in December 2020. Throughout my training, I was taught how to properly use a tattoo machine to translate my art from paper to skin. I learned about bloodborne pathogens, and the certain safety practices set in place to protect clients and artists against contamination. The apprenticeship itself is comparable to college. I had to show up every day, ready to learn, fail, and perfect my craft. And in the tattoo industry, the dropout rate is extreme. Most artists don’t make it due to the overwhelming pressure that comes with permanently scarring people with their art. I was fortunate to have a great mentor, and he pushed me to succeed at my goal. I have since remained at Jon’s Customs as a full-time artist to date.
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.
My name is Rachel LeClair. I am a Tattoo Artist located in Greeley, Colorado. I have been tattooing for over five years and apprenticed and currently work at Jon’s Custom Creations Tattoo Shop. My favorite style to tattoo is black and grey realism and portrait work, but I also love full-color pieces and specialize in almost every style of tattooing. I enjoy getting to know each client so that I can make each piece as custom to them as possible. People are my passion, so being able to provide each individual with their own permanent art that speaks personally to them is what drives me to create.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
The most rewarding part of being an artist is the product that comes from the soul-gripping drive to create and being able to move others with that as well. From the time I was little, I’ve always loved to draw. People would always ask me, “How do you do that?”, and I never knew how to answer. Creating art has never been a conscious practice for me, but rather a personal rendition of the world I see around me. I do not fully understand it yet myself how we artists do the things we do that cannot truly be taught in schools and universities, but the aftermath of our creation has a power to it that speaks further than the artists themselves. I am often rewarded with the ability to touch the lives of others through the God-given gift I possess.
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
Social Media is a tough one. I often times have struggled to make posts and keep up with the algorithm itself. I have found that creating as much content as possible is beneficial for getting the most views and reaching new viewers. Most of my branding is on Instagram, where the reel is king. I enjoy these because there are so many variations of reels you can make with all the different sounds and options. 
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @tattoo_leclair
- Facebook: Rachel LeClair
- Email: [email protected]
Image Credits
Personal Photo was taken by Sophisticated Citrus Photography