We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Abigail Lott. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Abigail below.
Hi Abigail, thanks for joining us today. Can you take us back in time to the first dollar you earned as a creative – how did it happen? What’s the story?
Technically my first dollar earned was in middle school; I got to sell little drawings to classmates and that definitely lit that entrepreneur flame in me. It really is such a neat feeling having someone value what you create enough to purchase it from you!
When I first started tattooing I worked for free plus tips. My very first flash sheet was a “sketchy style” (idk what my mentor what thinking but I was just along for the ride at that point lol) v-day themed pre-drawn designs. I was fortunate to have two people let me tattoo them that day and I brought home a grand total of $30 – I was so incredibly proud of myself and that other people saw potential in me and my art; I’m still in awe this is how I pay all my bills now!
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Hello! I’m Abby (Stabby Cat Tattoos), a 25 year old tattoo artist based in Tennessee. I co-own a tattoo shop in Lawrenceburg, TN called Stray Cats Studio.
We opened our business to create the kind of atmosphere we wanted to see in the tattoo industry, somewhere others who feel like “stray cats” could feel at home.
As ironic as our shop name is, the area we opened in has a cat overpopulation problem due to human neglect. There are no resources for cats in our area other than non profits, and they are already stretched far too thin as it is.
As much as I love tattooing, cats are on the same level for me. To help the kitties, I hold flash benefits, have permanent low-rate flash sheets to fund kitty costs, and have fostered / rehomed all the cats that have landed in our care – unfortunately, this is a constant struggle as people continue to neglect their animals and the kitty population never stops growing. Want to help us out? Consider donating to your local non profit or adopting! There will always be a cat who needs your help.
What I feel sets me apart from others is the same thing for all artists – my personality! We all have our own spin we put on our tattoos, our decor, ect that I think is just so lovely! I personally go for a very colorful, nostalgic, plush feel for my surroundings that I feel most comfortable in – I feel my most creative when surrounded by all of my favorite things and it’s had a neat influence in my art.
Another thing I’m proud of is I’ve made an effort to put myself more out there more as an artist this year. Anxiety (among other things lol) makes it difficult for me to follow through with things I really want to do. Guest spotting and working conventions have always been appealing to me but following through is the hard part. I appreciate every opportunity I’m able to take on and every learning experience that comes with it. I’m so grateful to the encouraging & kind artists I’m blessed to call friends, they make what feels unachievable possible. I truly look forward to growing more as an artist and as an individual as I keep working towards my goals!
Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
Just going into a tattoo shop and speaking face to face with people established in this career would have been a huge help in getting started. I’m not saying go in and ask for a job, I mean go in, show off your art, and ask for constructive criticism. So many people assume having a home tattooer portfolio will get you ahead and it honestly makes it harder to get your foot in the door as you’ve most likely picked up bad habits that’ll be hard to correct. Just talking to people who do what you want to do is so beneficial, getting tattooed by an artist who’s work is similar to work you’d want to produce is even better – that’s hours and hours of just spending time in the environment around other people who’s lives revolve around art is the best way to see if this really is for you or not!
I think as we’ve gone down a more digital path as a society that face to face connection is dwindling and in a career path that is constant in person interactions it truly does benefit you to go outside and check out the creatives around you!
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?
Something I’ve noticed is that people just assume every tattoo artist is capable of absolutely anything and that’s not the case! There are a select few who may be an exception to this but most creatives have a niche and it’s important to find the right person to bring your idea to life. I mostly do illustrative/stylized work and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to explain that no, I’m not the artist for your hyper-realism portrait of your loved one and as nice it is to hear that you “believe I can do it” I am the one who knows my limits! I’m happy to point people in the right direction for someone who does the style they are seeking though, and I encourage everyone to do the same! Portfolios exist to show you what the artist does / their strong points and there’s nothing wrong with shopping around til you find the perfect person for the job.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://Grimdark.art
- Facebook: Crybaby Tattoos
