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

Hi Amie, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I actually never thought I would pursue a career as an artist until I was in my early 20’s. I always enjoyed drawing for people and making people laugh, so I often drew funny cartoons for my friends and family. Growing up without any real connection to the internet or cell phone access until I was 19, I started to turn to painting to fill any slow times and cope with any life stresses.

Art was so relaxing, I pursued any course I could afford, from Radio announcing, illustration, live drawing, marketing, graphics & car decals and 3D animation for game designing. If I could enrol, I did.

It was when I started to paint satirical portraits of well know super hero’s on my spare time, ,my career would take shape. My hometown community of Prince George loved it so much, I was able to branch out full time and paint custom projects for people.

It gave me so much joy to paint, to see and hear the reaction from those who purchased it, I knew this was the career path I’d love to always pursue.

Amie, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Amie Easton, I was born and raised in Prince George BC. Over the past 15 years I have been a radio & television announcer, graphic designer, full-time painter, 3D animator for video games and other various marketing and administrative positions.

With a foundation and passion for the arts, I have been driven to always create. I am the type of individual that cannot sit still,, I usually have three jobs or three life consuming projects on the go. From owning and operating my own clothing line, online stores, and curating art exhibits, I am always consumed by my passion for art.

It was when my job as marketing coordinator for the employment services centre came to and end, I made the challenging decision to enter an apprenticeship as a tattoo artist with Kamloops tattoo parlour Sakred Skin Studio.

After 5 and a bit years in the tattoo industry, I now proudly own and operate my own tattoo parlour Jugger Bean in Sun Peaks BC. With the support of my husband and business partner Jared Easton as well as my very talented resident artist Victoria Mecham.
As we were the first tattoo parlour to ever open I have faced many challenges as well as my biggest life successes.
Some of the challenges we have faced was navigating the municipalities, strata and resort regulations… It took us 7 months to obtain approval to open but it was well worth the wait.

I proudly provide unique one on one, quality permanent tattoo for clients. Things I feel set me apart in the industry is my love for drawing on my clients for their consultations, this provides the best fit for their projects and an instant idea for my client on what recommendations for their projects will be.
I am quirky and enjoy finding the chances for my clients to truly have their project be unique and one of a kind. I find I am strongest in neo-traditional , pop-culture, cartoon, realism and black and grey styles but regularly enjoy challenging myself in other styles.

I am proud of the journeys my shop, my friends and family

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

I strongly believe there are more ways to implement artisans in our day to day lives. From Christmas presets to the bags we use at groceries stores, if we invested a bit more back into our artists and creators, our local communities would thrive.

I feel there is a this bias from people who think art is or should be cheap. We regularly have individuals asking for deals or discounts on our products. I think there is a lack of understanding from general public on how long and costly something could take an artist. In a world that wants things cheap in fast, if there was ever a way to get back to slowing things down for quality and educate the consumer more, I feel this would encourage more support for creative ecosystems,,

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect for me personally, is when we are altering a persons body permanently, we are changing the way they feel about their body. Its the most rewarding feeling when you’re client’s are overwhelmed by positive emotions and you are able to create something so personal for them.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.juggerbeantattoo.com/
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/juggerbeantattooparlour?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JuggerBeanTattooParlour
• Youtube: @amieeaston8358
• Other: https://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwj_9dGmvaKAAxUXNzQIHYyFDhcQFnoECA4QAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Famieeastontattoos%2F%3Fhl%3Den&usg=AOvVaw0DXZYiSgylZMyBUV3hntN9&opi=89978449