We recently connected with Brynne Palmer and have shared our conversation below.

Brynne, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

When I got a foot in the door of this industry 22 years ago, it was still fairly well protected by established tattooers. If you were lucky enough to find someone willing to give you an apprenticeship, they guarded their knowledge of tattooing until you really showed your desire and dedication was strong enough to earn the chance to learn. After working in a few shops as a counter girl, I was fortunate to start my apprenticeship under Christine Nelson at Tattoo Mania in Hollywood, just before my 19th birthday. Under her wing I learned how to deal with clients, sterilization, making needles, and how to lay out a good design. She introduced me to other tattooers, took me to conventions, and most importantly showed me how to hold my own in this ever changing business.
Learning to navigate different personalities in the workplace, how to work constructively with a client, and knowing where to find good reference in the days of dial-up were essential. Seeking out other tattooers I admire to get tattooed by and observe their process. Occasionally other artists would share tips and tricks of the trade, all those experiences and wisdom combined really formed my foundation in tattooing.
As valuable as all those experiences were, you really don’t learn HOW to tattoo until you actually attempt it on your living, breathing, bleeding, opinion-having canvas. I don’t think there is any way to accelerate the progress of your skill of tattooing until you’re physically doing it yourself. And it takes years to be comfortable tackling what could be considered the simplest designs.

Brynne, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Brynne Palmer, and I have wanted to be a tattooer since I was 15 years old.

I grew up in Newport Beach, was a debutante, and generally a pretty straight laced kid. Being drawn to tattooing was very outside of any schema I had been presented growing up. The whole culture, individuality, archetypal familiarity, and general independent attitude surrounding the tattoo world really resonated with me for some reason. I had no desire to be rebellious, no need to piss off my parents or shock society- I just loved the art and everything it came along with.

Right after my 18th birthday, I got a job as a counter girl in a tattoo shop where I worked 7 days a week, open to close for free. That got my foot in the door to meet other artists, learn shop dynamics, and eventually led to finding my apprenticeship shortly after. I am creeping on my 20th year tattooing, and my home for the last 12 years has been Gold Rush Tattoo in Costa Mesa, CA.

I have worked really hard to not only create to the best of my capabilities, but ensure to make a very inclusive space for each client. Getting tattooed is such a personal, hands on interaction. I love spending time with people, hearing their story and relating with them. I do my best to be well rounded in most styles of tattooing, and approach each piece as equally important no matter the size or content. Jack of all trades, master of none I suppose.

Over the last few years, my love of pop culture and fandoms has really brought a lot of fun imagery to my portfolio. And most recently, my husband works in aerospace- and we teamed up to send pigment into space on a rocket. When it returned, I made a limited amount of tattoo ink out of it, and now can provide flight proven tattoos for space and sci-if enthusiasts.

Outside of the shop, I was involved with teaching an art class for the Down Syndrome Assoc. of Orange County. We at Gold Rush Tattoo have organized a few fundraisers for them as well, which has been such a fun way to connect the shop to our community.

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

As tattooing has gained more mainstream popularity over the years, it has been such a catch 22. Of course the perception of tattooing being a respected, legitimate art form has a great byproduct. But with popularity comes so many people just wanting to profit off of something that has been an integral part of every society since humans evolved.

It would be wonderful if instead of studios and non-tattooer shop owners making a quick profit off an industry they don’t actually care about, people who have devoted their lives to this craft should be the only ones able to open a tattoo shop. Clients should research their artists, and listen to the advice of artists who want their clients to be happy with their tattoos for years to come. Be mindful about the long term repercussions of tattoo trends, and the tattoos that only look good for a fresh social media post.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I have been so fortunate to not only make a living doing art, but to connect with people.

Sometimes there is a very important meaning behind a design; a memorial for a loved one, birth of a child, a life event. Sometimes it’s a taco because someone really likes tacos, or it’s something pretty that feels like jewelry.
The most rewarding aspect of what I do is watching someone go look in the mirror at their finished piece, and see their face light up. It’s almost as if whatever their journey led them to get that design, they feel like a piece of them that was missing is now complete.

Contact Info:

• Website: Goldrushtattoo.com
• Instagram: @brynnepalmertattoo
• Yelp: Gold Rush Tattoo
• Other: Email- [email protected]