We recently connected with Ellen St. Michael and have shared our conversation below.
Ellen, appreciate you joining us today. Can you recount a story of an unexpected problem you’ve faced along the way?
When I was younger I had a dewy eyed vision of my future as a creative, imagining myself almost in montage format constantly creating large, inspired pieces of work. Although my relationship with creating is by no means jaded or stunted, it was an adjustment for me learning how to cope with things such as creative block and waves of low self-esteem. I think in today’s world of constant content it can be overwhelming both to consume and produce that content, and oftentimes damaging if you are using social media platforms as a comparison to your own output and experience. That being said, with time and experience I have learned that all things come in waves. When I am feeling productive and engaged with my work it is a great time to lean into that and produce, focusing on creating sustainable habits moving forward with my creativity. When I am feeling bogged down creatively and unsure how to move forward, I try to nurture myself so that I can foster creative energy moving forward, knowing that my time to thrive is just ahead.
Ellen, 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 Ellen St. Michael and I have been tattooing for a little over six years, working in shops for nine years. My interest in tattooing dates back to my childhood fascination with my grandfather’s tattoos he got in the Navy. I started getting heavily tattooed at age eighteen and from there continued to dive as deep as I could into the culture. I worked as a front person at a tattoo shop for several years, learning the ins and outs of the daily workings of a studio. I had a traditional apprenticeship to get my tattoo license where I learned the technical skills and hit the ground running. I certainly had lulls in my schedule early on, but I feel I quickly built a clientele, From the beginning I have prioritized treating my customers well, making them feel comfortable and ensuring that they are happy with both their tattoo and experience. I believe this is one of the biggest reasons that people get tattooed by me and return for more, and of course because they enjoy the artwork as well!
How did you build your audience on social media?
I am by no means a social media expert, but it is a large part of my business platform and something I am constantly evaluating. My advice comes from someone who takes a middle of the line approach to social media, using the tools that are provided but also making sure to set boundaries. I consider social media a bit of a necessary evil; the sites that I use are undoubtedly powerful, free media platforms where I am able to show thousands of people my work and keep them in the loop with any updates. It’s instant, generally effective, and easily accessible. For me the problems lies with screen time, the overreach of accessibility, and keeping up with the latest trends. I like to limit my screen time in general as I find it pretty draining emotionally, mentally, and creatively. I also have found that if I don’t limit my time then I might find myself responding to a client’s booking request at 11pm when I am trying to watch a movie with my husband. As for keeping up with the trends, I acknowledge that they can be great tools to use to further your reach, but for me, I only keep up with what fits my lifestyle and vision for my work. So my advice is to use the tools that feel right to you, forget the others, and be true to yourself and your vision!
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
In tattooing specifically there is a rare relationship between the client and the artist where the artist is endowing a piece of their work in real time; it is both collaborative and performative. I have had many experiences in which I gave people incredibly meaningful tattoos that have invoked strong emotional responses. Tattoos are a way for many people to take control of their bodies and their choices, to express themselves and to carry people, memories, and ideas with them. I have also given people tattoos for purely aesthetic meaning, though those carry their own significance as well. I once had a client who was very nervous about tattoos having none themselves, and they were also suffering from some control issues in their life. After some discussion with their therapist they decided to get a tattoo, and on top of that they wanted me to come up with the design with no guidance, saying they just liked my work and wanted to overcome their problems with control. I got to come up with a design that was completely my own but still infused with meaning for the client because they connected to my artwork and for them it was about the experience. Being able to connect with clients and give them a meaningful experience while also being able to explore my potential in my own art is the most rewarding part of being a tattoo artist for me.
Contact Info:
- Website: Ellensaintm.com
- Instagram: @ellensaintm
Image Credits
Mitzi Starkweather