We were lucky to catch up with Grace Blackburn recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Grace, thanks for joining us today. Do you wish you had waited to pursue your creative career or do you wish you had started sooner?

Definitely sooner. I was initially hired as a receptionist with no expectations of anything further than that. My mentor, Jacki, tried to talk me into apprenticing under her for SIX months before I caved. I was way too nervous and complacent in my comfort zone to even think about becoming a body piercer. If you had told me 3 years ago that this is what my career would be, I would’ve told you you’re crazy. If I could go back, I would’ve started the moment she asked me. I have never had so much passion for something as I do body piercing.

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.

I’m a body piercer at Mythical Markings Tattoo Studio in Knoxville, Tennessee, and have been for 3 years! I specialize in ear curations! I was a client at the studio before I was hired. While I was there getting tattooed one day, my artist told me they were hiring for a receptionist. I was skeptical; I had almost ZERO knowledge about the industry. But it was something my husband said that opened my eyes and changed my perspective. He said “You’re smiling. This is the first time I’ve seen you smiling and happy about a job.” It was then that I decided it was worth a try. Now, I’m in love with my CAREER, and I wouldn’t change a single thing about where I started, where I am now, and everything in between. I am proud of myself for stepping out of my comfort zone and diving into this.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The feedback, positive and negative. My boss once told me “You could be in your career for 2 years or 20 years. If you think you know everything about it, you might as well stop.” and that has stuck with me since the day I heard it. This world and everything in it is changing and evolving every day. Every day, I learn something new about this industry. My mentor and I are constantly doing research, trying new things, and learning more as we go. With that, comes positives and negatives. When you take it into consideration instead of taking it offensively, you’re opening up your mind. To me, it’s incredibly rewarding. Practice equals a better outcome every time.

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

Support local, any way you can. This world we live in is expensive, so we are aware that a lot of people don’t have the extra income to monetarily support us, and that’s more than okay. There are more ways to do so. Sharing about us on social media, leaving a review, telling others about us, etc. There is power in numbers.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://mythicalmarkings.com/grace
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stabbingsbygrace
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stabbingsbygracehawks
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@stabbingsbygrace?_t=8kxoHTidKBC&_r=1