We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kailah Sullivan. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kailah below.
Hi Kailah, thanks for joining us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.
Getting into tattooing is taking a risk in itself. I feel that anyone who decides to take on the journey of becoming a tattoo artist needs to be aware that there is no guarantee that your expectations will be met. Pursuing to learn this craft is serious. Turning tattooing into a career is not the typical societal career journey where you go to school, perhaps college, and then enter into the work field. It also doesn’t come with benefits that a lot of other jobs provide. There are no healthcare or dental care plans, retirement accounts, PTO, etc in this career. You are entirely self sufficient and your success depends completely on you. Myself and thousands of others choose to give up the stability that comes with more traditional jobs in pursuit of our passion for art and the hope to enrich our client’s lives with it. I consider tattooing to be one of the most fulfilling jobs in the world. It’s a privilege to have as a career, but it does require taking risks and making sacrifices to bring into being. That said, it’s been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
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?
I’m a tattoo artist located in Milwaukee, WI at Honey Wraith Tattoo Studio. Like many folks, my love for art began when I was a kid. I became fascinated with anime and the gothic aesthetic. My admiration for these two alternative styles would become the fuel of what my style is today. After drawing almost everyday throughout my school years, I decided to take a chance at tattooing. I took a year to build a portfolio and in 2018 I met my mentor, James Ward, and began my apprenticeship. I graduated at the end of 2020 and have been a professional tattooer since then.
One of the biggest things I pride myself on is the ability to provide a clean, safe, comfortable, welcoming and fun space for others to get tattooed in. Working alongside clients to create a unique design just for them is an honor. I’m fortunate enough that a lot of clients who come to me share my interest in peculiar art. We get to enjoy the process of taking what some may deem a wacky idea and turning it into a cool tattoo together. I am thoroughly fond of making designs with a surrealistic twist which more often than not, include incorporating an eyeball somewhere! I love to work in either black & grey or color. Whether it’s a snail with a haunted house shell, a gothic styled weapon, or a spooky clown lady, I’m in!
Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?
Clients are human beings just like you and me. They deserve to be treated as such and I strive to do so with every appointment. This seems like a simple concept and it is. However, I can’t count on my fingers how many stories I’ve heard from clients about their negative experiences with other tattooers. It’s disheartening, really. When someone decides to work with me, I am very aware that they are putting their full faith in me. They’re trusting me with their vision of something that will be put permanently on their body. It’s not only my job to create a design that they’re happy with, but to also execute the tattoo without harm to their physical or mental health. Keeping a sanitary environment and clean practice alongside being kind goes a long way. Caring about the client’s well being is a must. Do you need a break? You got it. Do you need a snack or some water? You got it. Do you need me to tell horrible dad jokes to distract you from the pain? You got it. I do my best to connect with each client through conversation and take care of them during their appointment. To me, this and empathy are a crucial part of the job. I think people understand that this is the genuity of my heart and therefore come back to me and my workplace. They do so not only because they love the tattoo, but because they know they’ll have a good experience.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
The fulfillment of human connection and artistic creation. It’s been rewarding to provide this service for others and get to know them during the process. I’ve gotten to hear the stories of hundreds of people throughout my career and it’s been an absolute delight. There’s something special about how a previous stranger can turn into feeling like someone you’ve known forever after spending a few hours conversing with them.
The fulfillment of seeing a client’s face light up in the mirror when they see their favorite character, beloved pet, or just a cool image on their body is like no other. Tattoos are so much more than just a drawing on skin. It’s a one of a kind experience for someone to sit through a tattoo and then carry it with them for a lifetime. They can help people remember their favorite moments, a lost one, and/or feel more confident in their own skin. It is the most heart warming sight to see a client look in the mirror after a finished tattoo and absolutely feel themselves. It brings me great happiness to know I had the honor to be a part in that and makes all the long hours worth it.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovelornpotato/
Image Credits
All photos were taken by myself, Kailah Sullivan.