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

Hi Katie , thanks for joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

As a young kid, I always had some sort of creative tool in may hand. Whether it was a pencil, crayon, marker, anything I could get my hands on that would help me express myself, I was holding it. I was about 15 years old when I knew I wanted to be an artist of some sort. Drawings one paper soon turned into creative works of art on my friends. Sharpies were my go to, but I would use an ink pen if you let me and at the age of 16 I knew I wanted to be a Tattoo Artist.

Katie , 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 Katie Nowicki and I am a Tattoo Artist. Getting to where I am now in my career was not easy. Aside from bettering yourself as an artist, I had to now navigate an area of art I was unfamiliar with. None of this can be taught in a text book, sure you can read about how you can do it, but having someone show you and teach you is the only way. Reading how a machine should sound running is not the same as hearing the changes in the tone when it’s running in front of you. So I found myself looking for an apprenticeship, which turned to be a difficult process in the year 2002, since tattooing had just become legal in Massachusetts. Shops were not on every corner like they are today and most of the people running the studios were either very male dominated or even bikers and I was just a young 18 year old kid, trying to live out her dream. I started getting tattooed in Connecticut at this one shop and was bringing my friends to my tattoo artist to get my designs put on them. As time went by, my artist Eric could see I had a passion for tattooing, he later offered me an apprenticeship. I couldn’t believe it, the stars had aligned! I found myself working there for 4 years before my mentor told me the shop was closing. At this moment, I was not confident in my work to find another studio, nor was there one readily available to me. Again it’s the early 2000s, shops aren’t that popular and the ones I did find, were hours away. Now Ive set up shop in my sisters old bedroom and my parents were rooting me on. That lasted for a short while and I then found my self straying away from my creative career into more of an “adult” job. I became a CNA, which I throughly enjoyed, but it wasn’t me. I did this for 8 years. Something was missing tho and I did not feel like me. One day I was at a friends studio getting tattooed when I mentioned to him “I miss tattooing.” He looked up at me as I looked down at him and said “why dont you do it then” I told him I had no where to do that out of, and he then offered me a part time spot at his studio. I couldn’t believe it. Once again, the stars have aligned.
It had been years since I tattooed and now it being legal in Massachusetts, I had to take a skin course and get my bloodbourne pathogens and CPR/First aid certificates. I did not hesitate, with in 30 days I had all my ducks in a row and I was ready. This all happened 8 years ago. Since then, I have worked with some of the most brilliant artists and traveled up all around the states to tattoo. Ive had clients come travel hours to see me, just because I was in a city near them
Most of my clients have a general idea of what they would like for a tattoo, but they always let me do it in my style and I create them a one of kind piece that no one else will have. My tattoos have helped people heal from heartbreak of a loved one or pet, and also have been confidence boosters to make them feel better in their own skin. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for all my lovely clients that continually get work form me.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Earlier I had mentioned that I pursued a more “adult” career and became a CNA. This wasn’t all because of the shop closing. In my early 20s I met a boy and fell “in love” with him and we got engaged to be married. Turns out it wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. He was controlling, jealous, didn’t like all my tattoos nor did he want me to get more. But I was naive, was I started to lose myself, I wasn’t the creative kid I once was. I stopped drawing, I stopped doing the things I loved and was slowly becoming a mold of what he wanted. I wasn’t happy. So I did one of the most courageous and difficult things someone could do, I walked away. This was the moment in time I could see my old self. I saw her, that little girl that wanted to be an artist, she would look back ay me in the mirror and encourage me everyday to pursue and not give up. From that moment I started drawing again, I was getting tattooed again, I was smiling. That is when I found myself at my friends studio offering me a spot. The universe was screaming at me to not give up. The stars had aligned and I was ready to not give up ever again.

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

Although tattooing can easily take up 90% of your life. From drawing for appointments, answering emails and creating content, it is probably one of the most rewarding jobs. You get to meet so many different types of people from all walks of life. Ive had lawyers, school teachers and even professional football players in my chair, just to name a few. Spending time with people in this manor is different than just sitting down for lunch. It’s almost intimate with the trust they give you and sometimes very therapeutic with the conversations we’ve had. Ive had clients cry after getting tattooed, just because of the beautiful work Ive done for them. Either in remembrance of a loved one or like I stated previously, helping them feel more comfortable in their own skin. Being able to help someone heal and feel good about themselves, will forever be a rewarding aspect to this career.

Contact Info:

• Website: katienowicki.com
• Instagram: @katienowicki @bigsassglass
• Facebook: Katie Nowicki

Image Credits
Michelle Bourget -Head shot All other photos by me