We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kaylee Anderson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Kaylee , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?
Earning a full time living as a tattoo artist was not a swift nor easy task to gain but probably the most rewarding journey!
It takes a lot of commitment to your craft, that means a lot of sacrifice short term to gain long term freedom and stability. When I first started out as a tattoo apprentice there’s not much money to be made or expected within the first year or so, you’re working 100% of your free time busting out free—little to no cost tattoos because you don’t have the experience or value yet! It took a lot of dedication to learning, practicing, sacrificing a social/family life and any/all personal time while also working other jobs on the side to make a living at first. It took about 2 years of that process to gain a solid and steady clientele that allowed me to sustain being a full time tattoo artist, that and lots of advertising, word of mouth, networking events, business cards and utilizing social media! Knowing what I know now being a tattoo artist for 5 and a half years is I wish I would’ve learned to use social media sooner because it’s the best tool for exposure and growth!
Kaylee , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
For those who do not know me my name is Kay, I am a professional tattoo artist based in PA specializing in fine line, micro-detail tattoos. I got into tattooing basically straight after graduating high school, after I started getting tattooed it just clicked for me, I knew it’s what I wanted to do! I then began my search for an experienced artist willing to take on an apprentice. Apprenticeships are not only hard to find/earn but also hard to make it through, your mentor will test and challenge you intensively for you to prove that you have what it takes when it comes to the seriousness of putting permanent artwork on peoples bodies. It can be a very cut-throat industry sometimes. A great quality to have is something that sets you apart from others! What I feel sets me apart in my industry is my attention to detail, focus and precision with line work but also traveling to bring my art to people from all over! My goal and drive is always to bring something to the table that is unique and innovative that the industry hasn’t seen before, testing and breaking the limitations that are put on tattoo artists and what we’re supposed to be!
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
SHARE!! The easiest way to support artists/creatives in this day in age doesn’t cost a thing! Share their posts on social media, share their business cards, tell a friend, like their posts on social media, comment on their posts, show up to their events! Sometimes the best form of support costs nothing more than a kind gesture!
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The ability to make a change in someone’s life. The most rewarding feelings is knowing your making an impact when someone brings you a tattoo idea that has such deep personal meaning for them, I’ve had clients cry in my chair during memorial tattoo’s, had a changed mentality or perspective after leaving my chair, walking away with a reminder to love themselves and their bodies in a new way, there’s nothing more rewarding than that!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @Kay_tattoos
- Facebook: Tattoos By Kaylee
Image Credits
Trevor Jones (only for personal photo)