We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kelsey Brown. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kelsey below.

Kelsey, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. One of the things we most admire about small businesses is their ability to diverge from the corporate/industry standard. Is there something that you or your brand do that differs from the industry standard? We’d love to hear about it as well as any stories you might have that illustrate how or why this difference matters.

I am among the lucky artists who had a very supportive group around me when I started out, but unfortunately that isn’t always the case in the tattooing world. There can be an underlying feeling for clients and new artists that the tattoo artist they are seeing is doing them a favor, or that it is an inconvenience to ask questions or express feelings. This is such a personal service, often with deep meanings, and definitely long lasting effects, and how you are treated during it gets ingrained into the story of that tattoo. When it is a good experience, it can be a healing, transformative, and uplifting process, and that is always my intention. My main goal is to create beautiful art that speaks to my clients, and to make the process of tattooing as positive as I can. That starts with emailing, being sure to communicate fully, effectively, and honestly. At the actual appointment, being sure to make my client feel comfortable enough to talk about the design, placement, and size. It doesn’t mean that my experience or opinion doesn’t matter, but it means my client has a say and feels heard when speaking up if they have a thought or a question. During the tattooing process, there is a lot going on inside of our brains and bodies, and how that manifests is unique to each of us. Respecting that, and creating a space where we can make it through the tough spots is so important. That can look like turning the music up, watching a show, reading a book, zoning out or zoning in, or any number of other reactions. If that is accepted and encouraged, then the tattooing process can be meditative, healing, or at the bare minimum, bearable.
This beautiful process is created on wonderful and unique humans, and it requires grace and support. This should always be the rule, and not the exception. I am so thankful to be a small part in this growing movement.

Kelsey, 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?

I had very supportive parents, who let me create all day (and let’s be honest, all night) when I had free time. I knew from very early on I wanted to be creative for my career, and it became obvious a bit later in high school that drawing would be my happy zone forever. Unfortunately, the common theme in a tattooing apprenticeship can be traumatic, abusive, and really unpleasant, so I went in a different direction for a while. I went into hairstyling, which was an amazing job, and taught me so many things about client interactions, and how our outward choices can so strongly reflect our inner selves. However, within this time, I kept going back to drawing. It really is my most consistent love in creating. Thankfully for me in this time, my wonderful brother separately decided to go into tattooing, and went through the more traditional apprenticeship to get there. After creating his own shop, which is a very safe space, I got to do an apprenticeship under him, which was hard work, but a very encouraging experience. This has allowed me to curate my own style, with my own atmosphere in my shop. Now that I have my own private studio, I still have the support and bonds from the friends I have made in the industry at other shops.

I specialize in medium to larger sized abstract and watercolor style tattoos, mostly nature themed or fully abstract, that fit and flow with the natural forms of the body. I am lucky enough to be able to focus on these styles, which does mean my books are often closed to new requests so that I can make sure to spend my time and attention on my current clients. I am fairly selective in the projects I take on, as I never want to do a tattoo half-heartedly or without inspiration or excitement. My intent is to have my shop be a safe and friendly place, to welcome any of my clients in, and to have them be relaxed during the tattoo.

I am really proud of the private studio I have, with no windows that anyone can look into. I close the doors and allow it to be an individual session. No pressure to act a certain way or feel uncomfortable due to fear of judgment or exposure. It is open, clean, and bright, but also cozy and comfortable.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I underestimated the health aspect of being a creative. I felt like I had to accept all projects, because everyone deserves to be heard and respected, and I wanted to give that to every request that came through. However, after a while, I had to realize (the hard way, unfortunately), that this comes at a cost to my own health, both mental and physical. It is still a lesson I am learning. To be truly effective at my job, and to be authentic to my clients, all while creating the best art I can, I have to respect that. I have had to do a hard pivot as far as the direction of art I am doing, the projects I accept, and the areas I will tattoo. This does not mean that anyone’s idea for their design that gets turned down is invalid or unworthy, only that I am not the right artist for it. If I want to do this for a long time, neither my back, neck, or mind can accept every design proposal that is sent my way. By being selective, I am honoring myself and my clients by refusing to do work in a subpar manner.

What’s the biggest challenge to profitability in your industry?

There is a little piece of me in everything that I create. It is incredibly personal, and that makes having it be a job a very vulnerable and tiring thing. There is a mental exhaustion that comes from pouring every artistic molecule I have in me that I can’t describe. I can have the best day and come home to faceplant in my couch and not want to see the world for a while. This translates for me being an empathetic artist as well. When my client has a hard day, or is struggling through getting through the tattoo appointment, my creative side gets exhausted even faster. Often in that situation I have to end my appointments before my client does, because I am so tired. If my mental or physical health isn’t doing well, that dictates how my creation will come out, and there is no room for error in the designs. It requires creating even when I don’t feel like it, and not being able to wait until inspiration comes to me. Some of my best drawings have come from when I absolutely don’t want to draw, but it doesn’t make it easy. There are no coasting days, and not always a way to have a lightbulb moment. It is incredible, and very hard, to be able to create for my job.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.entropytattoo.com
• Instagram: @kelseyknown

Image Credits
@shayebriannah , shayebriannah.com @kelseyknown