We recently connected with Kristen Osborne and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Kristen thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

Learning the craft is an interesting topic in this industry. To begin, I’m glad to see the normalization of apprentices being treated with dignity and respect.
I started my career with a poor apprenticeship that went on for longer than it should have.
After a nearly two-year hiatus assembling Honda Accord manifolds, the fact was solidified that I would rather be drawing!
I took a tattoo machine to my wonderful, mechanically-inclined father, and asked him to teach me what made them tick.
His efforts were successful, and I am grateful that I persevered.
However, especially in the industry’s current climate, there is no need to be used or disrespected while seeking out your education.
Social media and networking with other artists was a beneficial resource for me, as well.
Don’t be afraid to reach out to those whose work you admire; most people are way nicer than you expect!
They’re usually just as tickled that you enjoy what they’ve created.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Kristen Osborne, and I am a tattoo artist based in Greenville, South Carolina.

I have a background in fine art and love natural, fantasy, and surreal subject matter.
Aside from body art tattooing, I am also a physician-backed Permanent Cosmetics Technician and a Paramedical Tattoo Artist, I work closely with several surgeons in South Carolina, and perform restorative tattoos for their patients.

I knew early on that I either wanted to be in the art or teaching fields. I love sharing information.
As a generational artist, I am very grateful that my creative pursuits have always been supported.
While I am the first in my family to become a tattoo artist, I grew up inspired by the creatives I was surrounded by.

It is truly an honor to facilitate another person in their journey to self acceptance and love.
I appreciate having an extremely diverse clientele base and connecting with others.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

It’s unbelievably easy to become your own roadblock. It’s also easy to minimize your own work, and I have been guilty of both!
There’s a balance to be struck between being confident in the work you’re producing, and being open to learning.
We often connect ourselves with our artwork, which can be difficult to navigate in the career world.
Taking constructive criticism, being observant, and having motivation to problem solve instead of waiting to be redirected are key to growth as an artist.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

It’s incredibly gratifying to provide a service that can drastically impact the lives of others. As a tattoo artist, I am able to be a part of people’s memories, milestones, strength, and joy.
Working with breast cancer survivors is an especially rewarding facet of my craft. When clients see me, I am the final step in their reconstruction. They’ve often experienced a long, rocky road, and I feel honored to put them at ease and see them smiling at the end of the session. Cancer wasn’t their choice, but the tattoos absolutely are. It’s beautiful to help someone reclaim their body, and its comforting to know that color theory and skill can make these life changing, restorative tattoos a reality.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @kristenosbornetattoos

Image Credits
Nice Life Photography