We recently connected with Kylie Jenkins and have shared our conversation below.

Kylie, appreciate you joining us today. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

I am absolutely happier as an artist & creative! Being an artist can open up so much freedom and opportunities. My job as a tattoo artist is extraordinary. I’m essentially able to work as much as I would like, travel as often as I want, & I am able to support myself solely off my art and personality. On top of all that great stuff I get to share my art with the world and make strong connections with incredible people. It’s a true privilege for me to be able to do what I do. With all that being said, I have thought about what it would be like to have a “regular” job. Although, I don’t find anything irregular about a job as an artist or creative.

For me, being creative and coming up with new and unique ideas can take a mental and emotional toll if I have to do it all day, every day. Consistently making art that people enjoy and want to have on their body forever can feel daunting.
With most corporate jobs your workday ends at 5 and you leave it all behind.
After tattooing for the day the rest of my work comes home with me. I am essentially a small business. Aside from honing my craft and learning new techniques I am managing my social media, promoting myself, answering emails, and spending hours preparing for appointments. It’s very easy for me to get burnt out.

There were times where I felt like I was being “left behind” when people who I thought were my friends would belittle my career and constantly remind me how they were climbing the corporate latter.
I’ve wondered what it would be like to have a salary so I could have little to no concern about how much money I’ll make each month. Clients can cancel or no show; you are never guaranteed work. But, I did have to sit back and realize how amazing I have it. Art is my life. I literally get to draw & tattoo for a living. Being able to support oneself on art alone is many people’s dream and it’s something I get to do and I’m grateful.
I’m able to take time for my mental health and not feel like I have to play into capitalist America so intensely. It almost feels like a revolt in a way. I will not play the game and buy into these weird made up rules on what life is supposed to be like.

Kylie, 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?

Hello! I’m a professional tattoo artist and I am equal parts Ohio and Georgia! I’ve always been an artist and using design to express myself has been a consistent passion of mine. After high school I went to Columbus College of Art & Design and graduated with a BFA in Fine Arts and Illustration. My freshman year of college was when my love for tattoos became an obsession! After I graduated I drove from Ohio to Arizona to pursue an apprenticeship in Phoenix where I started “learning” to tattoo in 2016. I put learning in quotation marks because my mentor didn’t teach me much and it all ended up being a toxic and hostile environment.

I am queer biracial black woman with autism & ADHD. I definitely believe all of those descriptors played a large role in why my experience went so poorly.
I, as a tattoo artist want anyone who is of a marginalized community to feel the most comfortable in my space & presence. We deserve to be seen, heard, and represented. That is not always the case especially in the body modification community and I strive to show people we are everywhere whether they like it or not. I refuse to let this patriarchal white supremacist society try and keep me where they want me. Quiet and out of the way. I am here to help people come into their most authentic selves. I want to show people what it’s like to be all of these things loudly and proudly. I do not hold space for racism, ableism, homophobia, or sexism & neither should anyone else.
I am quite proud of what I have accomplished and how far I’ve gotten with so many people trying to tear me down.

When it comes to my art I’m inspired by just about anything. The richness of life, beautiful color palettes, my own emotions, other artists, you name it! I often explore themes including nature, anything whimsical or mind-bending, the macabre, portraits, cute stuff, & queer erotica.

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

There are so many rewarding aspects of tattooing. I love that I’m able to assist in someone’s healing process. Whether it be covering up self harm scars, a memorial, or just helping someone become more themselves with new body art. Meeting funky and interesting people, making a connection, & sharing their stories. Sometimes it’s just about making space for others.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

Exactly that. Support us! Buy some of our art, get a tattoo. If money is tight, there are so many other ways to support artists as well. Word of mouth is great! Show our art to your friends and family members. Sharing our social media posts and tagging people helps so much! Another thing people can do to help create a thriving creative ecosystem is by being respectful of our career. Understand we put in a lot of effort and go through hardships just like anyone else that has a job. There’s a stereotype about starving artists that is used in a disrespectful way to dissuade people from going into the arts and it invalidates our skill sets entirely. Society would absolutely crumble without art and creative minds.

Contact Info:

• Website: berrystainedfingers.com
• Instagram: berrystainedfingers
• Other: TikTok: @berrystained_ky

Image Credits
Portrait: David Williams Tattoo pics by me, Kylie