We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Niki Jackson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Niki below.
Niki, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?
I am very happy with being an artist/creative. It creates an unlimited universe of application. I can draw paint, tattoo, sculpt or build ect. Its an always evolving and always growing path.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My name is Niki, and I live in Northeast Ohio. My main root to everything is my family, my husband and two girls. I have been a creative as long as I can remember implementing it in many aspects of my life. In any medium, whether it was painting, crafting, learning graphic design and marketing, I have somehow involved art in every job I’ve ever had. After 12 years tattooing professionally, I am now just focusing fully on art. I definitely got stuck on the loop of only creating “skin friendly” pieces, so it is nice to set up a space in my own home, and work on learning how to create prints, how to properly photograph my work and more. I am currently involved in some juried shows locally and hope to do more of that and grow from there.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
PIVOT! There is nothing wrong with it. Like I said, I have always been into art and creating. That didn’t stop when I had kids, but I did need to turn it into something other than a hobby- in order to provide some income for my household. I started tattooing. And that’s not easy being a mom. The hours are not 9-5. Nothing is planned. There is no bi-weekly paycheck. But I followed thru- did the apprenticeship, and made my way thru some great shops That ended though, just recently after 12 years. and I found myself in a position of “what am I going to do with this now?” With the support of Kyle my husband, and my family I decided to create a space in my home, a personal art studio for learning how to manage my own pieces, prints, photographs and deadlines. It was a scary and pivotal situation. But I took it as “I guess this is what I am supposed to be doing now”. I am grateful for every opportunity I’ve had and look forward to even more. Ill keep pivoting. I highly suggest it! Keeps things interesting.
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
Surround yourself with things you love. There is someone creating something out there for everyone. Don’t let HGTV or Social Media dictate what your home or spaces or even clothes should look like. If you should find something that sparks joy in you- buy it. Share it. Invest in it in one way or another- so the person that created that small moment of happiness for you can live off of it. So they can create more- to invest again in the happiness of someone else. Or themselves! Like a little Happiness Loop!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @getnixi
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/earthboundartchives