We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful “Rockette” Fox Smith. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with “Rockette” Fox below.

“Rockette” Fox, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

Honestly, I always figured I’d pursue some sort of creative/artistic path professionally, as that was just what I was good at–but I never really had a direction beyond that.

Like many other artists, I was drawing and creating since the moment I could hold a crayon. As I grew up, I always loved making art but wasn’t really sure how to pursue it as a career. I wasn’t necessarily a painter or sculptor (it just wasn’t where my interests lie); as an alt-kid I loved tattoos but didn’t know how to go about getting into the field; and there was this constant idea that “you can’t make a living as an artist.” By the time I graduated high school, I was familiar with the field of graphic design and figured that was my in. I went to community college, took a few years off to sling coffee and sing in a rock band, then finally finished my Bachelors of Fine Arts at university.

Once I finished my degree, I didn’t have any concrete plans. Through happenstance, I met an author and ended up working as a contract artist for ten years as an illustrator and designer for her small publishing company. I had the opportunity to draft and illustrate children’s books for companies like Build-A-Bear, the St. Louis Cardinals, and more.

Throughout this time, I played music, performed theatre and storytelling, taught, joined the board for a nonprofit, got tattooed, and had the opportunity to speak at national conventions on topics like diversity and representation in media, creating safer spaces, mental health, and otherwise following where my passions led. The design work wasn’t full-time, so I was always looking for ways to find a little more stability. I tried putting out resumes, working with agencies, but nothing ever clicked, which would be a good thing albeit frustrating. I wasn’t someone who really thrived in an office setting.

After the publishing company closed, I started a podcast, live streamed games, and took to the craft market circuit to sell my art the way I wanted to make it: authentic, strange, sometimes serious, sometimes goofy, but always me. I loved connecting with the people I met, and I found it came so much more easily when I was representing my own work and the content that really mattered to me.

A question I was often asked was if I was a tattoo artist–it seemed my work already leaned into that style, and it got me thinking about the industry again. I would ask around to tattoo artist friends and was given a lead on an apprenticeship opportunity. I showed up, filled out the forms, linked my portfolio, applied, got a message back… and was told I was too old. That, after two decades of illustration background, they were looking for someone fresh without any baggage of another career.

To say I was floored would be an understatement. However, I kept going. I was in the process of helping a close friend (who also happened to be an incredible tattoo artist) at her new shop when the day came: she asked if I wanted to be her apprentice. Then we made it Facebook official, and I started my journey!

In retrospect, I am so grateful things turned out as they did. I had the privilege of apprenticing in a shop and with people that I deeply respect and love who encouraged me to strive for more and to be my best. And I’m still doing ten thousand things–and I’m not sure this exactly answers the question, but hopefully gets to the spirit of it–but I’m finding my way and forging new paths ahead.

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

I am a tattoo artist, illustrator, storyteller, performer, witchy woman, and creator who continually works to combine my passions in ways that help others embrace their most authentic selves. As a biracial and queer woman, identity has been something I’ve always thought a lot about: how we see ourselves, who we are, and who we want to be. A big part of that is how we look and adorn ourselves, whether with clothes and accessories or tattoos and piercings.

When I worked primarily as an illustrator and designer, I learned how to help guide clients along the design journey so that they would end up with something that both represents them and that they love. It’s important to me that my clients have a warm, welcoming, and fun experience in my chair. I am always going to walk someone through the process, whether they have a million tattoos or none, and I’m going to make sure they feel as comfortable and safe as possible.

I love tattooing pieces from geeky pop culture (like Pokemon, Balder’s Gate, and Mothman), pets and animals, and spooky witchy business (like cat skulls, crystals, and runes). I still actively perform and travel to speak at events and am currently in a Masters program for Counseling and Art Therapy, after which I plan to develop an approach that combines licensed therapy with licensed tattooing.

It’s a lot, but I love everything I do! I’ve been fortunate enough to reach a place where I can follow my passions, create empowering spaces, connect with people over what they love, and keep on the path toward world domination–I mean, becoming my best self and helping others do the same ^ . ^

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

I think one thing that non-creatives (and also creatives!) don’t think about often is the amount of non-creative work that goes into having a creative career. As an artist growing up, you always hear: “But can you make a living at it?” And if you want to become an illustrator, painter, tattoo artist, etc. and *only* do that creative thing, no, you likely can’t make a living. You have to spend a lot of time promoting yourself, being active on social media, keeping records, managing time and space, project managing yourself, and so on. Especially as a tattoo artist, you’re also providing customer service.

The other thing that immediately comes to mind when thinking of what non-creatives might have trouble understanding, is pricing. I think this tends to show up more in illustration and design, but I imagine most artists have come across that person who wants you to do something for free or next to nothing because “you can just do it” or, my favorite, “for exposure.”

I always think of a story I heard from a professor years ago. A client commissioned a piece of work from a known artist for a certain price, then the artist completed the project quickly. The client asked, “If you could do it so fast, why is the price so expensive?” The artist replied, “You aren’t just paying for the time it took me to make this, you’re paying for the 30+ years that went into me being able to make this piece.”

I think in our culture it’s hard for a lot of non-creative folk (and again some creatives, as well, when pricing their own goods) to understand value when so much goes into the journey of getting to that finished piece.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

As someone who has always explored about ten-million different things, I’ve had to take a number moments throughout my life to sit down and assess what brings it all together. What I’ve come to, is that storytelling and empowerment are my two driving passions. All of my own artwork tells a story, and I believe that stories are what helps us to better understand ourselves, each other, and how we all fit into the world together.

I find a lot of meaning in being able to encourage and support others on their journeys, and tattooing–whether a memorial piece or something silly–help people tell their story on their skin. My goal as an artist is to help people embrace their authenticity in healthy ways, tell good stories, and always work on bettering myself and my craft.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.rockettefox.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rockettefox/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RocketteFox
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RocketteFox
• Other: https://linktr.ee/rockettefox

Image Credits

Jake Hollingsworth