Meet Angel Cusick

Today we’d like to introduce you to Angel Cusick.

Hi Angel, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself. 
I’m sure every artist leads with this but probably because it’s true- I’ve been a creative all my life, drawing as young as I can remember. As for tattooing, I’ve been in the industry 8 years. I’m simply fascinated by tattoos and that led me to begin learning all I could about the industry, getting a local apprenticeship, and eventually becoming a tattoo artist. I spent 2 years in a very traditional apprenticeship, and there are good and bad parts to that. I’ll spare the bad parts, but I will say being massively let down I figured I have two options- quit or do better. I rarely quit. So, I started my own shop, completely by myself, offering a comfortable space where everyone is welcome and respected. There is rarely a higher honor than someone choosing to wear your art permanently on their skin; the least we can do as artists is respect their comfort. I had a solo studio for 4 years and then got a few inquiries about taking on an apprentice. I had never even thought of it. I trained others in permanent makeup, but truly that is an entirely different craft. Even jokingly I said, “Wouldn’t it be really cool if I had an all-female shop one day?!?”… and it is definitely really cool. After I met Chrissy and then Kirstie came on a few months later, I knew it was really the start of something greater than I anticipated. I’ve decided that in mentoring artists in my shop now, I was only going to take the necessary elements I learned in my apprenticeship and implement them into teaching. The rest, well, it comes from everything I didn’t have or wasn’t taught in my apprenticeship. Things like mental health, constructive criticism, giving yourself grace, becoming steadfast, being proud of every achievement, and learning from every mistake. Really just positive support overall. But if someone hasn’t overcome these things themselves, you couldn’t expect they’d be capable to teach you them. It isn’t easy learning to tattoo let alone the dedication it takes to become a tattoo artist. There’s still very much an old-school way to the tattoo industry, some ways I really cherish and some just like any tradition are sadly fading away. Everything has a season. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Absolutely not! Starting, Owning, and operating your own shop from the bottom up with little to no support, it was rough. Of course, at times I wanted to quit, pick something easier, not work so hard or so much. But that’s not in me. I had worked so hard, even in my apprenticeship to just let myself down like that. Tattooing is really something I’m passionate about; it’s an ancient art form with endless new things to learn. And I knew I could do it; really the only thing that kept me going was the belief that I could. 

My family, even some friends, told me I was making a huge mistake, that I’d lost my mind. I quit my long-time job that I’d worked up the ranks in, making good money- for a dream. They may have said all the classic decoys that people who make fear-based decisions cling to, but I knew I had to do this. I figured it’s like having loved and lost- better than to never have loved at all. 

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a tattoo artist and permanent makeup artist as well as a painter and just creator in general. I like making things. There’s so much art in everything. 

I’d say I’m most known for tattooing. And I’m most proud of my team, the dedication we all exude in showing up and becoming better every day. 

What sets me apart from others is probably tenacity haha no but in artistry, I’m always told I have a gentle touch and soft edge about my work, I care for people. 

Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
Really, if there’s something out there that you want to do- and it’s tugging at you, even just a recurring thought- go for it. Do it scared, do it when you don’t feel ready, do it anyway. Experience creates skill; no one is a pro-overnight. Research, plan, leap – whatever you feel is right just actually do it. Because we only regret what we could have done before it’s too late. The worst that may happen is you lose some people that were probably no good for you anyway and, maybe worse, some money. But there’s a really strong chance you won’t lose anything at all. Actually, it’ll be one of the best things you’ve ever done in your life. 

Contact Info:

• Website: https://smoke-mirrors-studio.square.site/
• Instagram: @smokeandmirrors.studio
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smokeandmirrors.studio?mibextid=LQQJ4d