Today we’d like to introduce you to Alisha Turner.
Hi Alisha, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hello everyone, my name is Alisha Turner. I’m the Owner and Fine Line Tattooist of Ink By Lish, Author & Illustrator of the children’s book series Brach & Rex, and the Creative Director of Grow Dialogue. I’m also a mother of three and a wife of four years.
I suppose my career started in High School, but the creative seeds were planted by my dad long before that.
I still remember him sitting me down at our long dining table when I was all of 4, maybe 5 years old, teaching me step by step how to draw a detailed rose.
After that, he taught me how to use Photoshop – he was one of the best photographers I’ve ever known. I started to use Photoshop and other software to make quotes and designs for social media.
Next thing I knew I was in middle school learning how to draw graffiti from my favorite math teacher, Mr. Hays, which turned into a hobby. I remember my classmates requesting their name in graffiti to decorate their locker (which makes me chuckle after all these years).
In High School I was the only Art 4 student, I volunteered at The Works which was an Art Museum downtown, and I was constantly drawing.
After I received my BA for Graphic Design, I moved all the way to Fort Drum, New York with my boyfriend. 2 months later we were married and 2 months after that we were expecting our first child. So, I took on Stay At Home Mommyhood and did some Art and Graphic Design on the side for a couple of years while Blake was in the Army.
When we moved back home, I wanted to get back to work and give Blake time to figure out his next venture. Right around that time my sister and sister-in-law (Lexi & Lexi), who are Fine Line Tattooists in Dayton, totally sold me on the idea to train with them. I figured I had spent years designing tattoos… Why not be part of the entire process? See it all the way through so I get to be the one who sees their face when they’re looking in the mirror at their new ink.
So, after I trained with the Lexies I spent hours and hours learning and practicing, building my website, branding, marketing plan, and business policies.
When I toured Salons By JC in the Polaris area, I knew it was the right location, environment, and vibe for me. The vibe was so authentic, the people diverse, and the talent was phenomenal.
However, there was a catch – The application required details about current income/clientele to ensure the financial responsibility was a secure fit.
But I had none to show. So, the concierge was so kind and supportive she put in a good word for me with the owner and advised me to put together a Business Proposal. So, I did. I included everything from financials to giveaways and incentives for my clients.
The owner was so great she decided to give me a chance.
It seems absolutely crazy that I’m on my second month tattooing now. It’s even more exhilarating that I have almost 2 months booked out, up 1K followers, have received over 115 Tattoo Applications, and am potentially partnering with a safe tattoo aftercare brand.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
It hasn’t exactly been a smooth ride.
My first final exams in college were spent studying in the hospice living room, knowing my dad was never going to see me walk across the stage. After college, I made all of $6K in an entire year of painting and designing so that was a hard fail. I also dabbled in Network Marketing on and off for years with no more than a few thousand to show for it so it’s safe to say I had my rocky patches.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a Fine Line Tattoo Artist, working with 1-3 needles in the Columbus area.
I guess what sets me apart is that I’ve always been pretty entrepreneurial and have been mentored by some truly amazing people with focus on art, design, business, and communications.
I’m most known for having really good relationships with my clients. My primary goal is to provide a future for my family while creating positive memorable experiences for my clients.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
I definitely see Fine Line progressing. I think with the wave of Fine Line it’s really opened up the industry to all of the people who don’t want sleeves but still value tattoos. People who have never wanted tattoos are more open to the elegance of Fine Line.
I also see more progression in tattoo products from machines, stencil printers, ink ingredients, and aftercare.
Lastly, I think words over images will become a big trend as we already see this in Fine Line, and with the rising awareness of reading, writing, and music for mental health, I think it’s something most people can positively align with.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.inkbylish.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/inkbylish
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/inkbylish
