Today we’d like to introduce you to Mackenzie Kirk.
Hi Mackenzie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started on April 28, 2020. Right after COVID was announced, everything shut down. I started working from home, my two older kids were doing school from home, and we had two toddlers at home because the daycares shut down. My husband was a plumber, so he was still working. I was losing my mind, so I decided to start drawing again as a form of meditation. My husband asked me one day if I’d ever considered tattooing. I never thought about it. I only had 6 tattoos at the time. He bought me a tattoo kit on Amazon and told me to start learning. I watched countless videos, taking notes and screenshots. I made a post on Facebook asking for volunteers to practice. Covid helped me because people have been coupled up in their houses, and I was only charging tips to cover my supplies. I started in my kitchen and remodeled an area in my basement to do them. Then, I finally went to a shop that could have been a better one to start at. I learned what not to do. I’m now in my private studio. There have been plenty of times I’ve wanted to quit, but from the beginning, my husband pushed and pushed and pushed me. It’s been a blessing the past 4 years.
It wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It’s been tough. Figuring out pricing and what to charge along the way. Going to different shops took a lot of work, too. Some tattoo artists have huge egos, and I don’t. I’m humble regarding my profession and work because there is always room for improvement. The biggest struggle was working in the first “professional” shop. There also are little things like running your own business. Managing your schedule, social media, and inquiries for tattoos while ensuring the drawings are done for the upcoming appointments. People who do not work regular jobs need to understand the mental toll we take as artists doing all these things on our own. Some days, I’ll randomly become sick, and I truly believe it’s my body telling me that I need a break. Also, your back will consistently hurt, haha. It’s not just mentally demanding; it’s physically demanding.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a tattoo artist. I don’t have a specialty because I love tattooing in all different styles, but my favorite tattoos are geometric and mandalas. They’re stunning to me. What I’m proud of is how far I’ve come. When I started, I never thought I would get this far or be as good as I am. I’m not set apart from others because being a tattoo artist is just a lot. However, I always want my clients to be comfortable. I want them to love their design, I want them to be comfortable in my studio, I want them to be able to have open communication with me about anything they are thinking throughout the entire process, but most importantly, I want them to leave happy. I thrive on significant energy and vibes and want my clients to feel great before and after their appointment.
Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I’m not a risk taker. My most significant risk was quitting my full-time, $21/hr job with full benefits to pursue tattooing full-time. We were broke for about a year after that, and adjusting to the pay and schedule change took a lot to find that happy medium to live comfortably.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kenzieinks?igsh=MWNnMXF5dXhuaG44aA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/LVRjMPYpXwtw854N/?mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@kenzie_inks?_t=8llwPHJDk6A&_r=1
Image Credits
Kenzie Kirk
