Life & Work with Angel Cusick

Today we’d like to introduce you to Angel Cusick

Hi Angel, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m Angel, owner and tattoo artist at Smoke & Mirrors Studio in Poland, OH. I opened the first women owned and operated tattoo studio in Poland seven years ago, and it continues to be such an incredible journey that I’m grateful everyday for.

I’ve been an artist all my life, like many of us, as soon as I could hold anything I was drawing. I love creating in all forms, painting, drawing, sculpting, and of course tattooing. I knew I wanted tattoos as soon as I saw them growing up, but I really had no idea I’d ever be the one in the artists chair. I was immediately fascinated with everything about tattooing. But at 18 I was occupied working several jobs and becoming a tattoo artist honestly seemed pretty out of reach. Fast forward to 23 years old, I had been a professional makeup artist for years and just knew I wanted to further my art career to the fullest extent of my talent. I wasn’t satisfied with not pushing the boundaries of what I knew I could create.

So at 23 I began my tattoo apprenticeship while working as a makeup artist part time and had been living on my own since I was 17. It was a lot. I give so much credit to anyone working multiple jobs and going through further education with long hours at once, it’s a feat. I had a very old school apprenticeship where knowing what I know now and coming full circle, was really profound in showing me what I never wanted to perpetuate in the industry.

Tattooing as a career, even as it’s grown to the popularity level it’s at now, can be harsh. There’s a lot you have to digest in being a tattoo artist. Working with other artists, bedside manner, the long hours, the dedication to always making new designs and the ever changing social media aspect. In my case, all these plus being a mentor to apprentices while individual artist, all the while being a business owner trying to stay in flow state. There are many moving parts. It can be a lot of pressure. Everyone can be a critic and you have to be your own critic while also giving yourself grace. It’s a very judge mental field. Not only by yourself, your peers, the client, but ultimately everyone online.

Although, pressure applied in the right way is refinement.

A successful artist always knows they have room to grow. You can never stop learning. Only fools think they know it all, or can’t learn from more versed artists. To be a forever student in a field of art will only make the collective better. It’s fascinating and challenging and so worth it.

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?
I don’t think any true artist or creatives story begins without struggle. Or even on occasion continues without. Artists are complex. I believe true artistry forms something beautiful from pain and conveys emotion through art. In tattooing the beautiful thing is you get to gift that alchemy to your client.

After owning a business for seven years believe me I could go on about various obstacles, but that’s not ever been a focal point to me. They are the things that grow you as you learn but that’s all they are- seasonal and temporary.

I think maybe the unexpected lesson is that of overcoming disappointment, in my case it’s been people, is likely inevitable. Maybe a piece of art that was laboriously crafted gets damaged in shipping or breaks, maybe you put hours even years into lovingly growing something and it’s gone. It’s a let down. And you have to learn to move on from that. The truth is what happens or what other people choose to do is not a reflection of you and doesn’t define you. The refinement is what you do in the aftermath. To grow your business you have to trust again and again, even after disappointments.

For me to find resilience I believe a key mindset is that change is the truest form of nature. It’s an opportunity to take everything you’ve overcome and let it give you some inspiration.

So the takeaways? Let disappointments be temporary. Lean into the alchemy. Be grateful for your resilience.
Know that it’s extremely rare to find anything or anyone evergreen.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I think what I’m most proud of and what sets me apart are actually the same thing. I hold space for people. Creating an environment where everyone can feel welcome, relaxed and heard, it’s done intentionally. One of the very things that inspired me to open my own studio was that I wanted to create that kind of space in tattooing- that was really unfounded in my area. Tattooing is such a brilliant place to co-create with others. I truly enjoy getting to know my clients and connecting with them, every person is their own story and we have so much to learn from each other.

As a tattoo and permanent makeup artist, it takes some time to find your niche style. I think it’s either you kind of have a style from the start or you develop it later when you find a way of doing things that makes it special. Most things have been done before, but how you do it sets artists apart.

For me, I love mixing Japanese inspired designs with geometric or ornamental elements. I also love creating traditional inspired tattoos but with fineline elements. It’s kind of a new take on classics. I like to learn new techniques and incorporate them if a design could use texture or depth. Learning more with tattooing is fun, if there’s no joy in creating -why do it?

Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
Well since becoming a mentor, I’ll share a lesson I’ve learned that hopefully can resonate with anyone else.

There will always be people dedicated to misunderstanding, because the actual understanding would require them to grow into a space they’re not prepared to get to or even reciprocate more than they can offer.

In other words, if you bring a lot to the table there are bound to be people at that table who don’t want to bring enough. People will show you exactly who they are, you just have to listen.

Respect in every industry is key.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://smoke-mirrors-studio.square.site
• Instagram: @smokeandmirrors.studio
• Facebook: @smokeandmirrors.studio