Today we’d like to introduce you to Brooke Cowan.
Hi Brooke, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Firstly all my life I’ve been in love with Art, painting, crafting ,drawing etc any art form of expression since I was a kid. I started tattooing when I was let’s say about 20 years old.
Before it started I was working for a Hilton property . I used to be in hospitality. I use to draw for the guest at the bar when working. Until one day I started dating a tattoo artist whom I had also gone to high school with . I would help him draw or we would sit around and draw. One day we were having a talk and we started talking about taking it more serious so I started to look into apprenticeships. I reached out to a few people, a few artists in the area around me asking for an apprenticeship, but no one would take me as an apprentice. So I called a guy named Eric Long. He is the owner of Platinum Koi in Huntsville, Alabama. He was the only one who decided to give me a shot. So I started with him, worked with him for a few years. Things were really good. I just felt stuck being so young so I decided to change shops. Went and worked for another local tattoo shop by the name of C&B. C&B was crazy. In the plaza was a liquor store, two strip clubs, an adult emporium, so really wild place to work at. I was there for a while. Didn’t really like that place. The owner was super busy with other things other than being a tattoo shop owner. I decided to leave there. Just to end up back at platinum koi. Went to New Orleans for a little while after my dad passed away for about two weeks. Life changing experience. While I was there I got a chance to get a breath of fresh air. I’ve always loved to travel so I’ve always traveled around. Huntsville has always been a place that I’ve gone back to because it being where I started. Getting started with tattooing was really rough. I remember not being able in the beginning , like in the first couple years, not being able to like pay my bills. Just kind of just all over the place, loving art, but just not knowing how it can make me money to be able to survive off of or to make a living.
After working at CMB for a while, I just decided to try to go back to Platinum koi. Platinum koi was always there. Rock always welcomed me with open arms. Eric Long, aka Rock, he was like an another father figure to me outside of my dad. I was with him from the time I was 20 years old to probably about 26, maybe around that age. So it was always the place that I would go back to. After that, I decided to go open my own shop by, just trying to do it myself. I was in the downward spiral at the same time after the passing of my father at just 24 years old. I opened my own shop and then I got introduced to drugs. Drugs, it was a really hard, rocky road. Something that I kind of had to go through, never went to therapy or rehab or anything like that But this time changed my life. I actually had gotten in trouble and got caught with some drugs. So then I went to jail and did the whole probation thing. this was very life-changing. but I thought to myself after my probation was over that I would Leave Huntsville behind.
After having my own shop for a moment, I just did not know what I was doing because I was not taught that side of the business. So then I received a super, super, super dope opportunity to go and work for Bone Face of Ink Master in Atlanta, Georgia. Also, my big sister was living in Georgia at the time, so I decided to move, meaning I had to close my shop down. Moving to Atlanta, that was super exciting at just 27 years old. I was in Atlanta for a couple years at the time. In this time there,working at Black umbrella owner Boneface was also connected with Black Ink Crew, so I was able to experience being around very talented artists.
But Atlanta was fast and it was my first time ever leaving home So it just was a little much. But I did leave with a Bond with Boneface he is still my Tattoo Brother til this day. Very Phenomenal artist very intelligent a very talented artist in both music and tattooing.But I indeed was on a journey and this was not my stopping point.
I then decided to move away to Gulf Shores, Alabama at the age of 29 small place a lot slower than Atlanta there I Got more in tune with myself I started to make some life changes, started to meditate more, go to the beach Just had a sense of serenity and peace in my life at the time I was working at a shop called Next Level ran by Randy Meadows which was also nice different artists, different vibe, different location different art Living at the beach was really nice. I love to fish so did a lot of fishing also shared time with friends and just Needed this time in my life very much. So after just kind of the fast life and then you know being addicted to drugs and then you know, just Leaving the nest, leaving home, leaving Platinum Koi behind, just leaving everything in my hometown behind This started a really long adventure After Gulf Shores, I was there for about a year. I left my mark in this town I was tired of just sitting back and waiting for clients I wanted to show this community who I was as a person and as an artist.
So I decided to come up with a giveback called “next level gives”
I worked 4 days for hours only accepting can goods and dog and cat food that u would donate to the nearby shelters!
This spread like absolute wildfire! But after this for some odd reason I started to be harassed by the police in foley Alabama. I grew uncomfortable after being followed home from for several nights out of the week. As soon as I would pull out of the parking lot the would pull out of the gas station and follow me home. I started to get the thoughts of moving again… having the urge to just move so After Gulf Shores next up is..
Texas which I call chapter 30 and Texas was nice. I worked at a shop there called Red Lotus ran by Pete That was different Fort Hood, Texas Killeen, Texas Was very different Now I’m really really far from home. But I’m with my baby sister. We had a blast! She is in the military so at this time I develop a military clientele but I’m still traveling back to Alabama to work, 13 hour drives by myself. For some reason no matter where I moved I would always go back home to tattoo.
At the age of 30, I moved to Texas. Life took a really strong turn. We have COVID at this time, bringing on life changes. I am now in a relationship. To find out at the age of 30 years old that I am pregnant with my first child. At about two months, I had a miscarriage. It changed my life. It took a really long time for me to be okay with myself at this time. About two years to be okay with just moving forward with my journey and my career. Now, me and my partner at the time leave Texas together and we move to Pensacola, Florida.
During Covid a lot of tattoo artist struggled to make ends meet being that a lot of the shops where shut down in this time a lot of them resulted in working from home because people have families and they have to survive right? So as I mentioned before Bone is still a really good friend at this time so going from a seven man ship he is down to 1 artist so I decided to go back and work for him again. Good times I’m back at the beach I’m only about 5 hours from home. I’m traveling with the convention line called villain arts, but something still feels off about my life after a few years being at Bonefaceink ink I started to think I’m doing this wrong. After traveling back home over the years I started to see my hometown grow and I’ve developed a hearty clientele base in Huntsville
So at the age of 32 I decided to move back home and open my 2nd shop Elevation Ink the same name as my first shop. My shop name represents me and my story. No matter what happens in life continue to elevate always work on the best version of yourself as youcontinue to grow, thrive for greatness don’t accept doubts of this world. No matter how much they don’t believe in you believe in self. Your world can look like total chaos to everyone else but always look at your self in the mirror and remember you got this. No one has all the answers. Take a deep breath and live. follow me on social media @Brooke’Stitch’Cowan on fb and @Stitch_didit/ @stitch_didit2 on instagram.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No, it has not been smooth.
Some of the struggles were people telling me to give up. Not having the money for bills. Worried about getting clients and staying busy. The drug addiction while trying to stay focused on life. Missing birthdays, birthday dinners, graduations. Funerals.
I use to sit and cry at night in my stop hoping that one day I could be successful in life at tattooing because it was something that that I had so much love for. People stealing from you. I had a lady go into my desk and steal my money from my purse. My first shop I remember me and my cuzn had to paint it with just the flash light from our phones because I didn’t have my lights on yet. But I am grateful for every struggle on this journey.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a tattoo artist this year makes 15 years for me. I take ideas from the minds of others and create a piece of art filled with love hunger and passion than the person whom wears it will love forever. Because art is Forver!
I am know for my very crisp designs and attention to detail, I specialize in cover ups, black and grey and color. I am a very versatile artist whom can do all style including clashing styles to create something unique.
I am most proud that I did not give up! On myself or my clients! I have the best clientele any tattoo artist could ask for! If it wasn’t for them I would be nothing. I am extremely happy that my art will live stories of being tattooed by me. My persona and my heart and the imprint people received
.
What sets me apart from others is..
my goal is for every tattoo I have ever given be a symbol of love and hope for humanity that you are no what you go through but a reflection of what you grow through. I want each person to leave me and my shop feeling happy uplifted and elevating to continue through life becoming the best versions of themselves. My art is a visualization of the moment they. received that piece of art the can feel free to be themselves knowing they aren’t ever to be judged by me.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Growing up! I was silly! I love to laugh! Laughter puts people in good spirit.
I was friends with everyone in school.
I stayed in trouble a lot and art was always my escape. If I could have spent all day in art class I think I woulda have voted for that.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stitch_didit2?igsh=MnkzNmFremI5cjlo&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/16RUuWxop4/?mibextid=LQQJ4d
