1 YEAR//10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY - 007

April 1st, 2023 - the 1 year anniversary of Katie Slaughter Studios and 10 years of tattooing (about 12 years total including the crude beginning).

When I share story’s from the first 7 years of my tattoo career, it’s mostly one bizarre story leading into another. Up until this past year, I had a hard time talking about those days without getting that sinking gut feeling. I’d wish I could go back and stand up for my younger self against all those sad small men I worked alongside.

I knew the best “revenge” was to succeed.

I don’t think grateful would be the right word for the experiences I endured, however, many hard lessons were learned because of those experiences - that I am grateful for.

I can reflect back on those times now - and laugh.

It wasn’t all negative and traumatic, of course. The good managed to outweigh the bad. I’ve met thousands of wonderful people and have made many wonderful tattoos over the years.

Becoming a tattoo artist was quite the juxtaposition to my original game plan at 17 years old: Become a fine artist - creating complicated drawings and classically made oil paintings with a subtle dark twist - get into galleries and museums, and most importantly - live life in solitary - just me and whatever I was creating. I have always felt out of place throughout life and wanted as little human contact as possible.

A “fine artist” doesn’t get a weekly paycheck - let alone a steady paycheck.

I needed to do something in the meantime until I could get my art career off the ground. Ironically choosing a job with lots of human interaction, verbally and physically. At the time, I didn’t even consider those things - it was a job involving art. I’d get to be creative, work with my hands, and simply get paid for it. At the time I was undiagnosed for dyslexia - all I knew was I couldn’t handle any sort of job involving reading or writing. I’m happy I forgot about the human interaction part - that could have easily stopped me.

One of my favorite parts of my job: connecting to people.

Tattooing was something I had intended doing part time - as little as possible to afford my bills and still have time to create the rest of the day.

I had no idea I could love a job that revolved around serving people.

I hold thousands of stories of people from all walks of life, from different parts of the world. People I would never have met or interacted with if I wasn’t a tattoo artist.

The beauty of it all: we’re all the same. No matter a persons ethnicity, gender, age, shape, sexuality, religion, politics, criminal record…we all have the same basic needs.

I have found common ground with every single person I have sat with.

Sure, I don’t love every person I’ve tattooed either. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve thought - “I can’t be done soon enough with this asshole.” By the end, we’re laughing, and my thought changes to - “he’s still an asshole…but I like him…he’s not a bad guy.”

Another unexpected take away I’ve applied to the rest of life and the people I meet outside of tattooing - everyone has an interesting story in them (this doesn’t mean everyone is a good storyteller, though. That’s another form of art).

If I had secluded myself to my art studio, I may have never learned how to connect with people.

I’ve always had a special interest in learning about the human psyche - probably because I couldn’t figure out why I felt so different and I was just trying to understand. Like going to a zoo and watching the behavior of the animals. To me - I was the normal one, and everyone else was acting strange.

I’ve been confident in who I am as long as I can remember. I loved looking at art - in books and trips to museums. I loved making my own art. I disliked other kids my age and preferred talking with the adults. Ultimately, I just kept to myself. I knew I was gay from the very beginning (hello, Spice Girls!) - though there was very little representation for gay people or culture at that time, so I didn’t actually know what being gay was until later down the road. While the rest of my peers moved forward with reading, writing, and math - I was in over my head. Why was I the only one not moving forward and finishing last? Why was no one helping me? No one ever did help me. I wondered if anyone else was having as difficult a time in academics as I was? They weren’t. I was giving 120% and I was still nearly failing. Thank goodness for art and sports. Throughout grade school, I was friendly with anyone and everyone, but I had very few friends and certainly no one that I was particularly close with. It was always me and art. I was okay with that. I accepted long ago I wasn’t like the other kids. When I’d try to act like a normal teenager, I felt bored and unproductive - I’d always rather be making something. Art was my constant.

During those years, when I’d share a piece of art - that’s the only time I felt seen, heard, and even somewhat understood.

The way I can convey my thoughts and feelings best is through imagery - I think in pictures. That’s where my strength lies - thats my preferred language.

I’m extremely comfortable being the odd one out. I learned to accept it long ago - as I can’t tell you anything about being “normal”.

All I’ve ever known is who I am - I’m a thoughtful person, a passionate artist, and I have a lot of love to give.

My entire life, my family encouraged me to pursue art - the rest of the world took pity on me and expressed that I should consider a real job.

I understand why people tried to steer me away - being an artist doesn’t provide a specific outcome…there is no promise of anything at the end of being an artist. It’s not a safe living. People want comfort, they want to know what to expect, they want to know they will get something in return.

I considered culinary school, becoming a motorcycle mechanic, and if money wasn’t a concern, my top choice was film school. Eventually, I decided to follow the path my sister took 5 years prior - join the Army - have whatever schooling paid for.

In expressing this decision to my sister, she told me not to join the Army.

She said: “You’re an artist - go be an artist.”

I didn’t know what being an artist meant. I forgot “artist” was even a real option - or a possibility, since so many tried to beat it out of me.

I still don’t understand where I’m going with this thing, most days I’m just putting one foot in front of the other, and as time goes on, each step has equated to all of this.

There was never a plan B. Being an artist was the only option.

Just like the rest of my life - I felt out of place in tattooing as well. I knew the only way I could exist happily - was to do it on my terms. I was looking for something in tattooing that didn’t exist. Sometimes you’ve got to be the person to ‘build it’. I knew it would take time…not 12 years, but it takes the time it takes.

I created a studio that I deserved, and what I thought my clients deserved.

All art forms evolve - why would tattooing be excluded from that? There is no reason to stick to archaic practices and standards.

Tattooing can now be considered a serious form of art. The act of being tattooed is an experience and a luxury. The environment should reflect that.

Katie Slaughter Studios is my personal art and tattoo studio. I want each and every client to feel safe, comfortable, and heard while they are here. My goal was to create a welcoming and relaxing environment, knowing I could control every variable. I took into account everything from the color scheme, warm lighting as well as natural light, wood furniture, fabric, textures, plants, my own art and vintage illustrations on the walls, the smell of the room, quiet music so we’re not fighting to communicate, all while being clean and sterilized. The studio is 100% vegan/cruelty free, meaning the products I use do not contain any animal products and are never tested on animals. All single-use barriers and plastics have been replaced by biodegradable/compostable products that are certified third party tested. You can’t get a more eco-friendly tattoo. As for me, your current or possibly future artist - my goal is to give you the best tattoo and experience I can, every time. I take this job very seriously and I truly care. I appreciate anyone who is supporting me and wanting to wear my artwork - it’s an honor.

12 years in the making - my original goal has come to fruition - tattooing is supporting my art career.

Fashion designer, Alexander McQueen, worked for Givenchy while he was trying to get his own company - Alexander McQueen - built. He used the money he made and put it straight into McQueen. He invested in himself.

Tattooing is my Givenchy. I’m passionate about it, I’m able to create and make art, make connections to people - it pays my bills. Ultimately, it supports me as: Katie Slaughter, the artist.

At this moment in time, I can actually say: I am a successful artist - and I still feel like this is only the beginning.

As my journey with art truly begins - this is not the end of tattooing. I never anticipated the gifts it would bring me and have no plan of stopping anytime soon. Yes - I will be taking a step to the side to make room for this endeavor, as this has always been my dream. In previous posts, I’ve mentioned I have no clue where I am going with all of this. All I’ve managed to figure out is that I am supposed to create art - and I need to share it. Thats all I’m going to focus on for now: make more art.

I’ve had $5 to my name, relied on friends to feed me, slept in my studio instead of going home since I didn’t have money for gas and knew I’d be back in the morning anyway, I’ve taken odd jobs, sold art prints, screen printed my own shirts, done pottery restoration, tried a lot of things that didn’t work out that I lost money on - I’ve failed then failed better. There was only going up from all of that. I’ve hit quite a few low points, and I’m not worried about going back. Even if I did - I know I could get out again.

I can’t tell you what to see in what I create, as each person will always take something unique out of the same piece of artwork. I do hope viewers can see some of the beauty, as well as the darkness through my perspective and experiences throughout life. We need the darkness to appreciate the light.

I hope by pursuing my goals and dream, staying true to myself and what I stand for - I can inspire you to live the life you deserve to live. When you’re chasing after your passion, you can’t be wrong.

Every single one of us are creative beings and we all express that creativity differently. We need to support each other in our creative journeys - not stifle others out of emotions like jealousy. I’ve realized the artists I admire, simply by living their creative life, inspire me to continue on my own creative endeavors. I hope that by sharing my work and parts of my life, I can pass the torch, and you can do the same as well. Together we can keep the flame burning.

Art and creativity is a universal language that will free us - make art and be creative in a way that is fit to you, support art, support other artists, lift each other up.

Thank you for your support during these past 10 years (some of you much longer then that). I’m excited and very much looking forward to the next 10 years.

Love,

Katie Slaughter

P.S. - Good things take time.