Another Interview…
10 questions to learn more about me and my transition into art therapy, tattooing and my inspiration for it all.
This original interview was conducted by the team at creating/connection, an online wellness platform for virtual events where led taught Art Therapy Workshops. Unfortunately, they wrapped up their offerings and website in Summer 2021 but have given me the original interview to host here.
Q: Living on Vancouver Island you are surrounded by beautiful oceans, mountains and forests. How and when do you feel the most connected to your natural surroundings?
A: I feel most connected to nature in the spring and fall when things are most colourful. I love taking in all the natural space around me, such as the park near my home and the well-tended green space of my neighborhood in Victoria. As the days get longer, I love to take time in the evenings to stroll around my area and take in all the flowers that are currently in bloom.
Q: Nature seems to be a common theme throughout your tattoo pieces and freelance illustrations. When did you discover this passion for capturing flora and fauna?
A: Botanicals have always come naturally to me when drawing, and have become a source of joy for me to draw. Being surrounded by such a range of natural beauty growing up on the west coast of Canada, the omnipresent natural world has always been a source of wonder and inspiration. As an animal lover from an early age, the same is true for fauna subjects. Much of my inspiration also comes from everyday life, between my pets and the family of deer that share my dwelling’s green space. I also love the innocence of plants and animals. Flora and fauna have thus always been a recurring theme in my work.
Q: What is the best part about being a tattoo artist?
A: I love so much about my job. From an administrative perspective, I love that I get to be my own boss, set my own schedule, and manage my own goals and points of focus. I love that I get to bring creativity to such a big part of my life because being creative is when I feel the most fulfilled. I really enjoy having a variety of project types, from doing custom design by collaborating with clients to bring their tattoo dreams to life, to having clients choose from pre-designed options (called “flash”) that I feel honored to have chosen to be immortalized on someone’s skin. I never considered being a tattoo artist as I grew up; I believed that it would be “too hard” to make a living from being an artist, and so I consider my becoming a tattooist to be a sort of unknown dream; it is something I never anticipated that I would do, but am so grateful that I fell into. I also could not have anticipated the experience of feeling like I’ve made a positive impact on the wearer of my art; it’s really amazing to see someone reclaiming their body with this artform.
Q: Art therapy is one avenue that people can explore during their wellness journey. When did you realize that your creative talents could be partnered with your education?
A: Originally, I wanted to do a double major in Psychology and Fine Arts, and eventually find a path that would marry these two facets. However, as I worked through the first few years of university I discovered that I really did not resonate with all that art school entailed. Eventually, I came to a natural balance of my two passions over the years by incorporating art into my other areas of life outside of school, such as through volunteering as an illustrator, and in my senior year, developing the beginning of my tattoo practice. I focused my upper-level years on mental health-related psychology and the development of counseling skills with the eventual goal of attending a graduate program where I could become an accredited art therapist. Over the years I came to realize that art and being creative have always been things that I’ve found to be therapeutic, and thus it makes sense to unite my two strongest passions into therapeutic art-making. With the invitation to join the Creating Connection team, I realized that this platform could be one way that I could manifest that original desire to have my two passions come together outside of academia, which has been really amazing due to the barriers that the pandemic has creating in regards to pursuing a masters at this current time.
Q: What would you say to someone who is apprehensive to join art therapy because they lack artistic skills?
A: I think that maybe the most important thing I could share if someone was feeling discouraged from trying art therapy due to a perceived lack of artistic skill would be that making art is not the sole goal of the therapeutic practice. Instead, the focus should be more on the process, and using creativity in a therapeutic way means focusing on how the process can bring positivity to the art maker’s life. This can manifest itself in many ways, such as it can simply being that it feels good to draw or be a relaxing exercise. It can help the maker explore turbulent or confusing feelings, or understand their thoughts and perspectives. I like to use art as a therapeutic tool that is similar to journaling, only with pictures, marks, colours, and shapes instead of letters and words. It is not about the product, but the process.
Q: How do you maintain your mental wellness and make it a priority?
A: Taking care of your mental health is just as important as looking after your physical health, so just like I try to get enough sleep, eat a well-rounded diet, and generally take care of my body, I try to strive for a lifestyle that does the same for my mind and brain. For me, this looks like practicing healthy boundaries, prioritizing healthy relationships, and knowing when to rest and take a break. This can be hard sometimes, such as when life gets busy, or you live through a global pandemic, for example. I am still learning my limits when it comes to having balance in life because I know how awful burnout can feel. It is always a work in process.
Q: As a professional artist you have designed stickers, prints, and even apparel for a non-profit animal adoption organization, called Rabbitats Rescue Society. How did you get artistically connected and why are you so passionate about helping abandoned and feral rabbits?
A: I became connected to Rabbitats when I applied to be a general volunteer, and realized that they were in need of a volunteer designer. I felt that this would be such a good fit for me, especially with being on the island and thus not being physically close to their sanctuaries to do in-person volunteer work. I previously volunteered with unhoused animals as a youth at my local SPCA, and adopted my first rabbit when I was starting university. To me, rabbits are so sweet and comforting, and I wish more people were educated on what loving pets they can be, and how domestic breeds are unsuited to being unhoused or abandoned.
Q: Not only do you advocate for Rabbitats Rescue Society, but you also have two rabbit friends! What are their names? Where did you get them?
A: My bunnies are from Rabbitats! They are lion-head rabbits, and they came to me named Picasso and Warhol. As an artist myself, the names felt like such a good fit. Like art, my bunnies bring me a sense of calm and contentment. A big part of my job and extracurricular involvements are done from home, and their large personalities make me feel like I always have someone around me.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world with your art supplies where would you go?
A: I am such a fan of Europe; I have been there a few times and I’m itching for the day when I can buy a plane ticket and start planning out my next adventure. I love the diversity of cultures that are so accessible due to being in such close proximity to each other. I love art and natural history museums, and I particularly love museums that have benches I can spend hours at, drawing and learning from the items on display. I also love the architecture of many European cities, my favorites being Amsterdam for its gable-topped row houses along the canals. I just love being surrounded by history and beauty. My primary artistic tools are my tablet and digital pencil, which make art-making possible virtually anywhere.
Q: Where/how do you find inspiration when you’re feeling uncreative?
A: Firstly, I allow myself to take a step back and take a break. Lack of inspiration or motivation can be challenging, but I find the best first step is to take a step back before I get too frustrated with myself or my art. As I am required by my job to be drawing and creating nearly every day, I have had to come up with a way to not let artists’ block overpower me as there are deadlines I need to make when doing tattoo design work. I like to take walks, practice mindfulness in the form of intentional breathing, and journal out my thoughts and feelings when I find myself feeling “stuck”. Sometimes I do have to force myself through it when necessary, such as when meeting those deadlines. Like everything, practice and repetition help us get stronger, so I try to lean into the ways that I find work for me to regain that inspiration. I also try to set aside time to do creative things just for me, outside of work. This helps me stay grounded and focused on why I chose this path: because it is what I love to do, and not everything has to be about creating quality work.