Meet Raquel Gast

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Raquel Gast a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Raquel, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?
I definitely grew up with a “no bullshit” father who also happens to be a literal genius! He messes around with math equations all day and literally works for fun in a big factory using algorithms and lasers to make tools as well as his own personal art. He always taught me that if you don’t have something then go get it, because no one (including him) is going to just hand it to me. If you want nice things, get to work. If you want to go on a vacation, get to work. Having someone that tells it like it is was really a huge help growing up when it was time to start looking for jobs and continues to be as I work for myself. Now that I’m older, it’s not even a second thought to put my all into things because this is how I was raised!

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
My name is Raquel Gast and I am a Cosmetic Tattoo Artist and Tooth Gem Technician at Dharma Tattoo Collective in Ferndale, MI specializing in realistic eyebrow and freckle tattoos! I started this work over 4 years ago but am always growing as the years pass to offer more services to become more inclusive and cutting-edge. In my world, every single client I meet is different, so I need to be able to offer services that are unique to every customer. A teenager might come in looking to deck out their teeth in gold and the next minute an adorable old woman will come in just wanting her eyebrows back! I love the diverse array of people I have the pleasure of meeting every day. It makes every day new and fresh, and I’ve definitely grown accustomed to that! In between clients I am always crafting up new and exciting things to provide. Including this past Halloween when we provided Custom Gemmed Fangs and Gem Adorned Skulls. In the future we are focusing on hyperrealism brows to really bring these natural-looking enhancements to the next level. As they say, these are face tattoos your mother will enjoy!

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
When I first started in this industry, I think like anyone, I was very confident yet very scared. I think you really have to be confident in yourself to grow as an artist, to show the world your art and that you’re proud of it, no matter the public opinion. A big thing that has helped my journey is having a solid support system. Having people behind you pushing you to do your best is truly the best thing you can ask for and I am so privileged to have that in my life. A tip for anyone just starting out is (as cliché as it is) to just be yourself. You don’t need to be a mega girlboss queen making 100k a week to be a good business owner. Do what feels right for you. Make jokes, laugh at yourself, be humble, be kind, and clients will recognize and appreciate that. Good marketing is also so important. Make all the social media, it will grow. Add yourself on Google and Yelp, it will attract clients. Then all you have to focus on (besides a million other things) is really perfecting your craft! Which seems endless but that’s the fun. Keep growing and learning and opening up space for others to do the same!

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
So far, this has for the most part been a one man show! Obviously working out of a collective shop with other talented and unique artists has helped me in more way than one. I get a lot of questions about teaching. I’m always boasting about how grateful and appreciative I am to everyone I meet through my work and others must seem to be attracted to that and want the same for themselves, which I can hardly blame them for. But because I am still growing and still reaching my own personal goals, it is just not in the cards to bring anyone under my wing at this time. BUT I am always here to answer questions with zero gatekeeping to help any new artists out there. I am also a traveler! I take yearly trips to Traverse City up at Front Street Tattoo to expand my client-base while also working alongside more talented and great business folk. So I always love guesting at new shops and seeing all the work that is put in across the country. I also have recently attended my first of many pop-ups! So with that in mind, if anyone has a party, vendor pop-up or get together they would like a tooth gem tech to be apart of, just reach out! And I’ll do the same. Trades with other artists are always encouraged, especially in today’s economic climate. Trading services and art is one of my favorite things to do to uplift and share work in the community. So to anyone reading, please feel free to reach out if any of the above interests you!

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Moriah Rayne

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