We recently connected with Xana Hammonds and have shared our conversation below.
Xana, so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
I think a little dose of doubt keeps one from being too egomaniacal, but in most art especially tattoos there is a noticeable difference in a piece done with confidence versus one done with anxiety. Some of that is your energy when you talk about the piece too, if you don’t show happiness and confidence about your work who can?
The long road is to practice, practice, practice but while earning experience you’ve gotta find your confidence somewhere. I really try to develop trust in myself so if I stand in the mirror and say nice things about myself I’m able to believe them over the other side of my brain that thinks I’m a fake. Replace negative words with more reasonable ones. Instead of thinking ” I’m not a real artist.” I try to reframe and say out loud to myself “I’m so excited to keep learning new skills and bettering my art,”. This is something that has to come from within but I find letting yourself feel a little silly and talking to yourself positively and regularly goes a long way.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
Running my small business, The Artists’ Grove is where most of my focus has been this year. As it’s starting to function a little on its own I’ve been able to return more energy to my tattooing and art skills. I’ve been tattooing for three years and finding out what style of art brings me the most joy. As much passion as I have for meeting lovely people and giving them permanent art, I’ve found my business has given me a lot more ability to be part of the community in a bigger way. I have more ability to run fundraisers, support other local businesses and artists, plus host free or affordable events for the community to come together at. This is what’s been sparking my joy and I hope the business will grow so I can keep expanding what I can do for and with my community in Denton!
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
There’s a careful balance between having stamina (some might say stubbornness) and self awareness. My ability to decide I want something, make a flexible plan that can handle if things go wrong, and commit to seeing it through has gotten me through a lot of goals. It’s my ability to discern when I’ve grown out of a goal, not just when I’m tired because something is hard that keeps me from leading a life that isn’t true to me as I grow and change. I completed a lot of big milestones on my way to my medical school and doctor goals, but when I found tattooing I wasn’t afraid to basically start over and I’m really grateful to past me for that now. Maybe I’d say courage is a third skill. Not one I always possess but when I do have the will to push myself into something that scares me, something unknown and intimidating, I’ve usually come back with a lot learned. It’s really the trying the scary thing that’s necessary. You don’t have to always succeed to get a lot from the experience and you can’t always just will yourself into success, but we all have the power to do a thing if all that’s stopping us is doubt or fear.
I think for tattooing specifically you’ve got to have all of these. Most apprenticeships are set up to take so much work because being a self-employed artist takes a lot of work. Stamina is needed to keep pushing not just through an apprenticeship but as you get into the actual career and continue to work long days bettering your art, tattoo skill, and gaining clientele. Self-awareness is necessary to both not waste your time if you get in and find it takes too much work to be worth the passion, but also to keep growing and improving. You’re eventually the main person holding you accountable. Finally we never learn if we’re too afraid to jump into the unknown from time to time.
What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?
Not shying away from confrontation and boundary setting. Running a business means I’ve had to be better at being firm while remaining calm. If I let expectations of myself or anyone in the shop slip the whole place can easily fail with how new it is.
If I put something in the handbook like expectations for timeliness or booth rent I still have to do the awkward job of enforcing that. I don’t find being “bossy” terribly fun but I’ve really seen the importance of placing good expectations and making sure everyone follows through with them this year.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.theartistsgrove.studio/tattoo-studio
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xanadoos.tattoos?igsh=amowMDN5MnZlYXhj
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