Meet Kate Perets

We recently connected with Kate Perets and have shared our conversation below.

Kate, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.

I didn’t. And honestly? I don’t want to.

The moment an artist thinks they’re good enough — they’re done. That’s not an artist anymore, that’s a confident mid-level performer coasting on comfort.

Doubt isn’t the enemy — it’s the engine.
It’s what keeps your eyes lit, your hands shaking with purpose, your soul restless.
If you don’t question yourself, you stop chasing the edge. And once you stop chasing, you’re no longer evolving — you’re just repeating.

Imposter syndrome doesn’t mean you’re failing — it means you still care. It means you still have skin in the game. I don’t overcome it. I walk with it.
Because only pressure makes diamonds. And I’m not here to be soft.

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?

I’m a tattoo artist with a rebellious spirit and a deep love for storytelling through ink. My style is a mix of street aesthetics, graffiti, bold color, and nostalgic pop-art references — designed to stop people in their tracks. I focus on more than just technique; I aim to create work that feels alive, personal, and unafraid.

What makes my work special is that it doesn’t try to “fit in.” It stands out — it plays with irony, challenges the norm, and still remains rooted in craftsmanship. I want my clients to walk away with something unforgettable — a piece of wearable art that reflects their voice and mine combined.

Aside from tattooing, I’m also designing merchandise, painting for gallery shows, and judging at tattoo conventions internationally. I just launched a limited run of collectible art skateboards and sticker-style apparel that blends tattoo culture with streetwear.

There’s more coming — and I don’t plan on slowing down.

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?

⸻

1. The ability to be yourself even when it’s inconvenient.
If you want to stand out — forget about fitting in. Mimicking others gives you safety, not power. Style isn’t a set of techniques, it’s a decision about who you are.

2. Self-discipline.
Talent is overrated. Consistency and repetition — that’s what turns average skill into mastery. Work every day. Even when you don’t feel like it. Especially then.

3. The ability to learn from others without copying them.
I constantly study other people’s art — not to copy it, but to dissect how it’s made. Great work isn’t magic. It’s a series of decisions. Learn to see those decisions — and then make your own.

Advice?
Be ready for it to be hard. But if you don’t quit — you’ll grow.

Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?

Honestly, the most important person in this process was myself. Not in some romantic “believe in yourself” kind of way, but in the sense that no one else stayed when things got really hard. No one saved me. No one offered a magic solution. It was sleepless nights, relocations, debt, loneliness, rejection after rejection — and the only constant was me.

I learned to be my own support system, my own critic, my own strength and source of growth. Sometimes help came in the form of examples — other people’s success that pushed me forward. Sometimes it came as betrayal, which only made me stronger. But all of that was just tools. I was the builder.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @kateperets_tattoo

Image Credits

All images created by the artist (Kate Perets)