Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Emily Gregg of Dallas, TX (Deep Ellum)

We recently had the chance to connect with Emily Gregg and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Emily, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
Out of the three options (intelligence, energy, and integrity), integrity is the defining highlighting trait when it comes to determining who a person truly is. Are they willing to do the right thing even when it is difficult? Do they stick to their word? Most importantly-is this person willing to admit to their shortcomings in order to grow into a better person. No one is perfect, but integrity is a quality that stays in my mind as a responsibility I have to myself and the world around me to strive towards.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Emily Gregg (also seen as DollSketches on various social platforms) and I am a Dallas based artist with my main focus being my tattooing career. I love working with various mediums, from ink to oil paint, charcoal, pen, and many in between. My favorite subject matter to capture is beautiful things, such as faces and animals but portrayed in a way that in unnerving, provocative, or mysterious-something that will capture my viewers emotions and stick with them as they go. Currently I am tattooing at Artistic Encounter here in Deep Ellum, specializing in color, realism, and illustrative tattoos. I am also in the beginning stages of launching an online commerce platform to sell various different prints and merch items so be on the lookout (dollhouseart.bigcartel.com)

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Before outside influences had any impact on the person that I am, I was a carefree and imaginative individual. Some may say that I was overly sensitive, with a big heart and even bigger feelings that deeply impacted me and at times led me to be taken advantage of or hurt in ways that could have been avoided. On the inside I am still that person, but as most people learn they must do, I built walls around myself in order to protect me from unnecessary pain. This can be a weakness as well however, and it takes much discernment to decide who is allowed in through these walls and how far they are allowed in.

What did suffering teach you that success never could?
To suffer is a powerful thing-something I’m actually considering getting a tattoo for as a permanent reminder to myself. Many people hear “suffering” and “lamenting” as the same word, meaning wallowing around in your own pity as a form of punishment for one’s wrongdoings. I view “to suffer” the same as “to sacrifice”. I suffer for my art, I suffer in order to implement discipline and improve my own life. Hard work and sacrifice is the way to achieve your goals-not by wallowing around and feeling bad for yourself.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
As an artist, specifically as a tattoo artist, you hear a lot that if you just keep your head down and make your work the best it can be then you will be successful. While this is helpful in terms of avoiding drama, it completely skirts around the truth that to grow in your art and in your career, an artist needs to build connections. You will learn quickly who’s advice is not worth your time. However, critique and new ideas from other artists you admire will help you to improve, and making connections can open up opportunities that would never have been available to you otherwise. Community is everything.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: How do you know when you’re out of your depth?
It’s pretty easy to know when you’re out of your depth as an artist- it’s when you’re uncomfortable and are having trouble creating a clear plan of action in your mind. Luckily if you have a community as previously mentioned, there should be plenty of resources at your disposal to find the answers to the questions you’re searching for. That’s when you learn a new skill and grow! If you are constantly comfortable, you aren’t improving your craft.

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