We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Eleanor Aiken a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Eleanor, thank you for joining us today and sharing your experiences and acquired wisdom with us. Burnout is a huge topic these days and so we’d love to kick things off by discussing your thoughts on overcoming or avoiding burnout
Being an art student at the Savannah College of Art and Design is both challenging and exhilarating. Juggling assignments, social life, and my work as a tattoo artist often leaves me struggling to find a free moment to breathe, let alone fully enjoy the world around me. As someone who thrives on both human connection and aesthetic beauty, I need time to soak in the little details of life—whether it’s the way light filters through the trees or the energy of a bustling street. Without that, my art starts to feel disconnected from myself and my emotions.
To avoid burnout, I try to weave beauty into my work environment in ways that keep me inspired and engaged. Music plays a huge role in this—artists like Charli XCX and Arca fuel my creativity, keeping me energized during long hours of work. Changing my physical space also helps; sometimes, I take my workspace outdoors to places like Forsyth Park, where the scenery makes creating feel less like a task and more like an experience.
More than anything, I rely on my support system—my best friends and roommates. We keep each other grounded, turning stressful deadlines into shared moments of laughter and collaboration. By working on personal projects and school assignments together, we maintain a balance between productivity and joy, making sure we don’t just succeed in our work, but also in the way we experience life.
I find that my in my art, my work is best when my head is in the right place. I do my best to take care of myself, by making sure that sleep and self care are at the top of my list. Even if I’m pushing a deadline and the clock is ticking, I’m always going to take a step back and get some sleep even if it goes against my inner stress voice.
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?
My artistic journey is multifaceted, blending large-scale mixed media work, tattooing, and formal education as I shape my path toward becoming a gallery artist. As a student at the Savannah College of Art and Design, I immerse myself in learning about artistic techniques, history, and the industry itself, building the foundation I need to one day exhibit my work in galleries. My large-scale pieces allow me to explore grand, immersive storytelling, pushing the boundaries of medium and expression, while my tattooing keeps me connected to the immediacy of art as a personal, lasting form of self-expression. Tattooing has also sharpened my technical skills and deepened my understanding of how art interacts with the body and identity. Balancing these different aspects of my practice—digital illustration, mixed media, tattooing, and academic study—fuels my creative growth, ensuring that I am constantly evolving as both an artist and a storyteller.
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?
Looking Back
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s to never give up on your art—no matter what. When I first started tattooing, there were people who doubted me, people who didn’t take me seriously, people who thought I was too young to make it in the industry. But I kept going. I pushed through the doubts, put in the work, and proved to myself that I belong. The same goes for my larger-scale work and my journey as a student—there will always be people who think they know what’s best for you, who say your dreams are too big or that you should play it safe. Don’t listen to them. Your vision is yours, and no one else can define your path. Keep creating, keep learning, and surround yourself with people who believe in you. And as for the haters? Let them talk while you build something
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
Collaboration is at the heart of what I do, and I’m always looking for new ways to connect with other creatives. I want to work with small clothing brands to bring my art into wearable pieces, merging illustration and fashion in a way that feels raw and personal. I also love collaborating with other artists who share a vision—whether it’s for large-scale mixed media pieces, experimental projects, or anything that pushes creative boundaries. Tattooing, too, is its own kind of collaboration. Every client brings their own story, and I get to help translate that into something permanent, something that becomes a part of them. Whether it’s on skin, canvas, or fabric, I want my art to be something that people live with, something that carries meaning beyond just an image.
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