Meet Mac Pike

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Mac Pike. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Mac below.

Mac, so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.

I keep my creativity alive through my self care practice. Self care for me these days looks like going to therapy, scheduling painting and drawing time, saying no to things that don’t bring me joy, going for swims, and carving out quality time to spend time in nature with my husband and daughter. Through my personal work I have been able to get really clear on the things that bring me joy and center my art around it.

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?

I am a tattoo artist! I have been tattooing for three years and I love it so much. I love getting to share my artwork with others and mark the body in such a beautiful way. I see tattooing as an energetic exchange and feel so honored that I get to adorn skin with my designs. I am a flash only artist, meaning I draw my designs ahead of time and have clients pick from them.

I create tattoo designs based of the things that bring me joy and some of the common themes you will find in my artwork are magical creatures, stars and moons, nature, bugs, and houses. Although my style has slightly changed over the years I would say my art has always had irregular shapes, intricate patterns, pops of red, and bold lines.

I am currently working on expanding my gallery work, it is my goal to have art on bodies and art hanging up in homes and other cozy spaces all over the world 🙂

My next art show is at Nancy P’s Bakery here in Bend, Or. Starting January 1rst. I will have a whole collection of small and big paintings to pick from!

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

1- Make stuff that YOU like, even if others don’t get it.
2- Let art become what it wants to be, not what you think it should be.
3- SLOW down and simply enjoy your art. It is supposed to be fun to you.
4-Stay in connection to the things that give you the energy you desire.

Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?

The Creative Act by Rick Rubin- taught me to make art that I want to make regardless of what the audience wants.

Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert- follow the things that bring you joy and to make room for curiosity and fear in life.

Rising Strong by Brene Brown- showed me the importance of being authentic and living wholeheartedly.

Find Your Creative Voice- Lisa Congdon- broke down some creative blocks helped me feel jazzed on my style.

Midnight Library by Matt Haig- gave me hope in a hard season of life and reminded me that it’s better to disappoint others than to disappoint yourself.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @macthefruitbat