We were lucky to catch up with Sarah Swank recently and have shared our conversation below.
Sarah, thank you so much for making time for us. We’ve always admired your ability to take risks and so maybe we can kick things off with a discussion around how you developed your ability to take and bear risk?
My ability to take risk really just comes down to my current life state. As in, I don’t have many liabilities at the moment so Im able to take bigger and more risks.
Examples: I don’t have kids, my only pets are snakes, I’m young etc
I have some friends who have children who still take some risks but of course they put their family first which results in being different “risks” compared to my “risks”
And that’s totally okay!!
Most risks always seem tough and scary at first but afterwards are so rewarding and now seem so simple.
It’s the same way I feel with art.. you go through a process of being so frustrated, wanting to restart or quit. Yet, you have a vision, you have a feeling, and once you continue to push and move forward you can see the finish line.
Once there, you feel completed and rewarded with a new piece of art that you’ve never done before.
You want to enjoy the process to appreciate the result but as for most, we forget how “hard” the process was. That final result is why you’ll do it again.
As for my growth and my Journey, risks are needed and have definitely brought me closer to my goals and life experiences. I have a ways to go but without the risks I wouldn’t be here. I never imagined my life to even be here. And for that, I will continue to take risks.
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?
Since I was very young I knew I loved art. I wanted to pursue a career where I was my own boss and an Artist. I didn’t want to work a simple 9-5 under anyone.
My Senior year of high school I got into a Tattoo Apprenticeship.
I went to school, worked a full time job along side my apprenticeship of 40 hours a week.
Once I graduated high-school I went full time into my apprenticeship and part time with my job.
After a year and a half I completed my apprenticeship where I shortly after paid for a second apprenticeship under a higher caliber tattooer and business owner seeking mentorship.
I then left and opened up my own studio as I needed to be alone for awhile. I had my own studio for a year and then went to work at a shop with more Artists to continue learning.
After working a that shop I left again to open up my own studio to further pursue my career and fully expand my business as I needed more space and more professionalism.
Which throughout my 4 years of experience in this industry I was continuously taking art classes and seeking education for my craft.
I’ve taught some art classes. My most recent was a charcoal class this last February for “Fit too Recover”
Due to the knowledge I’ve gained from my experience with many styles of tattoo businesses.
I truly feel that my Partner and I have formulated a business model that is unique and designed to create value not only for our team and clients but the entirety of the whole tattoo industry and artist community alike.
My focus and intention for expanding my business in my new space is to always carry professionalism, comfortability and a safe space. To change the “tattoo shop stereotype”.
To attract those with high passion for art. To come together as a community and create together.
My team and I’s goal is to facilitate actual medical grade educational tools to local business owners that are lucky to have received aesthetician level training.
The space will hold art nights once a month for those in the community who would like to come together, create art, and get to know one another.
The space will also hold seminars and other artistic events.
The street that we are located on also shuts down once a year, soon to be twice a year for a citywide “tattoo convention like event” where artist’s compete for cash prizes and sponsorship deals. My teams goal is to host the best artists from all over the world to partake.
Up until getting the space my biggest accomplishment was making it through my apprenticeships and storming my way into the tattoo industry, head on as a young female artist.
I’d say now, my biggest accomplishment is getting this massive building and renovating it by hand. Flipping the old outdated church, prior antique Emporium, (prior lead processing plant?)
Into the beautiful tattoo shop/media center/hub for the community, and medical grade education that it is now.
I feel extremely accomplished even making it to this level. Its more then I thought I was capable of achieving. It’s the most I have ever valued my skills, community, mental and physical body.
Its been 100 hour work weeks, sleepless nights, blood, sweat, tears and every other bodily fluid.
None the less, I’m so proud of my self. This is my biggest accomplishment and I hope it brings as much value to everyone else as it has for myself.
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?
Seeking and accepting CRITICISM/CRITIQUES Hard discipline
Motive/Reason Why ( PURPOSE)
–Theres a difference of someone being rude and someone giving you a critique. Despite if it’s even “rude”. Take it and run with it. As the positive and negative comments will help you grow. Sometimes feelings have to be hurt to learn. Sometimes what you felt or thought was “rude” originally wasn’t intended to be so and came from someone who cares.
Accept that not everyone is going to have the same response and that it doesn’t matter. Because in the end if you aspire to be great then you must accept it all.
–Hard discipline can be any routine you want. As for myself, just getting one piece of art started/finished a day is what I would call a Great and accomplished Day.
It’s different for everyone. Having Discipline will push you towards a direction which is better than staying stagnant.
Example :
What is your dream/goal?
What will it take for you to get there?
Create a list of steps and then create another list breaking down the original steps so now instead of having 5 steps you have 10.
Accomplish one step a day and now it’ll take you 10 days to get it done.
Another example could be:
As soon as I wake up I’ll stay off my phone.
Do a self care routine.
Breakfast.
Sketch 5 designs.
Go on my phone
Go to work
The idea is you do something that you want to do first. Something you dont want to do after. Repeat
—Having a motive/reason why is how you’ll continue to push through hard times of artist block, burnout and so forth.
-Example:
I don’t feel like drawing and instead want to take a nap
Motive; I want to be a better Artist
Reason why: self expression, therapy, practice skills, mental clarity, etc
-Example:
I don’t feel like going to the gym and instead going home
Motive: I love going to the gym because of how it makes me feel physically/mentally
Reason why: Healthy lifestyle, therapy, working out is always positive, great way to relieve stress, great way to stimulate your mind etc
We’ve all got limited resources, time, energy, focus etc – so if you had to choose between going all in on your strengths or working on areas where you aren’t as strong, what would you choose?
I believe that we all have our own natural gifts. Whatever your gift is, OWN it and take ADVANTAGE of it. Yes, work on and improve what your least strongest “gifts” are BUT if you strengthen what you currently have and are already naturally good at then you will rise and become unstoppable.
Everyone is different and not everyone is going to have the same gift(s) so why not become your truest and unique self?
BE DIFFERENT. BE YOU.
Contact Info:
- Website: Nomadicink.art
- Instagram: Swankytattoos
- Facebook: Swanky Tattoos
Image Credits
Personal Photo ; Jack Berry Instagram; Bdgtl
