We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Taylor Carter a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Taylor, you’ve got such an interesting story, but before we jump into that, let’s first talk about a topic near and dear to us – generosity. We think success, happiness and wellbeing depends on authentic generosity and empathy and so we’d love to hear about how you become such a generous person – where do you think your generosity comes from?
I believe that kindness makes everything better. As an artist providing a service, I have the privilege of creating an experience for my clients, and I strive to always do so with warmth and generosity as a top priority. I think this generosity comes from a desire to spread good energy and create a positive impact with everyone I meet. There is so much trust and vulnerability that comes with getting a tattoo, and I try to meet that with the respect it deserves. I have a unique opportunity to connect with many like-minded people on an intimate level. From the first time I communicate with a client until the tattoo is complete, I try to cultivate a space that is welcoming, safe, and loving. If I can bring just a small portion of light into someone’s day, that is my goal!
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I am a tattoo artist, mother, and lover of the earth. My artistic style is delicate and whimsical and I love to tattoo botanical and astrological imagery. Tattooing is so special to me because I get to share my love of art with others in such a unique way. People get tattooed for all kinds of reasons, but being the facilitator for the art to come to life and live on the skin forever is such an amazing thing that I get to call my job!
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?
The three qualities that were most impactful on my journey to becoming a tattoo artist are humility, empathy, and a genuine love of creating art. The latter is what probably drives anyone to pursue a career in art and is what will keep you going, but the other two I feel are essential to tattooing and working with others. I believe that while I am the artist who is responsible for the end product, tattooing is a two-way street and involves trust and active listening on both ends. Getting tattooed can be an incredibly healing experience – this is where empathy and humility go hand in hand. It is my responsibility to only accept projects that I feel I would be a good fit for, and create an open dialogue with my client throughout this process. My advice for folks who want to start their tattooing journey is to always keep searching for ways to expand on these qualities. Try different styles, different needles, different techniques. Learn from your clients and be open to the emotional intelligence they will help you develop. Learn from other tattoo artists and ask them questions! There is always something new to learn, even when you develop your own style and niche.
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
My parents told me from a young age that I could be what I wanted to be, and they meant it. I was actually quite shocked when I applied to art school and I heard other people tell me they weren’t allowed to study art because it was “impractical”. I’m glad that I was blissfully ignorant to those stereotypes and I was encouraged to do something I was passionate about. While my parents aren’t huge fans of tattoos, they supported me nonetheless when I started this journey. Their personal opinions have never gotten in the way of my passions and I appreciate them so much for that!
Contact Info:
- Website: taylorcartercreates.com
- Instagram: tayyy_carter
Image Credits
Claire Keathley
