Today we’d like to introduce you to Brooklyn Kuhl.
Hi Brooklyn, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Growing up, I would watch my mom draw & paint. She’s an amazing artist and she taught me so much over the years so it made me interested in doing something creative for a career. Despite my mom’s talent, she struggled a great deal, which motivated me to achieve financial success as an artist.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Of course not, but that’s part of what makes it all the more rewarding. When you’re an apprentice, one of the main things you have to do is draw all day, every day in order to progress. I know that sounds like a dream for an artist, but at times it began to feel more like a chore rather than my hobby. Plus, you don’t make any money in the beginning, you actually lose money due to having to buy equipment, all while still having your normal financial responsibilities. Occasionally, my mental health would get the best of me, and I would become unmotivated or I would just be too hard on myself. I compared myself to other artists, but then I’d have to remind myself how everyone learns at different paces so you can’t judge yourself based on others. During my apprenticeship, I intended to get signed off by my personal time goal, but I felt as if I kept getting held up by various circumstances. We had to shut the studio down for about a month due to the pandemic. Then a little while after we opened back up, my fiancé & I found out I was pregnant. I kept working up until I got COVID and had to quarantine for 2 weeks. I was sick for a month straight but went back to work after I tested negative. I eventually got better but still had to get tests done regularly to ensure the safety of my baby since I got COVID while I was pregnant. I worked up until the day I gave birth to my daughter. I then went on maternity leave for almost 3 months. It was difficult for me to return to work because of my fear of leaving my baby, but I wanted to complete my apprenticeship. Due to my new part-time schedule, I didn’t have as much time to tattoo as I previously had but I still wanted to do as much as I could to show my progression. I eventually got passed off as an artist and I’m so thankful to have Alex Teeples as my mentor.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a Tattoo Artist at Bright Future Tattoos. I’m still learning new techniques every day but I prefer black & grey. I enjoy building a relationship with my clients by working with them to help create custom pieces. I love what I do for a lot of reasons. Giving people something permanent they can look at and smile at is just one of the many. I’ve had clients become so emotional. Whether it’s a memorial piece, a motivational tattoo, a meaningful tattoo, or just something they thought was cool. I get to help people with insecurities feel more comfortable about their bodies. Being able to change the way people view themselves is such an amazing process and I’m happy to be a part of it.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
I learned how much art matters. During the pandemic, it seems that everything but art got shut down. It was the only constant when people had nothing else to turn to and nowhere to go. The movies & shows that you binge-watched, the book that you read, the video games you played, and the countless YouTube videos you got lost in – it’s all art. Artists of all types saved the day when it really mattered.
I also realized how important it is to take breaks. It’s good to find that balance between your personal life and work life so you can recharge your battery and enjoy life. We’re supposed to work to live, not live to work.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: www.Instagram.com/bkuhltattoos
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/bkuhltattoos
Image Credits
Terrah Jade Photo (Personal photo)
