Today we’d like to introduce you to Sadie Belle Sullivan.
Hi Sadie Belle, 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?
I thought to be a tattoo artist you had to be the best of the best when it came to art, so I had actually dismissed it as a career option. It wasn’t until I saw online that someone I followed got a tattoo apprenticeship. I looked at their artwork and was like, “No way, I can totally do this then!” So I immediately gathered my artwork into a portfolio and went off to a tattoo shop. By the next day I had my first tattoo apprenticeship.
Over the years I ended up having four tattoo apprenticeships, with starts and stops. It was 2016 when I got a message on Instagram from a man that became my mentor, asking me why I wasn’t tattooing. At the time I was just working at a call center. I was working on my art and had some of my old tattoos I had done on my Instagram still. But I met up with him and have been tattooing ever since!
I come from a large artsy family. We all played instruments and we could all draw. My older sister, who I grew up going to school with, drew the animals and I drew people. We would criticize each other’s work often. She became an art history grad/photographer and I became a tattoo artist. My childhood was in California, teen years and some young adult years in Texas, and most of my adult life has been Utah.
I grew up LDS, and actually got sent out here when I was 17 and being rebellious. My parents were not pleased that I wanted to tattoo, but after seeing all of my hard work and the skill that it requires in tattooing, they are now huge supporters and even brag about me and show my work. Sometimes it can even feel embarrassing, but I’ll take that over the alternative any day! Hey, I even got a client from my dad bragging about me in a Lowes.
Now I co-own a shop called Orange Velvet Tattoo with one of my best friends, Sammy Goodwin. It’s 70s vibes, velvet, and the love of motorcycles in a tattoo shop. It’s our home away from home, and we love our little shop. We spent a lot of time creating the murals on the walls. Half the shop has a giant eastern dragon riding a motorcycle with a suicide shifter. We wanted our shop to feel welcoming with good energy, where you want to spend a lot of time. Because let’s be honest. Tattoos take a LOT of time!
Speaking of time, I recently had twins and have much less of it. They are now toddlers running around chasing after my 4 year old. Life is insane and I am absolutely loving it. When I’m not immersed in mom life or tattooing, I like to play piano, ride my motorcycle, or take on DIY projects around the house.
With the new year I’ll be opening my schedule to tattoo more, and have a lot of ideas for Orange Velvet that I’m excited to put into action!
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?
Definitely have had my struggles. I got fired from my first apprenticeship because of drama with my ex-husband and the owner of the tattoo shop. Through that apprenticeship I had found out my ex-husband had cheated on me with the owners ex wife. Surprise!
I’ve been accused of being a spy for other tattoo shops, I’ve dealt with sexual harassment, struggled with work/life balance, and learned to say no a lot more.
Another mentor treated people so terribly the whole shop eventually crumbled. I hate that I learned a lot from that man. Not just about tattooing, but about what you shouldn’t do as a tattooer, or owner, or even as a person. Before it crumbled, I was trying to navigate being a lowly beginner tattooer and feeling like it may be impossible to succeed elsewhere, but then also trying to stand up for myself. Unfortunately the tattoo world is not without drama-whether it’s the people you work with or clients you tattoo. I am not sure I have enough time in the day to talk about the lessons I’ve learned so far from the challenges of tattooing. But overall, lots of skin thickening and learning to stick to your guns.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a black and gray realism tattooer and co-owner of Orange Velvet Tattoo. I specialize in detailed realistic tattoos, from portraits to animals to scenery. I typically do larger scale pieces, with emphasis on the detailed work. I also love doing horror tattoos. But no matter what, if it’s got detail in there, I’ll be stoked to tattoo it. I am proud of our tattoo shop, and the environment we’ve created. I think we stand out because we treat our clients like people. We enjoy what we do! And I think my work stands out because of the details.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up I was very shy, timid and quiet. When I was in Middle School I spent most of my time playing the piano and reading books. I also played sports here and there and I like to say I was the best of the worst on the teams. I’ve always been into art. I’ve always drawn. And I’ve always been into music.
I’m better with smaller groups and one-on-one. In bigger groups, I’ll typically be one of the quieter ones. With that being said, My mom blessed me with some feisty in there too.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Sadiebellemae.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sadiebellemae
- Other: https://Orangevelvettattoo.com
