Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Madden.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Emily. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Tattooing has always been an enticing practice to me (I will be first to admit that LA Ink grabbed my preteen attention and sparked my interest). It just took me a minute to realize that this was the craft that would fill the void in my life, both professionally and personally. I went the typical millennial route of going to college (shout out to the University of Kansas), got my BFA in History of Art, a passion which is a close second to tattooing. However, after years of studying, I had an early quarter-life crisis that opened my eyes to how important creating was to me. I no longer wanted to shelve that ‘impossible and improbable’ career idea that was tattooing. At this time, I was still living in Kansas and had weaseled my way into being offered an apprenticeship in tattooing in Lawrence; however, it would have locked me down in living there another five years of so. After an excessive number of pros and cons lists and calls to my mother, I figured it better to cut ties to my home state and move to Atlanta with my partner. I was fortunate enough to have found a person willing to teach me this craft in this city and I am grateful every day for that sacrifice they made and also in myself for taking the high-risk/high-reward gamble to carving out a future in this city.
Has it been a smooth road?
Like anything in life, tattooing has been full of ups and downs. Both the highs and the lows have led to where I am at, for which I take merit in. During my apprenticeship, I worked up to three jobs to provide for myself and my fur babies. Though it was difficult, I still view the work of learning this craft the most challenging. Besides learning the technical side of tattooing, a majority of it comes down to mentality. Confidence is of the up-most importance, and that has always been a trait I have struggled with. However, through this journey, I feel I have made large strides and that in turn has lifted my skill set in this craft. I have no doubt, though, that this will be a challenge I combat for my entire career and I am content with that.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
My soul job is tattooing, which is just mind-boggling! I love this craft and I adore where I get to practice it, Big Cat Tattoo. I am so proud of how this shop has evolved and I know I have progressed positively because of it. I love tattooing lady heads and pin-ups and at this shop, I am encouraged to draw them until my heart bursts. Because of this strong support, there has been a dramatic change in style and quality of the lady heads I’ve painted and tattooed in the last year and a half, from ability to execute skin tone to laying doing proper springing curls in hair,
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I think Atlanta has been an amazing place to plant my career seed. I’ve met people from all walks of life and every person I have tattooed has inspired a new bit of creativity I had lacked before. I find the most rewarding tattoos I have created are the ones where the client and I are working in tandem. I am grateful to live in a city as large and diverse as Atlanta.
Contact Info:
- Address: 3277 Roswell Rd NE
Suite F
Atlanta, GA - Website: www.bigcattattoo.com
- Phone: 404=228-2800
- Email: ylime.tattoos@gmail.com
- Instagram: ylime_tattoos
Image Credit:
Head Shot provided by:
Daniel Moore Studios
insta: danielmoorestudios
website: danielmoorestudios.com
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