Today we’d like to introduce you to Dominique Pue-Swann
Hi Dominique, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I have always been an artist since I can remember. When I was about 5 I used to draw pictures of cartoons and animals, and sell them to my family at gatherings. I got a little older and I began selling jewelry I created, wore clothes I’d cut up and sewn together, and started in performing arts. Anything artsy I did it and I’m still doing. As an adult, culinary, performing and visual arts is where I have focused my attention . As far as tattooing, I chose to make a living from it my first year in college in October of 2016. I’d went to get my first tattoo with my older sister, who is a tattoo fanatic, and she asked the owner if they did apprenticeships because I was a really good drawer. The shop owner asked me to draw something, and said that if I did good I could be an apprentice. I began drawing a rose and before I could finish they told me I could come back the next week. I showed up a few days later and the rest was history.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Tattooing has been a fun journey but I have had to and still am learning everyday. It’s challenging in all the good ways. I have had to learn how to adjust my tattooing techniques depending on people’s skin pigments, the difference in elasticity in the skin when you get older or when covering up an old injury, and just tattooing in different areas of the body. I also learned, early on thankfully, that a clients skin can react completely differently in some areas than previous ones. That’s just some of the technical challenges I had to learn throughout my journey. My other challenge would be marketing myself. I apprenticed in two shops, and the second shop wanted me to be a piercer. I learned the craft but I wanted to tattoo, and I did not want anything to deter me from that. I’d been a mobile artist while apprenticing at under my first mentor and I decided to continue that instead of working for someone else and by their terms. That’s what making a living as an artist is all about right? Expressing yourself and talent on your own terms and allowing your work to support your life style. And while working for yourself can be liberating, being a mobile artist does have some down sides. I can’t take walk-ins, which is a good way to become known and have consistent work & I have not been able to accept all potential client appointments because I have to travel to others. So I had to learn new marketing strategies and most importantly keep faith in myself and my purpose. This helps me to bet on myself all the time. If I get one new client, one more view, inspire just one more person then I’ve done what I’m supposed to do. I’ve used that mindset as my main marketing rule. I’m pleased with where it has gotten me and I’m excited to see where it takes me!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am an artist in culinary, visual, and performing arts. I bake, cook, draw, paint, create pieces of art with everyday tools, design, play instruments, sing, and tattoo. I will always be an artist in these rights and I practice all these forms of art on a daily basis but I have chosen to focus providing services to others through art commissions and tattoos.
I am known for creating abstract and very personalized tattoos and pieces of artwork for people who have multiple ideas for just one piece. All the tattoos I have ever done have been personalized even if someone found it online somewhere; however majority of the designs were created by me. I have been told before to focus on a specific style I like and master it. While that is good advice, I will admit that I focus more on application techniques than style. I didn’t just want to practice one style of tattooing because I did not want to limit myself when it came to delivering people’s vision, So I practice both style and application , but by focusing on application I have began appealing to a wider audience; an audience I grew by curating people’s visions. People trusting and believing in my ability to bring their ideas to life makes me proud and extremely grateful.
What matters most to you?
When it comes to art, being able to fully express myself and make a living doing what I love is most important. It’s important because it allows me to work in peace and joy, it allows me to work on my own terms, it allows me to teach my children how to be expressive and it allows me to teach them and hopefully others that you really can live a meaningful, fulfilled and successful life by doing what you love. Yes, it takes time, effort, dedication and sometimes sacrificing but so does everything you set out to do in life. I hope I inspire people to stay true to their dreams of what they said they wanted to be when they were 10 years old. I hope I inspire them to bet on themselves. I hope to inspire people to do a little bit more of what brings them joy in their everyday lives. 10 year old me said I wanted to be an “all around artist when I grow up!” That answer stayed the same even if I was told to pick something more practical. People who asked me didn’t know what that entailed; if I’m being honest I am unsure if I knew what all that would entail. But at 27 years old, I can say I tried all the practical jobs. I have had long lasting management and corporate careers and my art has always paid the bills first and allowed me to provide for myself and my family the way I needed to. I was able to accomplish this as a multidisciplinary artist or as 10 year old me said “an all around artist.” Whether it’s art or some other talent I want to show people that it is possible to accomplish their dreams and help them reach those goals.
Pricing:
- $100/hr for tattoos
- $100 non refundable tattoo deposit
- $5 2024 Tattoo Guide and Planner
- $24 2025 Tattoo Guide and Planner
Contact Info:
- Website: https://TattsByNique.books.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tattsbynique/profilecard/?igsh=azQ5ZTJjdmp6dXN3
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DominiquePue
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@nique_simone?si=4cehN1lJQxE78dID
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@tattsbynique?_t=8rZVDpEVm0c&_r=1
Image Credits
Photographer @mycontentcomplex on instagram for runway photo
