Today we’d like to introduce you to Bree Stallworth.
Bree, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I have always been interested in art ever since I was little but I started taking things more seriously once I went off to college. I was in pursuit of my BFA at Georgia State University and during my time there I never really felt like school was for me. I just kept feeling like I was out of place and unsatisfied with what I was getting out of it. Conventional subject matters never really interested me enough and I wanted more.
Fast forward to the tail end of my last year and I had almost had it. I was working at an art store in Buckhead where I met my soon to be a mentor at the first* tattoo shop I would be working at. I took the opportunity as fast as I could and I was ready to do whatever was needed to succeed. Little did I know, my initial apprenticeship would eventually turn into three difficult apprenticeships at three different shops and would set me up for where I am now.
My apprenticeship was probably one of the most complex things I’ve gone through and it really did help mold me into the person I am now. I barely slept, I was working at the shop every day and had a part-time job on top of all of it. I was stressed out but I knew I wanted this. The process itself for me was mentally draining and I saw things I hated about the industry like how easy it is to be tossed into a toxic environment and I dealt with many people who wanted nothing more but for me to fail. However I put in so much work and time, I was more determined than ever to make sure I was going to make it. I decided I needed to move on and learn what I needed to learn and get out. It wasn’t until my most recent shop (Karmic Tattoo) where I really felt like I found my sanctuary. It took a lot of convincing to myself that I deserved to be somewhere where I can be happy and be free to create. It was without a doubt the scariest and best decision I could have made for myself and my career.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Oh no. It was hard for sure. It took a lot for me to realize that so much hard work goes into this career and to earn respect as a tattooer is harder than it seems. One of my main struggles would be that it’s still very much a male-dominated industry and being a female, you’re sometimes not taken as seriously as you should. I can’t tell you how many times I get second-guessed as a tattooer by people because I’m a woman.
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I’m mainly a blackwork tattooer. I work with just black and I’m mostly known for my stippling and dense line work. I focus predominantly on details that I can create using lines which usually end up with plant and animal subjects. I think what sets me apart from other people is my ability to turn something so simple into something so complex at the same time.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I would have probably jumped into the industry sooner than I did instead of spending time doing what my parents wanted me to do initially. (College) I should have just followed my dreams sooner.
Contact Info:
- Address: 589 Jonesboro road McDonough, GA
- Email: appointmentwithbree@gmail.com
- Instagram: @breestallworthtattoo
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