The InkWell

Kate :: Owner/Main Artist 

My infatuation with body art started when I got my first tattoo, a Celtic wristband. Already an aspiring artist, I became instantly fascinated with the art form.  I remember thinking “ I could do this.”   After I was done with high school, I tried my hand at a “normal” college education in art for a bit, but quickly became disenchanted with the process.  I felt stifled and confined by the environment I was in.  I learned alot in the time I was there, but I craved something more…..

It was at this point that I was lucky enough to find an apprenticeship with a local artist named Zoid.  I spent the next few years, learning from and working with Zoid, creating the foundation I would need to excel in my craft.  From this experience I moved around a bit, working in a few shops,  trying to learn everything and anything I could, exposing myeslf to different artists and different styles.  ( As a side note, I would like to thank the people who allowed me to work on them early on, especially Scotty, Shannon, Jenn, Trapper and Ed…without their support I never would have had the courage to stick with it.  I would also like to send a big THANK YOU to Zoid and Lisa for helping me get my foot in the door.)

Although I had the advantage of an apprenticeship and I am forever grateful for that, I still feel that most of what I have learned, I have learned on my own. I have used magazines, books, and advice from any and every artist I could talk to. I still use these things to help me learn and further “perfect” my craft. I feel that the day I stop learning is the day I should lay my machine down forever. In 2004, I moved to Oak Hill, WV to be closer to my family during a rough time.   Honestly, when I first came here I had no intentions of staying, but as luck would have it, things worked out and I ended up opening my very own shop, The Inkwell, in July of 2005. My decision to open my own shop was primarily based on my experiences at every shop I had ever worked for. They were all money driven, not art based. I always struggled with this, and eventually decided, that in order to have the environment I wanted, I had to create it myself.   I love what I do, the people I come in contact with and the lifestyle in general.  I aspire to always be the best that I possibly can, and to work everyday, not just to create beautiful art, but to help further move the tattoo industry as a whole, into a more positive light. 

I have now been tattooing and piercing for over 10 years, and cannot imagine doing anything else with my life. At times, it is challenging, but it is always worth it. For me, tattooing is not just a job it is a way of life….one I wouldn’t give up for the world.