Kate
More About Kate Cook
My infatuation with body art started when I got my first tattoo. Already an aspiring artist, I became instantly fascinated with the art form. I remember thinking ” that is the coolest thing I have ever seen.” I did try my hand at a “normal” college education in art for a bit, but quickly became disenchanted with the process. I have always been a free spirit and the red tape of a formal education was very off-putting for me at that point in my life. (i.e…I was young and stupid!) I felt stifled and confined by the environment I was in. I learned a lot 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, laying those initial building blocks for my career. From this experience I moved around a bit, working in different shops, trying to learn everything and anything I could. Those first years of my career were challenging as I struggled; not only to find myself as an artist, but as an individual as well. Despite those challenges, my love for this art form continued to grow…and still does to this day. I fall in love with it all over again every single day. Although I had the advantage of an apprenticeship and I am forever grateful for that, I know now that I did not walk away from that experience with all of the tools I needed to excel in my craft. Luckily, I have a constant desire to learn new things and to improve myself and my abilities. I have used magazines, books, and advice from any and every artist I could talk to. I still use these things today to help me learn and continue to improve my skill level. I feel that the day I stop learning is the day I should retire.