Today we’d like to introduce you to Katrina Genge
Hi Katrina, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Since I was a young teenager I had always been interested in pursuing a career in body art. My mother wasn’t too fond of the idea but she also knew I wanted to be an artist to some effect and urged me to keep making art. My career began about 10 years ago in a small town up in the Manistee Forest area. I was fortunate enough to have a best friend who tattooed. We had just traded services (I painted him a custom picture in exchange for a tattoo) and he asked me “Katrina, why don’t you want to tattoo?” I immediately said “Of course I want to tattoo. That’s always been the goal!” To my surprise he said “Great, your apprenticeship starts monday.”
The truth behind an apprenticeship- especially 10 years ago- ESPECIALLY as a young girl in her early twenties- was less pretty than the idea of it. Women in the industry were still a bit less common, and there was a fight to recieve the same amount of respect that the men in our line of work naturally give one another. My mentor passed away during my first year of tattooing. He had known he was sick, so he actually left the studio and I finished my apprenticeship under another artist who really pushed me towards freehanding my designs which was the direction my career would ultimately take!
I’m a naturally persistent person when I set my mind to a goal, and through a lot of learning on my feet and some amazing people who helped me grow I managed to build an amazing clientele and a desire to constantly grow as an artist, independent contractor, and as a person. I’ve tattooed all over the state of Michigan but after settling down here in Rochester I do feel like I’ve found my work home! I focus primarily on color work- neo traditional designs being my favorite style to work in- and I would say I still freehand about 80% of my work just as my 2nd mentor taught me to do.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has hardly been an easy career to stay in. The industry has slow and busy seasons, so there have been months were I barely broke even, if not taken a loss entirely. In the earlier days of my career I had to contend with a lot of sexism and not allow myself to be treated like the “token girl” in a shop setting. Additionally, the loss of my mentor so early has always been a source of sadness that has followed my career, but I know he would be proud of me if he were around to see what I’ve done with the tools he gave me.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
As an artist I’m proud to create custom designs, usually drawn on the skin to avoid taking too much influence from other sources.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
I am most happy when I’m engrossed in artistic stimuli, petting peoples pets after they tell me “they don’t let anyone pet them” and when I’m spending time with my amazing daughters! I’m a very lucky human.
Pricing:
- $150 minimum
- $175 Hourly rate
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.noetictattooshop.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katitaktattooing/profilecard/?igsh=Y2djdGJvZXg1eDFu
