Today we’d like to introduce you to Ellen Goodrich.
Ellen, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I have more or less been an artist all my life, dedicating myself to different mediums at different times depending on what I needed at the time. My art training is rather informal, aside from a few courses along the way, I mostly learned from peers or just figuring it out on my own through a lot of trial and error.
My love for drawing would sometimes take a backseat to my love of writing. I used to write short stories about vampires and shapeshifters and the like and I would sell them out of my desk in elementary school. I also was peddling drawings of creatures that I created, ranging from cute and romantic to creepy and absurd, which still resonates with me stylistically. These days I still sell my drawings but in a different format. I started working at Old Souls Tattoo Parlour in the Crossroads in 2013 and am gladly still there today. I am able to express myself creatively and grow as an artist alongside my incredibly talented peers who inspire me to no end. As a result of this environment, I have been able to develop my style in a way that is organic and true to myself and my vision, and I feel so fortunate to have clients who give me the freedom and trust to create the work that I do. I have not changed much since I was selling drawings out of my desk as a child, other than a well-deserved rate increase and a lot of practice along the way.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There were definitely struggles along the way, and I believe those to be an integral part of my experience. It took me years of unlearning bad habits I had picked up as a mostly self-taught artist. It took years of being patient and absorbing as much information as I could, but also a lot of pushing for my own cause. I heard ‘no’ a lot, it seemed like everywhere I turned was rejection, but even when it got me down I still stayed on the path and knew that eventually, I would get to where I wanted to be. Even now that I am doing what I always dreamed of doing in the best place I can imagine, I still want to continue to push forward and grow to be the best artist I can be. I believe that struggle should never end.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a tattoo artist, which is the simple answer, but there is so much more attached to it than that. I am also my own secretary, designer, and sometimes it feels like I’m an amateur therapist. Primarily as a tattoo artist, I specialize in traditional tattooing, mostly American with other influences as well. I do not really know how to categorize my style other than that it is basically just a combination of me and all my interests. I would say that there is a division in my work between the romantic and the grotesque. I am interested in a lot of beautiful and elegant things, like delicate hands and roses, eyes, butterflies, etc., but then I also love demons and snakes and wizards and vampires. Sometimes there is crossover, but I also have clients who keep completely to one end of the spectrum. I have gotten to a point where a lot of people do come to me for my personal work I create, though I do custom work as well. I am proud to be able to create work that is authentic to me and my vision and to have clients who support that and give me a platform to really thrive. I give great care and attention to my clients and try to give them the best experience possible so I can continue to do the work I love.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
There are a lot of things that make me happy, like being in a period of heightened creativity, or working alongside my friends and listening to hair metal, or making a client so happy they jump and click their heels as they’re going out the door (that happened one time.) I would say overall, I am happiest when I am producing and tattooing a lot of my own drawings and the clients are as excited about them as I am. It validates my feelings that the work I produce from my heart is powerful and worth loving and wearing.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: Oldsoulstattooparlour.com
- Instagram: @ellensaintm
Image Credits
All tattoos designed, tattooed, and photographed by me, Ellen Goodrich.
