Today we’d like to introduce you to Greysinful
Hi greysinful, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I was born in a small town in rural Illinois, about an hour outside of St. Louis. Some of my earliest memories I have are of my dad teaching me how to draw cartoons, like the Road Runner, on lined notebook paper and going over to my grandma’s house to paint ceramic sculptures and build dollhouse furniture. I told anyone who asked that I would be an artist when I grew up and I would roll my eyes when they told me how hard it would be to make a living. In seventh grade, I won my first award in a state competition. My passion for art intensified when I realized that people were impressed with what I was capable of. Throughout high school, I started taking more art classes and experimenting with different media. Around this time, I also gained a passion for beauty and SFX makeup. I had been modeling and acting for several independent productions and started getting opportunities to do makeup professionally on a few sets. When college discussions started popping up, I wasn’t exactly interested. The things I loved to do didn’t require a degree, but my school counselor insisted I apply somewhere. I decided to shoot my shot and applied to a school on the West Coast that specialized in SFX makeup. I was elated to get accepted, and then heartbroken to realize there was no way I could afford to go. I was so devastated and ready to give up on college until one of my sisters took me on a tour at Webster University against my will. We toured with the intention of looking into theatre makeup, but as we walked through the art department something called to me. After applying and showing my portfolio for review, I was accepted into the art program. My skills and confidence as an artist vastly improved throughout my time at Webster. Here I met like-minded individuals for what felt like the first time. I went from being one of the only openly queer, nonbinary people in my town to meeting others like me every day. I was surrounded by other artists my age with unbelievable talents. It was here I participated in my first few art shows. While in college, I also received the opportunity to study abroad in Vienna, Austria. Traveling to Europe changed a lot about my perspective and the way I value art. It pushed me mentally and creatively and helped me see the world in a completely new way. I returned to the USA right before the Covid-19 pandemic started and spent my junior and senior years studying online. After graduating with a Bachelor’s of Studio Arts degree and Departmental Honours over a glorified FaceTime call, I felt lost. I had started getting tattoos and knew I had a huge interest in the industry, but not being financially stable held me back from attempting to find an apprenticeship. I seemed to get burnt out no matter where I worked. One day, a friend of mine from college sent me a post over Instagram. A local tattoo artist was searching for an apprentice at her private studio. I almost didn’t apply as I had no photos of my work ready, a lack of confidence in my work, and worried about being able to afford it. A voice in the back of my head told me the worst that could happen was nothing, and maybe I’d get some good advice. Instead, I got hired at Saint Studios the day before my 25th birthday. Now, over six months later, I’m tattooing regularly and my art career has taken off in ways I never imagined.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Some days are smooth, others are rocky. Throughout my childhood, I experienced a lot of trauma that I wasn’t given the tools to cope with. There was a lot of undiagnosed mental illnesses in my household. My siblings and I experienced physical and mental abuse. My parents had yelling matches regularly until they broke up in front of me. I learnt what a suicide attempt was through whispers of concerned adults that wouldn’t tell me why my role model was taken away in an ambulance or why she moved away when she finally felt better again. As a result of all of this (and probably a little bit of genetics), I started struggling with depression and anxiety, along with other mental illnesses. When I tried to ask for help, I was told I was “too strong” of a person to have any kind of mental fragility. The only way I felt comfortable expressing myself was through art. I used it to communicate everything I felt and it helped me find purpose when I was ready to give up. Through art, therapy, and self-reflection, I learned how to actually process things instead of blocking them out. I still struggle with my own mental illnesses, but I’ve figured out how to handle it. There’s never going to be a point where it’s all easy, but when you know that it helps you appreciate the times that are.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a multifaceted artist and tattooist. I practice a lot of different media including graphite, charcoal, acrylic, ink, color pencil, digital art, and sculpture. My style leans towards the realism side, but I love to play around and experiment. I love doing live paintings and murals that allow me to talk to people about my process at the site. I don’t like to limit myself creatively. I think I offer a unique perspective and experience both in my art and with clients in the studio. I’m a very spiritual person and I believe the energy you put out into the universe returns to you, threefold. I do what I can to support and lift up other artists in my community doing similar things to me. As far as tattooing goes, I want to give people artwork that helps them love their bodies. I want to provide a comfortable space where people feel inspired to love themselves a little more.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
One of the biggest lessons I learned during the pandemic is the importance of community. When the lockdown started, I was still in college and I truly don’t know what I would have done without those weekly Zoom calls. It was something unifying that every person could relate to in some way or another. I guess art kind of serves that purpose for me, it’s a way to connect even when you may have nothing else in common.
Pricing:
- $50 Deposits Required for Tattoo Appointments
- $120 Minimum for Tattoos
- Prices on artwork, commissions, murals, and tattoos vary by piece
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greysinful?igsh=MTRsY2ZjZzM5dW5pag%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/E6tQzceBeFFszhZt/?mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Other: https://linktr.ee/greysinful
Image Credits
Charles Barnes
Anthony Moore
Tucker Vogel
