Today we’d like to introduce you to Cori Steiner
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’ve loved art and creating ever since I was little and wanted to be an artist or archaeologist when I grew up.
I was always fascinated with tattoos as I grew up and kept up with my art. I didn’t know if I could really make a career out of art so, I went to college for marketing and have held different related positions through the years: graphic designer, business development, packaging designer, frontend developer, software development teaching assistant.
When the pandemic hit, I did a lot of self reflection. I wasn’t happy where I was so with the support of my now husband I quit my front end developer position to focus on my art.
I kept coming back to tattooing. I’m already a history lover and the history and process of tattooing was just so fascinating to me. It’s just not ink in skin. The connections you make with clients, helping people feel better about themselves, helping people memorialize loved one or experiences. Helping to bring a little joy to people or helping them find closure.
I’ve had terrible experiences with tattoo artists in the past and I wanted to help give people a better experience and make them feel cared for and not like just another body in the chair.
I began my apprenticeship journey around August 2022. I began tattooing clients December 2023 and received my license June 2024.
It has been a crazy and fulfilling journey. It’s been a lot of hard work and is a total 180 from my past office jobs but I have loved every second of it. I have met and become friends with such amazing and talent artists. I can’t express how grateful I am for their help, guidance, and support.
I also can’t express how grateful I am for my amazing clients. I’m so thankful for their trust and I hope I can continue to give them a space where they feel welcomed and safe as well as give them art that they love.
I’m excited to continue to grow and develop as an artist and make art for others.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Definitely not smooth.
There a lot of hard work and commitment.
One of the biggest things you have to have is a good work ethic and be able to hold yourself accountable and take initiative.
No one is holding your hand to tell you what to do when or setting a schedule for you. No one is checking in to make sure you are getting your work done, but it’s expected to be done and is noticed when it isn’t.
I felt like I was starting at a disadvantage getting into tattooing in my 30’s. Many artists started in their early 20s or before. But the skills I’ve learned through the years in my past jobs have really helped. I’ve had years of customer service that has been so beneficial. Design jobs where you’re given the parameters and no one is checking in on you. You’re expected to figure out time management and have the deliverables ready when they are due.
The things I’m still struggling with is the transition from employed to self employed. There’s no clocking in/clocking out and it’s been hard finding that balance of getting my work done and caring for my clients while also taking care of myself, so I don’t burnout and then I’m no good to anyone.
Because you’re not just tattooing. You’re drawing, you become your own social media manager, office admin, scheduler, marketing team. I’m working on creating and setting boundaries so I have the energy and capacity to be there for everyone and myself.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I absolutely love working with color! I love creating more neotraditional designs with bold colors, bold lines with varying line weights. Flowers, bones, animals and just more forest core vibes.
I would love to get into realism and create designs mixed with traditional tattoo elements but I’m not quite there on skin yet.
I can draw up a creepy realistic eye on paper though ha.
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?
Still reminding myself and working on it but, I think, be kinder to yourself and take things slower if you need to. Everyone has their own pace that they create great work to. There are very few things in life that are truly urgent. Reflecting on past positions and projects, nothing was truly as urgent as it was made to seem. None of it was life or death or detrimental to the fate of the world, ha. There’s this mindset that we’ve been trained to believe that our worth is based on how productive you can be and your ability to always be on and going to the point of burnout and health issues.
You have one life and your health is important. You deserve rest. That is an investment that will greatly benefit you and those around you. Rest creates better work and results. I know it can be hard to find that time in this day and age but try to find a moment to breath and find happiness, even in the little things
Pricing:
- $120/hr
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Linktr.ee/misscorilynnetattoo
- Instagram: Misscorilynne
