Today we’d like to introduce you to Kendra Parkis.
Hi Kendra, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’ve always been a creative person, but my journey as an artist has never been a straight line. I started tattooing about five years ago, mostly as a way to combine my love for drawing with a career that allowed freedom and flexibility. Over time, I realized how much I loved creating fine-line, feminine, and meaningful pieces, especially floral work and that slowly shaped the direction of my style and my business.
After becoming a mom to a medically complex child, my whole life shifted. Balancing appointments, caregiving, and work pushed me to rethink everything. I needed a career that allowed me to be present for my son while still pursuing my passion, so I took the leap and opened my own private studio, Athena Artistry Tattoo Studio, near downtown Cary. Creating a calm, elegant, woman-centered space felt important to me, it’s a place where clients can feel comfortable, seen, and celebrated.
Along the way, I started branching into other creative projects, including illustration and children’s media. One of my most meaningful recent projects is a hydrocephalus-themed coloring book inspired by my son. I wanted kids with medical challenges to feel represented, and I wanted parents and caregivers to have something that sparks comfort and connection. What started as a personal project has become something so much bigger, and seeing it reach families and hospitals has been incredibly rewarding.
I’m still growing, still learning, and still building; balancing motherhood, art, and entrepreneurship, but I’m proud of how far things have come. Every part of my journey has led me here, and I hope my work continues to inspire, support, and uplift the people who connect with it.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Like most creative careers, mine has been a mix of growth, setbacks, and constant learning. One of the biggest challenges has been balancing motherhood, especially being a special needs mom, with building a business from the ground up. There were periods where I was working in between hospital visits, late at night after everyone was asleep, or during the only quiet hours I could find in the day.
Another challenge was finding the courage to reshape my career when things no longer felt aligned. Leaving traditional shop environments, starting completely over in a private studio, and trusting myself to run a business on my own was scary. Financial instability, burnout, and self-doubt were all real hurdles.
There were also long stretches where my family and I were dealing with back-to-back illnesses, unexpected life changes, and the weight of trying to juggle everything at once. But every challenge pushed me to grow, both as an artist and as a person. I’ve learned resilience, patience, and how to create a life and career that truly work for my family.
The road hasn’t been easy, but each struggle has shaped the work I create today and the space I’ve built for my clients.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My work centers around fine-line tattooing, illustration, and storytelling through art. At Athena Artistry Tattoo Studio, I specialize in delicate, feminine designs, especially floral pieces, botanicals, and soft, detailed linework. I’m known for creating tattoos that feel elegant, meaningful, and deeply personal. A lot of my clients come to me specifically for pieces that honor important moments in their lives, and I love being able to translate those emotions into something beautiful and lasting.
Beyond tattooing, I also create children’s illustration and multimedia art. One of the projects I’m most proud of is my hydrocephalus-themed coloring book, inspired by my son. It started as a way to bring comfort and representation to medically complex kids and their families, and it’s turned into something that’s reaching hospitals, parents, and caregivers across the country. Knowing that my art can make someone feel seen or supported is incredibly meaningful to me.
What sets me apart is the space I’ve created and the intention behind everything I do. My studio is private, calming, and designed to make clients, especially women feel safe and cared for. I approach each piece with patience, precision, and a focus on connection. I think people can feel when something was created with heart.
My journey as a mom, an artist, and an advocate informs all of my work. I’m proud that I’ve built a career that reflects who I am, blends multiple creative mediums, and allows me to help others feel understood through art.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
When it comes to luck, I’ve definitely felt the weight of what many people would consider “bad luck.” My son being born with hydrocephalus changed everything about my life and career. It’s something no parent ever expects or prepares for, and the constant medical challenges, appointments, and worry have shaped every decision I make. It hasn’t been an easy road, and in many ways it forced me to grow up faster, become more resourceful, and rethink how I balance work and motherhood.
But even in that, I’ve found a strange kind of good luck too. His journey pushed me to create deeper, more meaningful art, and it opened the door to projects like my hydrocephalus-themed coloring book, something I never would have imagined making before. It connected me with families, parents, and kids who understand what this life looks like. It gave my work a purpose beyond aesthetics.
So while I’d never call what my son is going through “good luck,” I can say that the challenges surrounding it have shaped me into someone stronger, more empathetic, and more intentional. It’s taught me to build a business that works around my family, not against it, and to use my art as a way to bring comfort and representation to others. In that sense, luck ,good or bad, has played a major role in the path I’m on today.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/athenaartistrytattoostudio?igsh=cjYyM25lNjhoMWZw&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1Bgs3wbpKG/?mibextid=wwXIfr
