Life & Work with Vanesa Reeves

Today we’d like to introduce you to Vanesa Reeves.

Hi Vanesa, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, let’s briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
From a young age, I knew I wanted to be an artist or in the art world somehow, but honestly, I had no idea where I fit in the bigger picture. While attending college, people often asked, “What will you do with a degree in painting?” I always responded, “I’m not sure, but I love the idea of being a tattoo artist!” Until one day, it finally clicked- being a tattoo artist was a very real possibility. After earning my associate’s degree, I took a year off from college to find a tattoo mentor to take me on as an apprentice. Finding someone willing to give me a chance took multiple attempts, but I found the right opportunity! I thought the hardest part of pursuing a career in the tattoo industry would be getting my foot in the door, but I had no idea how much of a journey was ahead of me. Tattooing has transformed me as a person and my life as a whole. Words cannot express my gratitude for every client who has supported me along my journey. I feel blessed to have worked with so many amazing people from all walks of life.

Alright, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
I had an extremely bumpy start as an apprentice and many obstacles to overcome to become the tattoo artist I am today. As someone who is HoH (hard of hearing), I feel like I’m in a gray zone because, on the one hand, I can’t hear enough, but on the other hand, I’m not deaf enough. Being HoH presented me with unique hurdles in the tattoo industry that I couldn’t have prepared for. I was aware of my hearing loss going into my tattoo apprenticeship but had no idea how much it would impact me. On the first day of my apprenticeship, it became excruciatingly clear that my lack of hearing would significantly inhibit my ability to learn in a street shop environment. The sort of tattoo shop that takes walk-ins, phones often ringing, and lots of the hustle and bustle.

When I first picked up a tattoo machine, it was a loud coil machine, so I had to wear earplugs to protect the hearing I still had. Between the noise of the machines and wearing hearing protection, I was painfully unaware of my surroundings and couldn’t communicate with my client or mentor while tattooing. I always had to pause and take out my earplugs to attempt to listen to my mentor. He was often frustrated by this: he couldn’t understand why I had to keep stopping or why I ‘wasn’t’ listening to him.

I was officially diagnosed with hearing loss and tinnitus (ringing in the ears) during my first year as a college student (18/19 years old). However, I couldn’t get hearing aids until after I turned 21. (At the time of diagnosis, my parent’s health insurance didn’t cover hearing devices, and what full-time student has 6k to spare?) After I began my tattoo apprenticeship, I got government assistance to provide me with hearing aids. Without them, I wouldn’t be who I am or where I am today. I didn’t realize how bad it was until I started wearing hearing aids and could listen to everything I was missing! Moderate hearing loss with tinnitus is a difficult combination.

It took my mentor a while to realize my hearing was a real obstacle I wasn’t making up. (In my experience, having hearing aids makes it easier for others to ‘believe’ that I’m HoH.) Eventually, my mentor ‘allowed’ me to purchase my tattoo machines to learn with. I immediately switched to rotary machines because they were almost silent. The quiet tattoo machines and hearing aids were a huge turning point for me. After months of struggling, I was able to be mentored and tattoo simultaneously. At this point, I started making real progress, which showed in my work.

Thanks for sharing that. So, you could tell us a bit more about your work.
I specialize in fine-line black and gray tattooing: concentrating on botanical-themed subject matter. Tattoos with flora, fauna, insects, skulls or bones, and anything inspired by tarot cards are a joy to bring to life. I also offer tarot reading tattoo sessions, where the cards’ meanings inspire the tattoo design! For me, a tarot is not a predictive system but a spiritual growth and development tool. Tarot has developed over the centuries to help us follow a path of self-knowledge and inner transformation. With a tarot reading tattoo, a variety of plants, animals, insects, and traditional tarot imagery can be chosen to correlate with the meanings of the tarot cards. Every tattoo is as unique as the message the tarot cards hold for each individual! I wanted to add an extra layer to my tattoo experience by incorporating tarot readings. Drawing inspiration from tarot cards to create a design with intention can make getting tattooed a healing experience. It can also be a fun way to find inspiration! It’s different for each client. I became a licensed tattoo practitioner in September 2018 and have dedicated my life to this art form ever since! I strive to do everything possible to provide my clients with a positive tattoo experience where they can feel comfortable and welcome in a safe space.

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those just starting.
You must have passion for this art form and perseverance to make it. When you’re a tattoo apprentice, it isn’t the sort of job where you clock out and don’t think about work until your shift starts the next day again. As an apprentice, there is so much to learn and work on; between drawing assignments and learning about tattoo history, I wish I was mentally prepared for the work it takes to get my footing. I thought getting my foot in the door of the tattoo industry was the hard part, but that was just the beginning.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://vreevestattoo.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vreevestattoo/

Image Credits
Michael Betzner Photography