Today we’d like to introduce you to Makayla Smalls.
Hi Makayla, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Honestly, I’ve always had a passion for art. It all started with drawing things familiar to me, such as; anime, friends, animals, cartoons, you name it. I loved recreating my perspective of life through my artwork. Having a variety of artists in my family was a huge impact during my time in developing my craft. My mom, brothers, and sisters all share artistic abilities. This allowed us to give great feedback and advice as we grew in our crafts. As I got older, it was more of figuring out how to continue on as an artist full-time, my 3+ years at Cane Bay High allowed me to develop the basic principles of art. Being a part of their art program and my amazing instructor; Barbara Richardson, allowed me to have a different outlook on the possibilities of my future as an artist. The “Starving Artist” theory was a myth, and I was determined to prove it. As I furthered my education by studying commercial graphics, I grew more interested in tattooing. My brother Deandre’ Ferguson ( Insta@ Artofwave 5) was already 5+ years into his journey of tattooing. He saw my potential and soon became not only my best friend but a mentor. I had a strong foundation in art, but I wanted to understand tattooing. Soon after, I got my first job as a receptionist at a tattoo shop. On my downtime, I would continue to work on my tattoo portfolio. The shop owner eventually saw my work, and I soon became the shop apprentice. I then started to work towards my 1000+ hours and started to shift all focus towards my tattooing and building my name as Kay Tats.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Nothing you start for the first time will be a “smooth road,” Unfortunately, I was already accustomed to the ups and downs of life as is, so I honestly just saw this as me following my vision. I knew it was a risk, but I was 20 years young and had nothing to lose! So why not try? The hardest thing I could say was leaving a full-time job. I worked for 4+ years to become a tattoo artist. The support was surreal. It felt crazy, but I didn’t care. I had to keep moving forward with the vision.
Thanks for sharing that. So, you could tell us a bit more about your work.
I’m a full-time Tattoo artist specializing in dot work, fine line, black & Grey, & neo trad. I’m known for my oil paintings as a part-time visual artist & Graphic Designer. What sets me apart from others? That the experience is authentic, and I’m going to be sure that you’re not only getting a quality tattoo but a unique tattoo that you and I will be happy with at the end of the session and experience. I’m most proud that I took a leap of faith with my dreams; today, it’s becoming a reality.
Please talk to us about happiness and what makes you happy.
Creating is my happy place; being around friends, family, & honestly, my clients are so fun! It’s always a great vibe. Making those memories is what matters the most.
Pricing:
- If you have any tattoo inquiries? You can Message me at KayTats_
- The shop minimum is $100+
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kaytats.as.me/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaytats_/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@ikayladenee9363
Image Credits
Photos by: @Krazyshotit
