Today we’d like to introduce you to Cricket Murphy.
Cricket, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’ve been drawing since I was like, two years old. Mostly cats, cars, and flowers. You know, growing up people would always ask you, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”, I’ve always told them, “a tattoo artist”. I loved my dad’s tattoos, and I’d draw all over myself as a kid. I apprenticed briefly in 2013, but the universe had other plans for me. So, I dived back into school, took different art classes, learned to love and appreciate oil painting; I graduated with my associate’s in Art, and my associate’s in Science. During that time, a shop that I was at frequently asked me if I wanted to apprentice there.
I leaped at the opportunity and I’m still so grateful for the opportunity Synergy Tattoo gave me! This was something I had to earn, and Up until now, that was one of the most difficult things I had ever endured. I went in and out of hating everything I created. I would (and still do) criticize myself, and even then – I found myself pushing to learn and grow more as an artist. After leaving Synergy, I found myself at Passionfish Tattoo, where I really found my own style, I was surrounded by other artists, who were constantly sharing things they’ve learned and I’m so appreciative of them! After leaving that studio, I hit a few bumps in the road, so to speak. But, if we are being honest here, It only pushed me to want better for myself.
I had been planning and diligently saving, with my fiancé Josh, to open my own studio. I kept telling myself “I’m gonna keep squirreling this money away and just act like it doesn’t exist”. When I felt the riff happen, Josh and my family urged me to follow my heart. Last October, we opened our studio, Lucky Cricket Tattoo. With the help of my family, we quickly put this studio together. When I say, I have never worked so hard in my life, I am not exaggerating.
We’ve spent countless hours, with no days off here. We created a place that I love, and am proud of! I can’t wait to show everyone!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I have been asked this a few times, and it has been a journey finding the right answer and advice. I know that women get treated differently than men within the Tattoo community. Some men would argue and say that we as women have it easier, but in my years of experience, the guy apprentices I’ve worked with had slid by with doing half the amount of work I had to.
The only problem with that is that it has also created a better work ethic in me, which has in the end made me more successful. To women apprentices, it’s not going to be easy, you will have to go through issues *most* men wouldn’t have to deal with. Sexual abuse is more common. Know your boundaries and take care of your bodies.
Also, work twice as hard as anyone else you know, clean twice as fast, take care of the shop, and represent the rest of the women, to show we are just as hard of workers, who can succeed far and high just like anyone else. I worked two jobs, was in school for a couple of months, and apprenticed full time. I never had money, and I can honestly say I struggled the first couple of years of tattooing. But, if you want something bad enough, you will find a way!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I have to give credit where credit is due. We worked very hard on the studio, and it’s very important to put a little light on this space we’ve created.
The studio is curated with tattoo flash all over the walls, both artists here have private rooms. We wanted everyone to not only feel welcome, but safe. Tattoo art is powerful – it can provide empowerment, motivation, remembrance, closure to trauma, and more. These feelings are incredibly personal, and we are very lucky to be a part of them! I’m very proud and so appreciative of the opportunity to do this every day.
I specialize in color and illustrative work. I love laying thick, bold lines with tons of color- but at the same time – I do lots of dainty fine line work. It’s kinda crazy to think, years ago, I would’ve turned down anything black and grey. However, now depending on the subject matter, I absolutely love it!
I also really enjoy doing, what I call “bubble-gum traditional” and “neo” traditional. Bold lines, glitter dots, I could do these tattoos all day!!! I definitely think that this specific style I do sets me apart from some of the artists in our area.
Any big plans?
As of right now, the studio is my priority, I still find myself here on days off! I’m also dedicating as much time as I can to the studio’s apprentice Clissa Patrick! I’m very proud of her, and I want to give her all I can. Hopefully, in the next year, we will be doing more conventions and traveling (once it’s safer).
In the meantime, we are planning to hopefully start dedicating all Saturday’s to walk-ins (starting sometime this year) we’d like to meet more people in our community, and be able to take some smaller tattoos, like the impulse ones we miss out on sometimes ( because we stay so far booked out)!
I also have guest artists coming through, at least once a month! I’m pretty excited about them! It’s always a great opportunity to learn, for us, and an even better opportunity for a client to get something truly unique, that they typically wouldn’t be able to collect! A great way to keep tabs on ho’s coming is to follow us on Instagram!
I’m also gonna share that we are accepting donations for the homeless. This is our community project, we started at the shop. We are welcoming people to drop off toiletries (there’s a huge list on our studio’s Instagram). These items are going to be used for “care packages” and we plan to hand them out, all donations are appreciated, no matter how small!
They mean so much, I think it’s important to show love and appreciation for all walks of life. Especially during these difficult times!
Contact Info:
- Email: ta2cricket13@gmail.com
- Website: https://linktr.ee/chronic_cricket
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/luckycrickettattoo
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/LuckyCricketTattoo/
