Today we’d like to introduce you to Grace Blackburn.
Hi Grace, I’m so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, how can you bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Honestly, it’s just like a fairytale story. I started as a client here at Mythical Markings. After coming for a while, I fell in love with the people and atmosphere. My artist told me they were hiring a new receptionist, so I applied. I only started as a part-time. Once that was done, I became a full-time staff member at the studio. My mentor, Jacki, tried talking me into apprenticing for six months to become a body piercer. I was curious but said no every time. She finally talked me into it, and my apprenticeship began in August 2021. After learning from her for a year, I got my license in August 2022. I’m happy she talked me into it because I love what I do.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, has it been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Yes and No. I could not have had a better mentor. Jacki is an incredible piercer, teacher, and boss. She made it so easy for me, and for the most part, it flew by so gracefully (no pun intended). However, there were many times I wanted to back out. I came into this blind. I had tattoos, and I knew about tattoos, but I knew nothing about piercings, jewelry, etc. Everyone else at the studio did, except for me. I was a deer in headlights. It wasn’t very safe, but it also pushed me to learn as much as I could as fast as I could. I had to overcome a lot of self-doubt and failures—imposter syndrome.
I appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’ve been a body piercer at Mythical Markings Tattoo Studio since August 2021. I specialize in ear curations & anodizing titanium body jewelry. I’m probably best known for my “brand,” which is “Stabbings by Grace.” A lot of people get a kick out of it. You only don’t hear sometimes. I’m most proud of doing this. I never saw myself doing it and did not think I’d stick with it. It took me a while to stop apologizing to my clients after I pierced them because I inflicted pain on them. I knew they knew what they were getting, but I felt terrible. It took me a while to get out of that.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those just starting.
Every day is a learning experience. It doesn’t matter if you’ve been in this for 2 or 20 years; you do not know everything. If you think you do, stop practicing. Continue learning. Put in the work. Do the research. Keep your mind open, always.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mythicalmarkings.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/stabbingsbygrace
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stabbingsbygracehawks
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@stabbingsbygrace
Image Credits
Headshots/Action Shots by Kimberly Coffey-Norris (Dahlia Moon Photography)
