Self-Care Is the BEST Care, Tattoo Artists!
Open Me For August Tattoo RoundUp & September Updates
New Month, New Theme!
Who doesn’t love a good theme, yah know? And I think as I bring this publication to life, I’ll start guiding our talks around monthly themes. I mean …
It’s just easier and I can draw lines and parallels to both tattoo and creative life, in general a lot easier.
That shared … it’s no time like the present to integrate new ideas. So let’s start right meow ~
September is self-care month. And Dear, Black Creative in case you need a reminder
An often forgotten as a part of self-care is community care is a very important and forgotten aspect of self-care. But we got you covered at Little INKPLAY Shop because it’s a serious part of our shop culture.
Not only that, but this topic comes up briefly Black Tattoo Anthology -
Where Lord Yatta and I discuss the importance of replacing a transactional experience with a more humanistic and holistic exchange that is healthier for both the client and the artist.
So, as we explore BTA writings and leave love notes to Black creatives, along the way, we’ll be exploring from a context of what self-care truly means.
We’re In Transition, Folks! ^.^
Hey new (and current) readers! What a time to be a Black creative, yea?!
Exploring self-care is a great start to the transition of this publication which is part newsletter, part email and part social media.
You see, I envision this space as an intimate way to share my creative musings sprinkled with empowerment, while also building an engaged community of readers and radical creatives.
Before the creation of Dear Black Creatives, there was Shoppe Gal which is my book but it didn’t quite call in ALL the folks I want to grow with in this new artistic medium. And the name felt limiting for this iteration of digital me.
But I started playing with loves notes and affirmations addressed Dear, Black Creatives while practicing speech things in stories. It became such a fun thing and a hit with followers that I thought I should explore this.
Truth is … I don’t know where Dear, Black Creatives is going long-term, if anywhere. BUT I know I can use it now to ideate, visualize and get tf out of my own way.
This just for fun platform is a diary of streams of consciousness of a Black creative, littered with tattoo, art and style inspo + insight to fuel the melanin-rich, future forward, avant-garde soul.
Here’s what you can expect with this new shift:
More art, style & bite-sized fun social content that you can follow along to on Instagram.
Community interviews highlighting some of the artists and topics of Black Tattoo Anthology.
Rare & valuable inspo to help you think outside the box and inspire your future creative endeavors.
Live events & IRL workshops starting with the “Coworking Cookout Series” that will teach you how to level up your mindset, creativity and accountability.
Content written and curated by other creatives.
August Wrap-up
Moving right along, we’re finally getting into what y’all came for, the monthly round up.
Seriously, August was a blur. I spent a lot of time telling people about Black August before the rebrand to National Black Business Month and why Black Tattoo Anthology is anchoring in this month with February (Black history month) as its backup.
On the money front, despite it being Black business month … it wasn’t our greatest revenue month by far. But … you win some, you lose some. Plus our super soft launch, Books and Tattoos was a VIBE!
We survived the month so we can do better this month. THAT is what counts. And so, here we are ~
Surprisingly though, I did learn that my cat is a plant mom LOL
And … on the creativity front to be quite honest, I dunno WTF happened. But that’s exactly why I do these wrap ups …
To recount the times I may have been present physically, but prolly not mentally accounted for ^.^
So leggo ~
A lot of these pieces will be completed this month or have significant progress so I’ll be sure to update yah!
Hello September!
Whew! So, now that you know what this publication transition looks like and we’ve looked back at an amazing Black August …
What’s to come for Self-care September?!
We starting off with mutual self-care aide around these parts. Check out recent vibes from a session with Bianca, featuring Grace <3
New months bring new energy and insight. And I’m excited that we’re rolling into fall having officially soft-launched Black Tattoo Anthology. So much so that last night, my mind was churning over information and how to present it in an engaging format ~
I mean … my brain legit started doing the moon walk, excitedly vision boarding media roll-outs, mapping the book-set into palatable experiences and world building.
AT FUCKING 2AM!
But I’m not complaining. Cuz the fact that my brain is happily dancing around these chunks of info like the smooth criminal that it is tells me that I’m in the right place.
Get Tattooed For Self-Care Month!
Tattoo is a legitimate form of self-care and we’re so happy to be off to a great start this Self-care September. This is the time I usually get to reconnect with my long-time clients as the industry slow months start to creep in. And it’s ALWAYS, ALWAYS worth it!
Here’s an unedited testimonial from Bianca for you before I make it all pretty for my Ink & Release tattoo therapy portfolio. ^.^
Our books are open! For now, Veronica is accepting a variety of tattoos to get her portfolio up. And I’ve got a few slots open for some high vibes’ tattoo therapy.
Either way, you can click thru to visit our portfolios and book with the artist of your choice!
Visual Diary: Black August Be Like …
