I started tattooing in 1996, after having received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1993. Under the tutelage of Robert Hixon and Wayne Borucki, I learned the basics of tattooing. I landed a job at Chicago Tattooing Company a year later and continued working there for 3 years. It is the oldest shop in Chicago with a very busy walk-in clientelle. I was the first and only female tattoo artist that ever worked there and the shop has been open for 30 years! I honed my skills doing the basics, small roses, names, suns etc. After a while I realized that I was ready to move on to larger and more creative tattoos, ones in which I could utilize my fine arts training. I set my sights on the Bay Area and started working at Sacred Rose in 1999. My dreams were realized as the clientele in San Francisco always wanted large custom tattoos. That is why this town rocks so hard!!

To make a long story short, due to personal circumstances (for the full story, come get a tattoo by me and I'll fill you in) I had to leave San Francisco and moved to Montana for a short time. While I was there I worked at Painless Steel Tattoo. I soon headed west again, this time settling in Seattle. While there I ran a one chair tattoo studio in Kirkland, WA for about a year and a half and then worked at Mind's Eye Tattoo in Seattle, before the grey and dreary weather got me down and I headed to Hawaii for a long vacation. After returning from Hawaii, I did a few guest spots at Sacred Rose until one day Karen offered me my job back and with great enthusiasm I accepted!!! So I am back to stay now and very glad for it!

I consider myself to be a very versatile artist, as you can see by my portfolio. I enjoy doing all types of tattoo designs and styles, especially ones that I create or collaborate with the client on. Tattooing is an ancient sacred art form; and, much intention can be placed into the tattoo to serve the client's needs. Tattoos can be used to mark the passage of time or a particular event in a person's life, serve as a memorial for a lost loved one, invoke power and protection, or simply beautify and adorn the body. Whatever the intention is, I will work with you to ensure that you receive the most perfect tattoo for you. I also do a form of energy healing called Reiki and have received the Master degree in this healing art. I have incorporated Reiki into tattooing with great results. It can be used to pull the pain and trauma out of a fresh tattoo and to speed up the healing process. I don't do this for every client, so if you are interested, just ask.

So whether you want a small flower to signify your own beauty or a dragon sleeve to protect and empower you, I am the artist for you. No tattoo is too big, no tattoo is too small. Give me a call or stop on by the shop to check out more of my work. I look forward to seeing you soon.