- Nearly Four Decades of Tattooing

I began tattooing professionally in Portland in 1987, apprenticing under Professor Don Deaton at Sea Tramp Tattoo.
When I started, I was one of three women tattooing in Portland Oregon.
I find myself in the strange position of being one of the elders now.
That’s an odd thing to realize.
I never set out to become the elder.
I simply kept showing up because I love tattooing.

- What I love About Tattooing

I love the process. I love figuring out a concept and making someone’s ideas come to life.
I love how a drawing I made by hand comes to life when it is tattooed on a person.
I love the bizarre and beautiful ideas. And the occasional idea that makes me stop
and think, Well now, how are we going to do that?
I love figuring out how to solve the puzzles offered to me.
And I still enjoy learning something new about every person sitting in my chair.

I love what I do.

- A Wide Range of Experience

Early on I tattooed whatever came off the wall flash or the tattoo rack.
That forced me to learn a wide range of styles and techniques instead of locking into one look.
My portfolio shows that range.
Versatility, for me, isn’t claiming I can do everything.
It’s knowing how to approach the thing you’ve been asked to do with solid fundamentals.

- Still Learning

Tattooing has changed enormously since 1987.
New trends keep circulating.
I don’t chase them all, but I do pay attention.

All things are worth questioning.
Some things are worth carrying forward.
And some things are simply better left behind.
Being around long enough to watch the cycles is part of the fun.

- The Portland Tattoo Community

Apprenticing with Don put me inside a particular thread of Portland Tattoo history-
his connection to Bert Grimm and the shop that became Sea Tramp, and the larger family of tattooers
whose paths have crossed over generations.
I don’t think everything has to be done the old way.
I do think it’s worth knowing and celebrating where you came from.

- The Strange Gift of Time

When I began tattooing, I was the baby of the bunch around here.
I was learning from people who already had decades of tattooing under their belts.
Many of the people I learned from have retired, moved on or passed away.
The city has changed. Tattooing has changed. The way people enter the trade has changed.

And I’m still here.

I’m grateful for being able to see the benefits of the old ways and the new.
And to have the extraordinary good fortune to stay long enough to see both.

- What I Bring to the Chair

‍ · Nearly 40 years of professional experience
· An apprenticeship rooted in Portland’s tattoo history
· A broad working knowledge of tattoo styles and techniques
· A continuing love at making quality tattoos
· Curiosity about new ideas without losing sight of good fundamentals
· Respect for the trust involved in putting something permanent on someone’s body

- To the People I’ve Tattooed

I would not be able to do what I do if it were not for the people who
have trusted me with their tattoos over the years.

You’ve brought me your ideas, your stories, your weird little ideas, your beautiful ideas, and many times ideas that needed some figuring out.

You’ve kept me curious.
You’ve pushed me to grow as an artist.
You’ve given me the opportunity to keep learning.

For all of it. I am deeply grateful.