Meet Bernadette Macias: Cosmetic Tattoo Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Bernadette Macias and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Bernadette, do you have a favorite quote or affirmation?
A long time ago I heard this quote “You could be the ripest most juiciest peach -but there will always be someone who hates peaches”….. and it stuck with me because at the time and for most of my life I always felt like I needed to make everyone around me love me… which is quite the task lol and it always took a toll on me constantly trying to figure out how to make those around me accept & love me… and when I read that, something clicked in my mind…. not everyone is going to love you, or like you, or accept you -no matter what you do. And in that moment I decided that I needed to just do and be what makes me happy and some will love me, some will like me, some will tolerate me lol and some will despise me and that’s ok. I honestly remind myself of this quote all the time. It’s kind of like when I graduated rehab, I was given a coin that says “Grant me the serenity to accept the things I can not change, the strength to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference”. I still carry this coin with me every day. It’s such an important reminder. You’ll literally make your self depressed trying to make someone care about you who doesn’t so instead focus on you… take care of yourself. Be your own cheerleader. Talk yourself up. Root yourself on. And love yourself. Reach for your dreams, no one else’s. Do whatever it takes to be happy and fuck everyone else & their thoughts of you 🙂

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m not sure how to answer most of those but I can say one of the biggest challenges is simply learning haha I’ve been a cosmetic Tattoo artist for 4 years now and I’m still taking courses and classes and shadowing artist who are far better than I am. I feel like it’s so important to continually learn and constantly grow as an artist. I’m a firm believer that you have never arrived lol I have so far taken 4 courses and did an apprenticeship and even though I am a good artist, I know that there is still so much to learn and understand and so many techniques out there that I don’t even know about haha or better ways of doing things. So I never want to stop learning, I never want to stop growing.. This Friday I fly back out to Texas to shadow and learn some more from Liz Cook. She’s helping me understand color theory some more and teaching me scar camouflaging and then letting me simply shadow her for a few days in which I know I’ll absorb unmeasurable knowledge:) Your craft is worth that invested time & effort.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Hmmm that’s a hard one because I’m a home body for sure haha I feel like if my best friend came out, we would pick up some mezcal and drink at my place while playing card games & or board games lol but if they wanted to go out, I would 100% say Gracias Madres or CrossRoads for food 🙂 Gracias Madres is a 100% vegan Mexican restaurant with a mezcal bar 🙂 that atmosphere is incredible and the food amazing. It’s unlike any other place I’ve been. It’s more relaxed and fun, so if they were looking for a more formal spot, I would say Crossroads Kitchen which honestly everyone should try at least once even if they aren’t vegan because the food is the best they’ll ever have 🙂 and if they’re down to drive to San Diego, I would say Brewskes Bar & Arcade or really any of the amazing arcade bars out there 🙂 The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
If I’m being honest, this shout out would have to go to my mom and step dad who literally locked me in a room and forced me through detox when I was 19. If they hadn’t done that, I would not be alive today… Now jumping forward, in my career I have had a couple mentors who literally encourage and support me beyond anything I ever imagined someone would. Those 2 people are Liz Cook and Ashley Rice. I consider both Liz and Ashley mentors. The fact they are both so eager to share their knowledge and advice with me, still blows my mind haha They literally will do whatever they can to help me succeed from telling me their tips and tricks, taking time out for a zoom 1 on 1 training, to helping me get out of head after I’ve starred at my work for hours picking it apart and thinking I’m a shit artist lol they are honest but supportive & helpful. And if either sees something I need to work on they not only tell me but they take the time to explain to me while teaching me their techniques. Now, if you’re an artist you know how rare this is for an artist to care so much about another artist success, how rare it is for an artist to share their tips, tricks, and techniques but these both do and I am eternally grateful to them for it and hope I can help artist in the same way one day.

Website: Www.NeedleDeepBeauty.com

Instagram: @ItsMsBernadette

Other: I have 2 IGs if both could be listed; @ItsMsBernadette @NeedleDeepBeauty_

Image Credits
For the photo of me tattoo and the photo of me in the chair ( please credit Photography by Melissa Marie )