Meet Chelsie Taylor | Tattoo artist

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

Hi Chelsie, how do you think about risk?
A quote I stand by is, “Fortune favors the brave”. Without risk, people would never evolve into the person and life we truly want. We need risk, to help us from being stagnant with the physical life around us. Always asking “what if?”… We wouldn’t learn what not to do and what to change next time in order to accomplish the task at hand. In my career you risk a lot of time, energy, and money into something with the only outcome being what labor you put into it. Always take the risk, be brave, take a chance on yourself.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My tattoo journey started when I would come home from school with doodles all over my arms and legs and would get in trouble because it wouldn’t wash off. Looking back on old albums of my childhood drawings, I notice not much has changed but the skill. I never steered towards colors much as a kid, and always grabbed for a basic pencil drawing instead, and that shows. I specialize in black and grey realism, portraits, microdetailing, odditties and curiosities. I’ve now been tattooing for 7 years and looking back, the hardest part was simply starting. I remember sitting in my room almost in tears because of how bad a pig skin practice tattoo came out. Telling myself one day you’ll look back at this moment, knowing I over came it and didn’t give up. Finding a way into the industry and speaking up to ask the right questions was the part that challenged me the most. The second was to keep going. Through being broke, borrowing coworkers supplies, trust from new clients, and nonstop questions, tattooing saved my life. After an addiction had got the best of me, tattooing gave me drive, focus, and a passion to look forward to that was bigger than just myself. It took blood sweat and tears but back from the ashes, i came up with my brand, Nonsense Ink. “Nonsense” comes from Alice in Wonderland. Alice quotes “If I had a world, it would be a world of Nonsense”. Tattooing I have the privilege to never have the same day twice, the ability to have fun and joke with my clients, and most of all create images that are one of a kind. Through it all, ups and downs, I wouldn’t have changed anything in my journey and would do it all again. The risk was worth the reward.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
First stop, the tattoo shop. I work at an all female tattoo shop in the heart of Beverly hills/West Hollywood and the crew is always a good time. From there I would probably suggest a stroll around the area as there is all kinds of really good food and bars. Plus West Hollywood is the best place to people watch. Venice beach is always a staple of mine as I like to go and paint on the boardwalk, or shop all of the locals art or street performers. If you are coming to see me for a week, chances are I’d take you to a show/concert/rave as that’s a big self expression of mine.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There is a handful of people I always give credit to, for the success of where I stand today. Of course, my mother for being the person who gifted me my first machine and my dad who upgraded it not too long after tattooing a semi questionable Harley Quinn on his leg. I was fortunate enough to have two “mentors” as I entered this journey. Marlon who taught me basic sterilization and how to set up a machine, and of course Ozzy who made me the artist I am today. Thank you for all the patience you had with every common sense question I threw ant you and allowing me to pick your brain for every black and grey technique you knew. Fast forward to today, I can’t forget my girls at Petunia Twins ink where I now work, who gave me a chance at showcasing as a black and grey realism artist and giving me a family of strong creative female artists. Lastly, my husband for challenging me, pushing me, and constantly being amazed and impressed that I can draw more than a stick figure. He helped me tremendously in finding my “style” and pushing me out of a comfort zone during designs processes for tattoos he now wears.

Instagram: @nonsense_ink

Image Credits
The group shot of the girls I work with is the only one with image credits. The rest one myself.

Anaiah Papaya
@papayashotthis