Today we’d like to introduce you to Holly Latham.
Hi Holly, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
In her prime, mother was a tattooed dancer, bikini model, and motorcycle model. My father was in the navy, a tattoo artist, a biker, a guitar player/song writer, and bar owner. My great grandmother made ceramics, sewing, crocheting, and many other grandmaesque crafts. Among others in my family are musicians, make up artists, designers, entrepreneurs, etc. I think it’s safe to say that I was bred for the arts. It had its rough moments, growing up many of my elders struggled with addiction, financial strain and mental health; so I began my transient lifestyle early on. I taught myself to draw in my long hours of solitude throughout childhood, posing my dolls and drawing them, anime art, and I began portraits in middle school. As a young child I had the desire to be a therapist so I could help people, due to all of the suffering I observed; especially since I had lost several siblings to child services. I was surrounded by tattooed people and encouraged by many to pursue a career with my artistic talent. As an emo teenager I watched many tattoo shows on tv and decorated my myspace page with tattoo and rave style.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I moved around my whole life, so I never really had roots. I was a teen mom, and lack of consistent housing and support made career pursuit difficult. I dropped out of college where I was taking mental health to work in daycares when my daughter was little. I would not trade my daughter for the world because she is my biggest driving force. She’s an amazing kid, straight A student and my artist prodigy. I made many attempts to pursue tattooing throughout my early 20’s. I worked as a counter girl in three shops. Every time someone said I didn’t have what it takes to make it in the tattoo industry, I immersed myself in art; believing that the quality of my work would overcome. But when I found myself couch surfing without a car when my daughter was 3, I did what I knew was considered wrong by my idols, and got a cheap coil machine tattoo kit so we could eat. I got back up on my feet through various other careers like being a waitress or a cake artist. My daughter experienced a tragedy at 8 that left us totally devoted to therapy so she could find healing, which left me broke and broken so I made the decision to let her move in with her father so I could do healing of my own. I found myself homeless once again and in an abusive relationship. This is when I started my tattoo apprenticeship at 27 and changed my life. I slept on my mentors couch and him and his wife gave me the equipment that i needed to start. They saw my artwork and finally someone believed that I deserved this. I moved away from Waco to Killeen (Fort Hood) where I didn’t know anyone, I got a part-time job at a bar to meet locals and soldiers and built my career, learning from many amazing artists I was blessed with the opportunity to work with.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a portrait artist and a tattoo artist. I did my first tattoo ten years ago, but I have been a professional for two years now. While I am still newer in my career and learning all styles to understand technique and application, I specialize in black and gray realism. I am most proud of my ability to connect with my clients; the pain and suffering I endured in life expanded the horizons of my perspective and enables me to empathize with all walks of life. I mourn, rejoice, encourage, problem-solve and understand with my clients throughout sessions. Ancient tattoo culture spoke that tattoos meant something and were earned through life experience and given by a shaman, and I try to embrace the essence of this when working with my clients. I believe that what sets me apart from others is the therapeutic impact that I leave on people and the raw emotion that my work speaks.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I have lived all over Texas; Galveston, Houston, Huntsville, Corpus Christi, Waco, Killeen, and many small towns in between. I love Waco and many of these other towns for the incorporation of historic architecture and landmarks. I believe that all places could benefit from more community outreach.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @heregoesholly_
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heregoeshollytattoo/
