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

Hi Vanesa, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
I think work life balance looks different for everyone. I often feel like being a tattoo artist is more of a lifestyle than just a job. It’s not the sort of career where you can easily clock in and out at specific times. Early in my career I definitely worked too much (about 50 hours a week) and found myself in a constant state of burn out. It took years for me to truly understand the importance of work life balance and actually figure out what worked best for me. Establishing healthy boundaries for myself and others has done wonders for my mental health. With a healthy work life balance I rarely experience burn out or find myself feeling too exhausted to spend time with my family.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
It wasn’t easy to get where I am today but good things take time. I was able to overcome the various challenges in becoming a tattoo artist by remembering each challenge would teach me a lesson. Some lessons might not have felt worth the trouble at the time, but looking back I can see how those experiences shaped me into the artist I am today. Learning to trust my gut feelings and intuition when working with clients has been a game changer. Trusting my intuition helps me avoid less than ideal situations, as well as make me feel reassured I’m the right artist for the client’s I do work with.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
When it comes to vacation I love going to restaurants I couldn’t find somewhere else. We would have dinner The Angus Barn not only for the food but unique atmosphere. I’m an art nerd and the NCMA is a must see, between the galleries and sculpture garden there’s so much art to admire! There’s an abundance of botanical gardens and arboretums to explore, I still haven’t visited them all but JC Raulston Arboretum might be my favorite.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My husband deserves a shout out more than anyone else. He has supported me and my career from the very beginning. The first tattoo I ever did on a person was on him and it was his first tattoo ever! I was so nervous that my hands were shaking but he reassured me through the process and sat perfectly still. I don’t know where myself or my career would be without his support every step of the way.

Website: https://vreevestattoo.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vreevestattoo/

Image Credits
Michael Betzner Photography

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutNorthCarolina is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.