A Year in Review: Growth, Fear, Community, and Finding My Spark Again

This year started with a bang.

Back in February, I entered The Skin Games on a total whim. I was fascinated by the idea that competitive areola tattooing even existed — and curiosity got the best of me. The Skin Games is an international competition for all things skin, and somehow, that impulsive decision led me to finals in March, competing among 15 other artists.

I traveled to Atlanta completely alone, terrified and questioning my sanity the entire way. When I ended up placing 3rd, it felt surreal. That moment cracked something open in me, a reminder that stepping into fear can lead to the most validating experiences.

That recognition carried throughout the year. I was published in two Canvas Rebel articles and featured in YNST Magazine, which felt especially meaningful during a year that has been incredibly hard on artists. Having my work, story, and mission shared beyond my studio walls was a powerful reminder that this work matters and that people are paying attention.

This year also marked six years in my studio and a huge transition. After celebrating that milestone, I made the decision to move out of my solo space and join The Sanctuary in June. I never thought I could love a workspace more than the one I built entirely on my own, designed to look and feel exactly how I always dreamed. But being here has been different in the best way. I’m no longer carrying everything alone, and that sense of shared space and community has lifted a weight I didn’t fully realize I was holding. I’m still giving my absolute best as a service provider — just with a little more breathing room.

Over the summer, I began training in Areola Prosthetics, a service that will be covered by insurance and will expand access for so many people who need it. In July, I took a piercing refresher course so I could safely offer basic piercing services again and unexpectedly discovered how much I love working with children. Helping them feel safe, informed, respected, and empowered, and setting a high standard for body modification as they grow has been deeply fulfilling.

Professionally, I also completed more areola tattooing than I ever have before, traveling between Charleston and Morgantown to provide care where it’s needed most. This work continues to be the heart of what I do.

But this year was not only growth and celebration. There was also heartbreak.

I spent a significant amount of time working on local city grant applications, hoping to expand affordable access to scar and areola tattooing for the most vulnerable survivors in our community. Not being approved stung deeply. Our community deserves better access to this care, these are our survivors and while the rejection was painful, it hasn’t changed my belief that this work belongs to everyone, not just those with means. I hope that in the coming years, we can do better for them.

This year I also lost a vibrant friend and client, Tia, after her 17-year battle with metastatic breast cancer. I still grieve her. She was strong, radiant, and unforgettable. While my heart aches with her absence, I’m grateful she can finally rest. Carrying the stories of people like Tia is part of what fuels my commitment to this work, even when it hurts.

Creatively, my oil paintings slowed down this year. Between time constraints and fewer requests, the easel sat quieter than usual. It’s been a tough year for the arts across the board, and I felt that shift deeply.

Outside the studio, my year was filled with fostering and caretaking. I fostered a feral mother cat and her three kittens, all of whom were successfully adopted. I also fostered and helped find homes for several dogs from our local shelter - Daisy, Tulip, Odias, Splish, Woody, Zoie, and Lizzy. Loving them, letting them go, and knowing they’re safe is work I’ll always make room for.

In November, I had one of the most inspiring tattoo experiences of my life. I traveled to Connecticut to visit one of my favorite tattoo artists and her shop, where I sat for nearly 10 hours of intense color packing and no numbing. It was painful, humbling, and absolutely worth it. I learned so much just by being there, watching, listening, and feeling what intentional tattooing can be. It will forever be one of my favorite tattoo experiences and it reignited my desire to spend more time practicing artistic tattooing in the year ahead.

Looking back, this year stretched me in every direction, emotionally, creatively, professionally. It asked me to be brave, flexible, and honest about what I need to keep showing up fully. I’m closing the year tired, proud, inspired, and ready to lean back into growth.

Here’s to continuing the work with intention, curiosity, and community.