Meet Taylor Marie

Today we’d like to introduce you to Taylor Marie.

Hi Taylor, 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.
I’ve always been inspired by tattooing since I was a child. So for Christmas when I was 14, my parents bought me my first tattoo machine. I practiced on myself and some friends, here and there, and eventually build up a small “portfolio “. Shortly after my 18th birthday, I got my first job working at this crappy street shop in Sacramento. The owners flipped through my work and said “looks good. Take this test and pay this fee for your license. If you have any questions ask that guy”.

It was a pretty silly experience, and quite negligent on their part, but I had my foot in the door from there on out.

Definitely not the way I’d recommend getting into the industry now! Eventually, I left that shop, went to another, left that one, and went to a shop I stayed for roughly 6 years. I learned a great deal working there, about tattooing, and about myself. It’s an experience I am very grateful for, and also wish I left sooner for mental health purposes. When the pandemic hit, I saw an opportunity to leave the shop that caused me a lot of stress and anxiety and moved my business to Folsom where I grew up. I met my business partner, Josh Turpin, working in historic Folsom, and we both shared a similar idea for how we’d run a business and decided to open our own private tattoo studio, Auctorem Tattoo, in Folsom. Long story short, that’s where I’m at today and a very cut-down version of how I got here!

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I’d say there were definitely some struggles. Before working at my first shop, I had been told that “I’d never get a job in a local shop because I’m a woman”. I still remember the guy that said that to me, and funny enough, he follows my social media now! There was a shop, in particular, I worked for a while, where the owner played a lot of mind games and gaslit me all the time.

I developed some pretty heavy anxiety and self-doubt working there. All the years I had been tattooing prior to working there were fine, but there was a pressure at that shop that wasn’t what I’d consider good, constructive pressure. Aside from those few things, I’ve been very blessed with a relatively smooth road!

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I specialize in a neo-traditional tattoo style, or “stylized traditional “, but I like to do all sorts of stuff.

My clients mostly come to me for color work, floral work, and lady’s faces. Those, and animals, are definitely my preferred specialty. I’m proud of several of the pieces I’ve created for people and can’t wait to keep creating! I’m not sure what sets me apart from others, but I’m sure there are some things!

What do you like and dislike about the city?
If by our city, you mean Folsom, then I love it! I’ve always loved Folsom. It’s my hometown. Definitely have a lot of good and bad memories, but good overall. What I like least about it is how much it’s grown, honestly. The city is expanding so rapidly, it’s losing its charm!

Pricing:

• $220 per hour
• $660 half-day rate (3 hours)
• $1300 full-day rate (6 hours)

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @taylormarieart

Image Credits
Vir Moore @virfxmoore