~Marietta~

Even as a child, I have always been creative. In high school I was teaching art to elementary school children in an after-school program. During this time, I was also taking three art classes in my last semester of high school.

I was an art director assistant at a community center at the age of 18. I went to a non-accredited art school right after high school for a year and a half. I then went to Kansas City Art Institute, getting my degree in Fibers and Sculpture. I repaired Oriental Rugs for 17 years, fixing hand made rugs from round the world.

I got into tattooing in 2001 for the sheer desire to continue doing art as a living. I approach tattooing as a painting. Besides doing tattoos I also teach art to disabled adults. Both careers are very rewarding to me.

I have two strong interests in tattoos: The first is doing gray wash technique, making it look like a well-rendered drawing (or black and white painting). The second is to use nature as my subject. It doesn't matter to me if I use color or not. I enjoy the realism.

I have many interests such as: my business, essentialartsonline.com. I studied Herbology on my own since 1980. and in 1991, attending the New Mexico Herb Institute. Starting in 1996, I studied aromatherapy with several leading aromatherapists.

I love nature and wild crafting. I have been weaving on a floor loom since 1981. As a six year old child, beading became one of my passions, and this was the beginning of making jewelry and my bead addiction. Indian beading on a loom, different string beading methods and wire wrapping are some of my techniques. At this time, I am learning lapidary to further my love for jewelry making.

I truly enjoy assisting others in expressing their own creations. I hope to make my customers relaxed as I give quality body art.