Rachel
Pronouns: (she/her/hers)
I began my tattoo journey in 2009 with my first tattoo that I got on my hip so that I could hide it from my mom. Naturally, she found it immediately and was…unhappy, to say the least. Nevertheless, I began getting modified in earnest because I was completely hooked. Piercings and tattoos a-plenty, I was nearly fully sleeved by the age of 19. Every penny that I had went straight to getting more tattoos and modifications. Each tattoo that I got felt like I was becoming more and more like myself. I am happy to say that that feeling has not gone away!
I moved to Colorado from Minnesota in 2012 to get my undergraduate degree at CU Boulder in psychology with an emphasis on research methods and statistics. I started painting during my studies, and I fell in love with art materials in my first career. Exploring different paints, surfaces, and mediums encouraged me to create, and I began painting in earnest.
I started tattooing in 2018 and discovered a great interest in tattooing botanical, witchy, illustrative designs. I like using clean, fine, lines and delicate shading to create dimensional pieces with themes from dark and occult, to light and airy. I love fairies, magic, Norse mythology, and dystopian media! Designs that come from my heart-most heart explore the dark feminine.
I opened Shield Maiden Tattoo in May of 2022 in the beautiful Longmont, CO. I want the space to be a welcoming place for all folks, particularly those that have been harmed by the industry before or whose bodies are told that they are not welcome in mainstream spaces. You are welcome here!
Favorite classical artist: Caravaggio
Favorite medium (besides tattooing): acrylic painting
Favorite tattoo ink color: Eternal Sakura Pink
Favorite brand of paint: Golden Acrylics
Favorite paint brushes: Princeton Neptune
Favorite tattoo needle size: 0803RL
