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

Hi Helen, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
Balance. It’s constantly changing as life outside of work changes.
My husband and I love to travel, There always had to be time for that no matter where I worked, it was a priority; and in a sense it is still very important to us. To see new places, explore new cultures and gain new perspectives.
I had been working in various shops for nearly fifteen years before my husband and I decided to open our own studio.
A lot of the work ethics and balance were different in each shop, for each artist.
In one sense the longer hours you worked the more money you might make if you were dependent on walk ins.
When I began to work mainly through appointments I began to have more freedom to my schedule. More control to how often I worked and how much time I would take off.
When I had my son, balance shifted again. I was fortunate enough to be able to take the time off needed to gain my footing on this new adventure.
I began to base my appointments around my sons schedule, and continue to do that to this day.
I schedule clients in the morning now after I drop my son off at school, sometimes I come back after he’s out for another appt but on those days I normally don’t book a lot.
I work Saturdays, but not Sundays as I want to make sure I have at least one day of the weekend to have free. I take at least one full weekend off each month to do something with the family. I book a couple weeks off every four to five months, again, to plan travel with the family.
It helps me keep from getting burnt out in tattooing and also helps me stay involved with my husband and my son.
Balance I know will continue to change, and as the economy fluctuates I see my hours increase. If someone is sick my hours decrease to be home.
There is never a wrong or right balance, and I’ve come to realize there is never a balance that isn’t subject to change. And that’s okay. Each artist is different, have different priorities and motivations.
I am fortunate to be in a position that I can easily change my work hours when it’s needed.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I love art, all forms from painting to music. Creativity is therapeutic, healing the mind and soul in ways I never expected. Growing up I always sought art over other activities. Though tattooing had never occurred to me.

At that time, there were no tattoo shows, no tv series to glorify the world of tattooing. Female artists were still an anomaly to find in a tattoo shop and I remember many times being referred to as ‘the shop help’ because I wasn’t a guy.

There have been women pioneering in tattooing for decades, and even before that. To delve into the impressive history of females and their role in tattooing would need an article in itself.

When I first started tattooing in 2000 there was pressure to learn everything. To master every style of tattooing and to be able to do every walk in that came through the door.
It took years to even find out what I actually enjoyed doing because I was so busy trying to recreate what others wanted that I never stopped to ask myself what I really enjoyed doing, and what I was good at. I didn’t have the luxury of picking and choosing what I wanted to do. It was ‘Tattoo what walks in that door, or don’t make money.’ In most shops if you pulled that card you’d lose your job.

The beauty of a walk in shop gives you experience and growth in all areas of tattooing styles; there is always more to learn. Every tattoo requires you to do your beat, even the small ones that some deem as simple require steady line work, a knowledge of depth and blending. After years of tattooing any idea that stepped through the door, I found myself drawn to the softer styles of tattooing, the detail, the intricate pieces. I pushed myself to do better in those areas and strove gain more clientele who requested these pieces I loved doing.
I believe it’s important for clients and artists to connect when it comes to not just the subject matter of the tattoo, but style and overall aesthetic of the art. If I’m asked to do something I don’t find myself comfortable with or passionate about I like to recommend them out to other artists who are passionate about the styles or subject matters they are looking for.  Many tattooists specialize in certain types of tattooing and I think it’s an overall better experience when both client and tattooist are both excited about the project before them, that both have confidence and enthusiasm about the tattoo being done.

Now, I am fortunate to be able to generally tattoo what I love, that the clientele I have built up over the years love as well. They know my style, what my passions are and what areas I thrive in and bring me those pieces I can get creative with.

I love black and gray, tattoos that blend softly and look delicate; animal portraits, nature scenes, floral and botanical. I love doing fine lines, detail work and intricate art, mandalas and filagree. Even with color I love to bring ideas to life. I am a big fan of complimenting the natural curves of our bodies. I don’t want to simply stamp the tattoo onto the body, I want the tattoo to be a part of the body. A lot of my projects involve directly drawing onto the body and I am lucky to have the trust of my clients to be able to do this.
Many times I draw my ideas directly onto the skin and then tell my clients ‘use your imagination.’ Thankfully they do.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If I had a buddy visiting So Cal I ’d have to get them out to a Bad Ass show; yea that’s me shamelessly promoting my band Bad Ass. Why not? I love roller coasters, and everyone should- so Magic Mountain would be a must.
I would snag a cabin in the mountains for a couple days; just so they could melt into nature for a bit. Or maybe a trip out to Catalina Island, they’ve got a fun ghost tour there. And on that note… There’s a small ghost town a couple hours drive that would be a fun day trip; Calico Ghost town; and on the way to that we could detour out to The Wolf Mountain Sanctuary to love up on some wolves. It’s a grounding experience to be among them. Honestly might need a whole day for each one.
A bonfire on the beach one night; or two.
There’s a lot of great dinner theatres near us, medieval times and pirate dinner theatre. A day at Disney if it’s not crazy hot.
I feel like I’d be bouncing all over the place, A visit to the shop and a new tattoo, coffee and bbqs.

I know I left out a lot of key tourist attractions, In reality when friends visit we base the itinerary on what they were hoping to see and do, so the list would depend on the person coming out.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My husband, and my parents for the support and encouragement in the past and in the present. I thank God for the paths He laid out, His never failing ability to take bad situations and turn them to opportunities. I have to give love to all of the new and returning clients that come to get tattooed by me and the other ladies at the studio. Tattoo artists and shops are not exactly in short supply, and we are very aware that without our clients we wouldn’t be successful, wouldn’t have this shop. We have to always be humble enough to recognize it is because of those we tattoo that we can even make tattooing a career. How amazing to be able to do what we love and make a living from it. We do not take it for granted.

Website: tattoosbyhelen.com

Instagram: @tattoosbyhelen

Facebook: Tattoos By Helen / Treble Art Studio

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