Jamie Sawyer, professional artist, tattooist, and tarot deck creator
The Creative Council
Welcome to The Creative Council, where I interview creatives about their lives and work and the ups and downs of being a creative soul.
Today’s interviewee is Jamie Sawyer!
Jamie (she/her) is a professional artist who found her artistic style and voice while making a life for the past twenty-three years in the world of tattooing. Living outside of societal norms, she has been able to see the human condition in action, engaging and bearing witness, holding and sharing space while creating art. Tarot has been a huge part of Jamie’s life for the greater part of this journey, but she’s been really focusing on it for the past twelve years— weaving its lessons and symbolism into tattoos and art. She has often said that tattooing is akin to giving a tarot reading, it is energy work through indelible art. She has a busy mind with a lack of vices.
The Interview
Hi Jamie! I cannot even begin to tell you how much I’ve been looking forward to this! Shall we get started? *cracks knuckles*
· When did you start creating? Do you remember what pulled you in?
I’ve been creating since as long as I can remember. As a child, I would always draw or make things out of found objects. I also learned to sew at a very early age. I think what pulled me in was it was an escape from the chaos of my dysfunctional family. The world of my imagination was a safe space and a solace. My art was also a way that I got positive reinforcement from the adults in my life, so naturally I was compelled to do more.
· When did you start pursuing your current craft for real? As in, when did you begin to take yourself seriously as a creator?
I was sixteen the first time someone I knew got my art tattooed on them. I wasn’t sure if I would ever be able to do them myself, being that it was a ‘man’s world’ (insert eye rolls here). It floored me, I was ecstatic to think that something I drew was now on that person forever…
I always knew I wanted to do something with art for a living, just didn’t know what. I floundered a bit after high school, working as an insurance agent and then as a store manager here and there. While they could have been a sure thing, none of them would be true to my heart or calling. It was after I got my first tattoo at twenty that I decided to make it a goal to break into that ‘man’s world’.
At twenty-five, after a lot of persistence and proving my worth, I landed an apprenticeship at a street shop in a tourist town. It was at that time I didn’t look back. I walked away from ‘good’ paying jobs to pursue a creative life. Here it is almost twenty-three years later and it was the best decision I ever made. It was not easy. However, it was absolutely worth it. Tattooing was able to create the steady income and foundation for me to not worry about money… It was through that stability and a desire to create art outside of the skin that ultimately led me to creating tarot decks. Art has become my whole world.
· Are you still having fun? If yes, how are you making sure it stays fun?
Absolutely! I get to draw on people and play with tarot cards each and every day of my life. I make sure it stays engaging by learning new techniques, connecting with community and remembering to practice gratitude. Looking back to how far I’ve come and re-visiting themes with what I now know today.
· What has been your biggest ‘mistake’ thus far, and what would you tell people about to make that same mistake?
Imposter syndrome. It’s a way I’ve given my power away time and time again. In the tattoo world, it was believing that, somehow, I didn’t deserve to be there due to my gender… In the tarot community, it has been saying ‘no’ to opportunities where a ‘yes’ may have been better. I assumed on a few occasions (early on) that I wasn’t deserving to be a speaker at a conference because I didn’t view myself as a teacher…
However, being asked to speak about tarot casting, which is a method I have developed for my own practice… Who else would teach something I created if it wasn’t me? (My dear friend, V., told me that ‘teaching is simply talking and sharing about something you love’.) The biggest mistake has always been comparing myself to those I look up to. I still struggle with it at times but have learned that I am worthy of what I am being asked to do.
· Of all the milestones you’ve reached thus far, what has been your favourite? How did you celebrate it?
Deck creating has been something I never thought I could do, yet here I am working on my 10th(?)one! I’ve been asked time and time again to speak about deck creation and running successful crowdfunding campaigns. It’s just wild to me that people all over the world connect with my art in their practice. While I love tattooing for the one-on-one connections I get to make in person, there’s something about creating a tarot deck that people on the other side of the world have that continues to blow my mind. I celebrate it every day and do not take it for granted.
· What do you struggle with most as a creative person?
The struggle comes from actual life for me, having to play the games of society to be able to enjoy basic things that, had I stayed in the insurance or management field, I would have had no problem obtaining. For instance, I’ve been self-employed since 2002. It really makes buying a home hard here in the States.
However, through perseverance and playing by the ‘rules’ of society, I am happy to report that, after an extremely long struggle, my husband and I closed on our home just this week! Creativity has always been my safety net, but choosing the path less traveled often comes with its own separate set of challenges.
· Have you always had that struggle or has it changed over time?
My advice is to keep your eye on the goal and research what may need to happen in order to achieve it. Creativity isn’t always fun when you have to add logic into the mix. However, if you are struggling, walk away from the project/task at hand. Give it the space to breathe a little so that you can return to it with a fresh perspective. If I’m struggling with a creative block, I may start learning a new art modality. Do something you’ve always wanted to try: linocutting, stained glass, pottery, writing, etc. It’ll help to move the blockages.
· What do you do to stay inspired?
I stay inspired by having my tools always at the ready. Meaning, it’s extremely important for me to have the supplies needed for a project close at hand. If I’m inspired to sew, and the machine is packed away… by the time I unpack it, the spark may be gone.
I am lucky enough to have all of my art supplies/tools out and ready for me whenever I feel called to use them. It really helps me to stay in the creative flow. If you have limited space, I highly suggest getting a cabinet or small craft cart that you can dedicate to your creativity, make sure it’s accessible and within reach when the Muses take your hand.
· What is the biggest compliment you ever received about your work?
Connecting with the community that benefits from the art that I create. Through being asked to speak at conferences, which led me to meet and be in the same line-up as some of the people who I only ever dreamed of meeting. I never dreamed that would happen when I first started creating art all of those years ago… Then getting to meet the fans of my work, they tell me how the art has spoken to them and helped them. I do not take that lightly.
· What’s the best creative advice you ever received?
Be gentle with yourself when learning something new, remember to embrace that beginner phase.
· As you might know, I’m pretty woo-woo. On a scale of 1 to ‘I was burned at the stake in a previous lifetime’, how woo-woo are you? And how does that express itself in your life and/or your creative practice?
I am a solid 8 on the woo scale. I actually call my practice ‘Skeptical Woo’, meaning, I believe in the energies, magic even… However, I also believe that we, as spirit in a human body, MUST HAVE THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE. That we cannot mentally elevate above what’s going on in life just because we don’t enjoy the lessons we might be going through at any given moment. It’s those bumps in the path that ultimately shape who we are becoming.
For instance, I love crystals and believe they all have ways to amplify our intentions and energy (I love making grids)… but we still must be active participants in creating the reality we want. A career in tattooing would not have just happened to me because I wanted it. I had to do the footwork, make connections, get tattooed, I had to learn about the traditions, immerse myself in the shop culture and practice art to get through the door. The same with tarot creation. I learn, immerse and create. All while in the background living the human experience, having setbacks and continuing to go forward.
So I say Skeptical Woo because I believe we are all magic, yet we still have to approach it with a healthy dose of skepticism and practicality.
Amen to that! I always say that connecting to the divine – or whatever you want to call it – will help you get clear on HOW to get what you want, not to just get it handed to you.
Thank you so much for this, Jamie!
You can find Jamie and her work here on Substack, on Jamie Sawyer 336, and J. Sawyer Studio.
You can also find her on various social media channels:
Instagram, Threads, & YouTube: @jamiesawyer336
Facebook: @Sawyerspath
TikTok: @j.sawyerstudio
bluesky: @jamiesawyer336.com
Are you a creative and would you like to be interviewed next? E-mail me at marielle@mswordsmith.nl and we’ll make it happen!
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