Tattoo artist and former owner of a tattoo shop in Las Vegas. This is Staci’s past. As for the future and her “mystic” projects, you will have to read the next lines…
Hi Staci, I know you’re a Southern girl who lived a period of your life in Las Vegas and your nickname is “Gypsy Rose”. What’s next?
I actually live in the Netherlands now. I owned a small tattoo shop in Las Vegas for a few years and modeled. I used my tattoo shop and model money to pay for my education.
I now have a BA in Psychology and a MS in Biological Science. I am a teacher now and also opened a small artisan business in 2022 called ‘Mystic Hollow Emporium’, which I am now expanding to Europe.
Is anyone helping you with this new project of yours?
My two children and I create home decor, jewelry, paintings, sell crystals, oils and make small terrariums. My daughter, aged 18, is an extremely talented artist and owns this business with me and another one.
I am teaching her to tattoo as well. My son is 8 years old and already creates many things as well.
So the next chapter is my business, my work as a teacher, educating myself further in my PhD research on anthrozoology and exploring our beautiful new country!
How did your “relationship” with tattoo art begin, continue and how is it going?
I have always loved art in any form and being able to show art on my body was a fascination from a young age. I started with temporary tattoos as a child so when I became of age, getting a real tattoo was one of the first things I did.
Your body seems like a nice mix of styles: you have Japanese subjects, NeoTrad, portraits, letterings, colored pieces, Black and Grey pieces etc. So, am I wrong or do you like everything about tattoo art?
Yeah I love and appreciate all styles of tattoo art!
I noticed that on your right thigh you have a beautiful black and grey portrait of Edgar Allan Poe. Is he your favorite writer?
He is, I also have the poem ‘Dream Within a Dream’ written down my left arm and hand, that I tattooed myself.
Why that ‘Beautiful Darkness’ lettering written along your left arm? Is this a quote from something?
It’s the title of a book (a fantasy novel written in 2010 by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. Ed). I loved it because I have always seen the beauty in darkness.
Do you have any trusted tattoo artists you would like to mention to us?
I actually did a lot of my ink myself. I had a bad experience with an artist and decided that I could do it myself. I bought the equipment and taught myself practicing on pigskin first and after using my own body as practice.
I tattooed anywhere I could reach.
Were you immediately attracted to tattoo art?
Sure! It came naturally to me. Most of my legs were done by myself and I did most of it upside down! I then found an apprenticeship, worked on others within months and owned my own shop within a year.
Let’s also talk about your other passions. Can you tell me your favorite book, your favorite film, the TV series you followed from start to finish and the most exciting concert you attended?
My passions are art in any form. I enjoy museums and festivals but mostly I enjoy working with my two children and creating our own art to sell at our shop. My favorite book would be the series ‘Crave’ by Tracy Wolff. I enjoy Harry Potter and Percy Jackson both books and movies, anything with magic and fantasy really!
I am also a med nerd so all the Doctor shows such as ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ and ‘The Good Doctor’. The most exciting concert I attended was Rob Zombie and Marylin Manson tour. They were amazing and I was right there in front!
And your last famous words are…?
Morticia Addams, of the iconic Addams Family, once said, “Normal is an illusion. What is normal for the spider is chaos for the fly.” This Morticia quote is also tattooed on my left arm near ‘Beautiful Darkness’ and ‘Dream Within a Dream Poem’. I believe everyone sees things differently, even the same event, so it is really important people remember to gain a different perspective in life and try to see things from others eyes.
