What Gardening Has Taught Me About Tattooing

Most people know me as a tattoo artist, but when I'm not at the studio, you'll find me outside in the garden tending vegetables, flowers, herbs, and caring for my birds. At first glance, gardening and tattooing might seem like completely different worlds, but over the years I've realized they have a lot in common!

Both require patience. In a world that often wants instant results, neither a garden nor a tattoo can be rushed. A seed takes time to sprout, grow, and eventually bloom. A tattoo takes time to design, apply, heal, and settle into the skin. Some of the most rewarding things in life happen slowly.

A friend my dog Jax and I made on our morning walk.

Gardening has taught me to appreciate that process. When I'm working in the garden, I'm reminded that every stage has value. Not every day is harvest season. Some days are spent pulling weeds, watering plants, or simply observing what needs attention. Tattooing is similar. Not every appointment is a dramatic transformation. Sometimes it's refining details, building a sleeve over multiple sessions, or creating a design that will become part of a larger story later on.

Nature also inspires much of my artwork. As a tattoo artist, I find endless inspiration in the shapes, textures, and patterns found in the natural world. The way vines twist, petals fold, feathers overlap, and roots spread beneath the soil often finds its way into my designs. Even when I'm creating darker themes involving skulls, ravens, or gothic imagery, there is usually an element of nature woven into the piece.

Roses in the garden.

Gardening helps keep me creative. Tattooing is both physically and mentally demanding. Long sessions require focus, concentration, and precision. Spending time outside gives my mind a chance to reset. Digging in the dirt, caring for plants, and watching things grow provides a balance that helps prevent creative burnout.

It’s grounding working with your hands in a completely different way. One of the biggest lessons gardening has taught me is that growth isn't always obvious. Sometimes progress happens beneath the surface long before you see results. The same is true for personal growth, artistic development, and even tattooing. Every drawing, every tattoo, every season in the garden contributes to something larger over time.

Peony in full bloom.

Whether I'm planting seeds in the spring or creating a tattoo that will last a lifetime, both remind me of the same thing: meaningful things take care, patience, and a willingness to trust the process.

After spending hours indoors tattooing, there are few things I enjoy more than stepping outside, getting my hands dirty, and reconnecting with the natural world that inspires so much of what I create. 🖤

Love,

Neon
The Neon Lady

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