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Conversations with the Inspiring Jeanine Gutzait

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeanine Gutzait.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I’m a local artist at Fortune Cookie Tattoo and I have been there since May of 2018, but started my journey and got my first tattoo kit in 2007. It was a Christmas gift from all my friends at the time. I have been drawing all my life and my friends suggested I do tattoos. I definitely should not have done tattoos…Of course my friends weren’t THAT stupid, they didn’t let me mark on them until I had the practice first. I did the typical ” tattoo on fake skin” and fruit. I wish I still had the picture of the first stuff I did. I did a rose on a grapefruit. then went straight into huge pieces I was not prepared for…but my thought process was “I guess you gotta start somewhere?”

The very first piece I ever did was a Phoenix on one of my friends, who sadly passed away. I drew out this yellow, orange, and red fire bird and he liked it. But with no real knowledge of actually how to tattoo at the time. It didn’t turn out the best but it wasn’t terrible either. He showed the piece to a ton of people and they all had thought he had gotten it in a shop. With that being a huge confidence boost, that was it, I was going to do this. To do this proper though, I needed to get an apprenticeship. How I ended up getting my apprenticeship was, I actually had to get some of my own work fixed and ended up finding my mentor at a shop in Arvada. It’s since closed down and I actually won’t be naming my mentor. At this time in my life I was 21. My future mentor wants to see my work etc. (Let’s call this guy R) I show him my art, show off the tattoos I’ve done on people. Cool I’m in! I get to hang out at the shop, watch them do tattoos, I get to make friends, and just get into the scene.

I did learn a ton while I was there. But it came at a bit of a price. Everything has a price. A lot of apprentices get to scrub toilets and clean equipment, build needles, essentially get hazed. I actually did a lot of drawing. I sold some art. But in the long run I exchanged my body for my position. Now, I am not going to lie to you and tell you that I was raped, it was far from that. Pretty much R’s marriage was failing and he wanted to get to “know me”. I found out that sex was a big part of how I got my apprenticeship at this point. And pretty much if I wasn’t female, I would not have gotten the apprenticeship. I did find out later that R seemed to have other random girls come and go. In the end I took away a ton of info before R moved. I wasn’t able to stay in that shop however, I had gotten pregnant with my daughter in 2010, decided to take a break from tattoos and just work my actual job at the time. I worked nights taking care of developmentally disabled adults and during the downtime there I got to focus on refining my art. I worked for the state of Colorado and before I was able to actually do tattoos full time I stayed in the medical field. Which I do feel that gave me a lot of the knowledge I needed to understand all the stuff that goes into the healing process and how tattoos ultimately work. That and all the blood born pathogen knowledge needed for the license.

For the artist side of me I draw a lot of animals, anthropomorphic characters, cartoons, and furry art. I had been drawing since I could hold a crayon, and at this point in time I had a pretty big following in the Furry art world. I go by the alias Foxene Starr and have personified my fox to represent me in a lot of my stuff today. I’ve always made extra cash with doing commission work. I’ve done a ton of mediums. Color pencils, marker, paints, sewing for costume parts, jewelry, resin, the list goes on really. And that brought me back to tattoos. I kept doing them here and there almost like a hobby but I found I just wasn’t going to be happy working a regular job and wanted to create. So I ended up quitting my job as a medical assistant and took the plunge in doing art and tattoos full time. It was a heck of a struggle. I had tried to get into a few shops. Ultimately they didn’t end up feeling right. And I almost gave up to be honest. I had some people have me draw up tattoos for them, and just take the art to another artist. But my friend Felix had messaged me saying one of their artists was leaving their shop and they would have an opening. I was told to grab my portfolio and bring it into Fortune Cookie Tattoo. And I was given a chance. And I am so thankful I got that chance because it’s been my home away from home for almost two years now. Jon the owner has been one of the best people I’ve ever had the pleasure to meet. And Felix, now my coworker as well as my friend is amazing to work with. And I feel like they are my extended family! I’m able to grow as an artist with them and it’s been absolutely amazing.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
For me it definitely was not. You can definitely tell with my answer to the first question. I think I would have to say to young women starting their journey to have a good sense of self. Know who you are, know what you want to accomplish and don’t give in to pressures of harmful natures. It’s really easy to give in if you think it will get you what you want. In the long run, it’s not worth it. I lost a part of my dignity to get where I am and that’s just not right for anyone to do. It haunts me. You can make it off your abilities. It’s 100% possible. You have to believe in your self, work hard and not take the easy route.

What should we know about Vexed Vixen Ink? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Well, I most definitely have to say I specialize in animals. I absolutely love drawing them. My most favorite tattoos I’ve gotten to do are memorial pet portraits and wild animals. I think I am most know for my pin up style animal girls. I mostly do them on commission and sell various prints at conventions. I never was one to be able to draw human faces so it was easier for me to just put animal heads on people. I really enjoy the fandom I get to draw them for too. I feel I am most proud of the fact I get to create for people as a living. I spent so much energy and love into all my creations, it’s just beyond words how happy I am to be able to do this as a living.

Looking back on your childhood, what experiences do you feel played an important role in shaping the person you grew up to be?
I do feel I did have an advantage. On the subject of art, my grandfather was the one in my life who drew and encouraged me to draw. When I was little, I’d get to go to his house over the summer and we would actually draw together. We would play a game where he would draw a line and then I would draw one until we came up with a face or a critter. Another big influence actually were my parents with music. I grew up playing violin and other stringed instruments. My mom, dad, brother and I would play quartet music and perform for people. Music and art go hand in hand and were huge for me growing up. These things made me understand the importance of practice and never giving up.

Pricing:

  • Our shop has an 80$ minimum
  • For larger pieces we are 140$ an hour
  • Traditional full color drawings start at 80$
  • Digital Illustrations start at 60$

Contact Info:

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