Meet Bobbi Stark of Keepsake Studio in Lakewood

Today we’d like to introduce you to Bobbi Stark.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I started my tattoo apprenticeship while in the later stages of earning my English Degree from Metro State in 2011. Although I hoarded catalogs from Art Institutes across the country – the tuition price was exponentially far beyond my financial means. I settled for English because I truly love it – and, it was a good fall back.

My apprenticeship was traditional in the sense that I was mistreated, exploited and harassed, while also taught next to nothing. This kind of “cool kids club” mentality is fairly common in the tattoo industry. You have to say and do all the right things to get accepted and then spend months cleaning floors with toothbrushes for free, while simultaneously being the butt of every ridiculous prank you could imagine.

It was non-traditional in the sense that I quit about three mentors before finally finding someone who stopped harassing me long enough to actually teach me something. It took a year and a half of pushing back against this weird frat boy subculture to get to the point where I actually learned the fundamentals of tattooing.

Four years later, I briefly moved to Wichita, Kansas where I had nothing to do but improve my craft. It was there that I honed my style and finally became part of a supportive tattoo community. I had never been in an environment that offered encouragement or direction without competition or judgment – and it truly changed my life.

After moving back to Denver, I landed a great job opportunity at a very reputable shop in Downtown. Although surrounded by fabulous artists, my physical and emotional health started to show signs of my 55 hour work weeks.

In February 2018, I decided to take the plunge and open a small independent studio of my own. It was 100 Square feet and great for getting my life and health back on track.

However about six months in, I started to miss the camaraderie and creative input of having co-workers. With that, I started a small studio in Denver and slowly gained three co-workers I simply adore.

We work in an appointment only setting, where we support and challenge one another creatively. This setting allows us to give individualized attention and time to every client, assuring the best one of a kind creation that suits them and their needs.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Owning a shop has been a big challenge.

It took about four months to get our first larger studio entirely set up and running comfortably. Right as we were starting to grow some roots, the landlord informed us that he had let the building go into foreclosure.

Obviously, this was a huge setback. We were left with about two months to find, pin down and remodel an entirely new space.

I’ve never been so stressed out in my life; to have my new business and the careers of three of the most talented people I know – 100% dependent on me and my actions as an owner.

Needless to say, we did it. I still don’t really know how, but it happened.

Please tell us about Keepsake Studio.
Keepsake Studio is a tattoo and fine art studio.

The thing I’m most proud of as a shop owner is our ability to speak to our clients without an air of superiority. We’re approachable, honest and sincere. Our priority is helping people get the best possible outcome in regards to their artwork – not making a buck.

If a client comes in and wants something that’s out of our wheelhouse, we can confidently. refer them to another artist who would nail it. We support our community of artists in this city and treat our clients with integrity.

If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
If I had to start over, I wouldn’t have wasted so much time trying to please people I looked up to creatively, but couldn’t stand interpersonally.

I would have spent less time doubting myself and worked a little harder on my craft. But, thankfully I have the present to work on that.

Pricing:

• All of our artists charge 150$ an hour
• All of our artists require a 100$ nonrefundable deposit to schedule an appointment

Contact Info:

• Address: 8600 West 14th Ave. Unit 1A
  Lakewood, CO 80215
• Website: www.bobbistark.com
• Phone: 3032239424
• Email: badritualsart@gmail.com
• Instagram: ladystark88

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