Meet Kat Surber | Tattoo Artist & Private Studio Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kat Surber and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kat, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
For me, risk is taking a deep breath, taking the leap & staying fluid.

Starting my tattoo career was a big risk. I was giving up a full-time job with consistent pay & security for something that most consider not a ‘real job’.

On top of that, I took that leap during covid quarantine. I had no idea that the tattoo industry was about to be shut down for 3 months. When the news hit I thought I had made the biggest mistake of my life. After quarantine was lifted people were desperate to get a new tattoo.

The next risk I took was buying the studio. The owner decided to move out of state & offered it to me. With only 3 years in the business, I was mortified. It was my mentor’s studio, he built on ideals that I agreed with, so I couldn’t let it shut down.

My ultimate goal was to start my own private studio which leads us to my current risky move. This December I chose to transition from a multi-artist studio to a private studio. It won’t be easy, but dreams are worth it.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I specialize in line work/fine line pieces. Line work is the most important part of a tattoo, so I dedicated the first 4 years of my career to perfecting it.

When you visit my studio, the first thing you’ll notice is how clean it is. Cleanliness is a top priority of mine. The atmosphere is unique, friendly & welcoming.

I provide knowledge & guidance, but ultimately it’s your tattoo so you call the shots. If it’s out of my ability range, we will have an honest conversation about it. My goal is to have each individual leave with a smile & sometimes happy tears.

Tattooing should be a wonderful experience.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If I had a friend visit I would take them to the Penny Arcade in Manitou. On the way back we’d stop for lunch at either The Yellow Mountain Tea House or Wild Ginger Thai.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My gratitude goes out to many people. My mentor, Gary Wells, & Austin Diener, who continued to teach me after Gary moved.

I am in a great position as my family is extremely supportive of my career. So they deserve a lot of thanks.

My clientele is a huge part of my success & I am so lucky to have such a wonderful group of people in my life.

Website: https://www.steadfasttattoostudio.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kat.surber.tattoos/profilecard/?igsh=MmowZ2lsdmw1Njlh

Image Credits
Dominique Golia Portraits