Today we’d like to introduce you to Kaylen Nollie.
Kaylen, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Went to Florida A&M University for Mechanical Engineering and training to be an Officer in the United States Navy. I gradually became more and more unhappy and got sick multiple times through my pursuit. I’ve had Lahrengitis, Pneumonia 2xs, and Bronchitis 3xs. I had no joy, no passion, I would say “it doesn’t matter what I do as long as I’m making money,” or “I don’t care, it is what we make it.” This may sound crazy, but my last few months in my program, right before it was too late for me to exit the Officer program, I was taking a shower one morning in my apartment, I heard my friend’s voice (he was staying with me for a few weeks but left literally 30 min before to go to class), I couldn’t hear things clearly at first, but I was literally having a conversation in the shower. The voice called out my name, “Kay, Kay” “What are you doing?” (In short) I called my mother (Who is a Chaplain/Preacher) and told her what I was experiencing and she told me, maybe you aren’t doing something you are supposed to be doing, just sit back and listen. Within a few months, I found tattooing and decided to drop the program. I ended up going back to school for Mechanical Engineering, and in school currently now for Animation.
I started really getting into getting tattoos, drawing mine, and coming up with ideas. Eventually, my artist told me that he would teach me if I wanted to learn. I started tattooing and was there every day. I always had a passion for art, and everyone always told me that I wouldn’t make any money doing, and I felt like I was lied to. I felt passionate and was able to make money. So from there, I’ve been blessed to be featured on Season 7 Black Ink New York, Tattoo for an NFL Game Show during Super Bowl LIII, as well as work on television, movie sets, and music video sets as an artist as well as modeling and acting. I was able to sell visual arts, graphics, logos, all from something I created in my mind. I feel freedom. I feel like God has really blessed me every step of the way through people and signs. I’ve literally have prayed and asked questions on if what I am doing is right, and expressed things to him that I’ve never told anyone, and he has answered me. Random people have come to me and answered questions back to me word for word as I’ve asked them, people have told me things and I’ve been put in situations where I truly understand what it means to walk on your path. I’m just really thankful ultimately.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Struggle is a part of life.
I was a Mechanical Engineering Major training to be an Officer in The United States Navy. Leaving what I was doing that ensured a comfortable safe life to start a business in tattooing, which I just started learning was scary. I got a lot of backlash, I was afraid to tell the people that I loved what I was doing. I got a lot of backlash from some of the people I love.
I came to LA with $800 in my pocket. I wasn’t even making $2000 a month, once I did come out. Stayed with my cousin (so thankful for everything she has done for me because people don’t do that) on her couch for six months.
I’ve been beyond broke, heartbroken, taken advantage of in many ways, sexually assaulted, drugged at an outing, and even have had some issues internally where I just thought I was crazy and couldn’t be around anyone, couldn’t be touched, couldn’t express what was going on and etc. I don’t really like to go into details about it, but the journey before I even started the business has been hard. But I thank God honestly because he has looked over me, and blessed me beyond belief.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Kay Ink’n It is a Visual Arts business. Mainly tattooing (how it started), but also Animations, Graphics, Paintings, and Customizations. I am known mostly for tattooing of course, but a lot of people, once getting a tattoo, want more, and thats why I decided to use my talents and branch off and sell other artwork I’ve been doing. Being on television and working with The National Football League also showed me that I can take this talent of mine, and do so much more with it!
What were you like growing up?
Growing up, it really just depended on who I was around. There were some people I was completely outgoing and fun with and others I just couldn’t think of anything to say, but I always content with just having my best friends and sisters. I felt like I didn’t really need too many more people. I was really dorky and always messing up something because I liked to use my hands and create things. I used to have a singing group back in the day and would draw cartoons a lot. I was really into math. My mom really used to force me to talk to people, because she said I needed to be social. I’m happy she did. Because it helps me have conversations with people with tattooing and selling myself as well. I was raised by a single mother and three older sisters. They really took care of their baby sister. I love them deeply, when I was younger I just wanted to be like them.
They have protected me since I was a baby and still protect me and love me to this day. I’m super family-oriented. I treat my friends like my sisters treat me (usually my problem) and that’s really why I would get my feelings hurt a lot when I was younger and still to this day. I was always loving and loyal to the people who I love. I try and make the best decisions possible and do right by people in general. I honestly just wanted to change the world and change people’s heart. I used to cry a lot because I didn’t understand the evils and toxicity because my family was so loving. I just wanted to show people that you are able to get everything you want out of life, while still doing the right thing. Success actually lasts a lot longer when you do, because success isn’t only what you have in physical form, but the person you become and the people you can touch. Sometimes we go through things to be a light for someone else.
Pricing:
- 5 to 10 second animation starts from $250 and goes up from there depending on what is needed
- Tattoos and original art pieces start at $100
- Print of work start at $20
Contact Info:
- Address: 22209 S Vermont Ave
- Website: kayinknit.as.me
- Phone: 8044779060
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: kayinknit
Image Credit:
NFL The Checkdown, 100kDai
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