Artist. Therapist. Friend. This weeks coffee ride guest has been all of these things to me at one time or another since 2016. I’m not sure if she knew what she was signing up for, but she’s helped me create some awesome pieces of art in some of my most trying times and turn those times into great memories.
Drums please! This weeks coffee ride guest is Ashley Dawn. Ashley has been tattooing in Oklahoma since it was legalized in 2007. She co-founded No Regrets tattoo studio in the Plaza District and is now currently practicing at Keepsake Tattoo. If you’re interested in a traditional tattoo, you should definitely give Keepsake a look, their artists are amazing and the vibe is super chill.
There are a lot of reasons people get tattoos. Self expression, an act of rebellion, but for me it’s a very therapeutic process. The adrenaline, the release of endorphins and the pain sort of provide a mental reset for me. Three of my last five tattoos have been during hectic times and I left the studio feeling like I was in a better mental state than when I walked in.
Aside from tattooing, she’s an avid cyclist, contributing artist to OKC’s public art scene, and recently designed a badass t-shirt for the cycling lifestyle company, Twin Six. We met up at Elemental Coffee and then headed out to Eagle Lake. It’s about a twelve-mile round trip ride which gave us plenty of time to figure out we both overdressed and brainstorm ideas on how we can get the city to toss us the keys to that street vacuuming thing to make the bike lanes a little less gravel bike specific.
But now the real questions. The time where I push record so I don’t leave out any of the juicy details.
What inspired you to become a tattoo artist?
”Um, by getting them. Back when I started getting them, they were still illegal in Oklahoma. It was getting my first tattoo, it was getting my second tattoo. My first tattoo, I went to a guy, and you know, it was just whatever. My second tattoo, we went to this artist and I loved the experience. I loved the tattoo and I loved the vibe of the shop. It was in Ark City, Kansas. He made me fall in love with the culture. So, I started getting tattooed by him regularly and I was already going to school for graphic design, but I didn’t want to work in an office. So, like I wanted to pursue tattooing but it was illegal here in Oklahoma. I was still in college and then they legalized tattooing here and I lucked out. I lucked out, I knew the right people at the right time to get in. So, I’m very, very lucky to be where I am right now.”
I’m a pretty loyal person and also know what I can expect from the experience with you as my artist. As an artist, what are your thoughts, keep the same artist or collect from different artists?
”People definitely use tattooing as a therapy session. But going back to that, you know, wanting to get tattooed by the same person, like my tattoos from the knees down all came from the same artist in Kansas, who I love, like he’s one of my great friends, but now I’m running out of room right. I wish I would have collected more. So often now, I see tattoos as like baseball cards, you know, like it’s okay to collect from different people. You get dedicated to your artist, but at the same time, I’m good with people collecting. What I always tell people, if you walk in the door anywhere and feel uncomfortable for any reason, like don’t do it. That feeling isn’t going to get any better.”
You’re just a couple weeks out from the Truffle Shuffle, a one hour endurogrind cycling event, how are you feeling about that and what’s your bike setup going to be?
”I’m super nervous! I mean, I don’t know what to expect. It’s like going into a tattoo shop you’ve never been in before. We talked about going and checking out the route. Honestly, a friend signed me up and I just got a text saying, “Hey, I signed you up for the Truffle Shuffle.” So, I mean, I’m excited. It’ll be fun, I’m just a little nervous. I’m seeing all the other people that signed up for it and I’m like, yeah, I’m not at their level at all. But maybe I’ll just like to one round and have a beer, it’ll be fun. And I’ll probably take my geared gravel bike with the tires I won at Mid South setup tubeless.
Oklahoma City was just voted number one in the U.S. for public art. I know you and Tanner have really contributed to that. Do you think that’s a big step forward in Oklahoma City being recognized nationally for the talent that’s here and in what ways has the art community rallied to make that happen?
”I was, my mind was blown that we got that. Not in a bad way. It just made me stop and think, wow, we do have a lot of public art that’s happening. The Plaza Walls has done great things. I think it’s great for Oklahoma City for sure and I’m hoping it’ll help us do even more by getting that recognition. It’s nice to see the smaller towns around Oklahoma having a resurgence in public art also, like in El Reno. It’s exciting and I hope that it helps support local artists, even more, you know, like being able to be an artist and actually live off that is definitely important.”
The coffee we enjoyed: Counter Spell Coffee
Origin: Ethiopia
Notes: Blueberry, citrus, floral
Brewing method: Pour-over
My thoughts: Paul Zimmerman is the mastermind behind Counter Spell coffee. I’ve known Paul for a minute and first met him at Elemental Coffee years ago when I was posting up there daily. Elemental has some awesome alumni that are doing some amazing things, Paul is one of those dudes. But let’s get back on track, how was the coffee? If you’re looking for a coffee or a roaster who isn’t afraid to find those berries and then make them pop, Counter Spell delivers. It’s not overbearing, it’s not juicy, but from the moment you pick up your cup and catch that first little whiff of coffee, you catch the blueberry note, it’s upfront and forward and just puts a smile on your face. I like this coffee a lot, and part of the reason I like it is because they didn’t play it safe and create a coffee everyone will like, they created a coffee that veers slightly off the beaten path and if you’re looking for something that’ll make your taste buds stand at attention, this is it.
Future Coffee Ride Guests:
5/26 - Tony Steward