Meet Macie Comer, Tattoo Artist at No Good Tattoo

Please introduce yourself — who you are, your background, what service you provide?

I'm Macie, a tattoo artist based in Austin, TX. I've been tattooing for about five years. I started out hand-poking before transitioning to machine tattooing a couple of years ago. I specialize in illustrative black and grey tattoos.

How did you get started? What led you to this industry? Was it always the plan?

I always say that tattooing found me. I was inspired after getting a stick-and-poke tattoo from a coworker while I was in school for Microbiology. She encouraged me to try it myself, so my best friend and I spent hours tattooing ourselves at our kitchen table. I kept tattooing friends throughout college. I had always planned on getting my master's degree, but tattooing turned out to be a much more fun and rewarding path.

What do you love most about the work? What keeps you motivated and inspired day to day?

I love connecting with clients and helping them feel more at home in their bodies. More and more, I appreciate how important bodily autonomy and self-expression are, especially in the face of social and political pressures. Tattooing has always been a meaningful form of liberation and personal expression, and I'm grateful to be a small part of that for other people.

What's something people don't see or know about your industry?

Tattooing is incredibly physically demanding. Many artists deal with carpal tunnel, wrist and elbow injuries, neck tension, or chronic back pain — occupational realities that most clients never think about. Many of us trade tattoos with other body workers for massages, acupuncture, and other forms of care.

What resources, tools, or support do you wish existed?

I'd love to see a larger-scale educational program for tattooing. Right now, your options are generally an apprenticeship, teaching yourself, or buying someone's online masterclass. Most other skilled trades have more structured educational pathways, and I think tattooing could really benefit from that. I know it's a controversial opinion, since many tattooers feel the barrier to entry should remain high, but I think there's room for both tradition and better education.

What do you want potential clients to know about you or your work?

I specialize in black and grey illustrative tattoos with an emphasis on texture, depth, and shading — more than anything, I care about creating pieces that flow naturally with the body and feel like they truly belong there.

Your contact info and links are on your Maisaic profile, is there anything else you'd like to share with the readers?

While I work by appointment only, my shop hosts walk-in days on the second Saturday of every month. You're welcome to stop by for a consultation or a tattoo — I’d love to see you there!