When tattoo artist Brianna Mendez was growing up, she says she wasn’t allowed to use temporary tattoos. She said that inkling made her even more curious about tattooing.
“It had an effect on me,” she said.
Mendez, who goes by Honey Bee Ink, is a tattoo artist at The Coven, a collective of woman tattooers in Anchorage. She began apprenticing in 2024.
“I was scrolling one day and I saw that Elizabeth [of Fable Tattoo Studio] and Erin [of Tattoos by Erin] had put out a call for apprentices, my jaw hit the ground. I was like, ‘Oh my god. To be in that position would be a dream,’” Mendez said.
Mendez says she is really drawn to the art nouveau and maximalist themes.
“For me, maximalism actually also a big inspiration was the I Spy books,” Mendez said. “I love those things so much, they bring a lot of nostalgia to them. They’re very maximalist and very eclectic.”
She got her nickname, “Honeybee,” from her previous job working with children, and initially thought she would pursue a career in childhood developmental psychology.
“When leaving my job with kids, one of the biggest things I [feared] was a higher purpose. I was leaving a job that always gave me that,” Mendez said.
In April, she had a big month — she graduated, received her tattoo license and turned 25. Since tattooing, she says that her expectations have gone above and beyond.
A lot of folks are bringing her ideas that have “really hit the nail on the head” of the art that she wants to do, and is excited to continue experimenting with different mediums.
Mendez says that her books are open, and is excited to do more custom pieces for clients.
Sam Davenport is a writer residing in Anchorage. She's a leo and a plant-person, and loves spending quality time with her dog, Aspen. She is a Real Housewives fan and has been called a Bravo historian.
