From cupcakes to tattoos: New studio opens in Rocky

Emma tried to create a space where everyone was comfortable and it wasn’t intimidating for clients to walk into.

Emma Marentes has opened her own studio, Hello Stranger Tattoo Parlour, in Denham Street, Rockhampton.

From cupcakes to tattoos - the former Cupcake Manor building in Rockhampton’s Denham Street has a new lease on life.

Tattoo artist Emma Marentes has opened her own studio, Hello Stranger Tattoo Parlour.

Emma has eight years experience under her belt and she previously worked at Yeppoon Tattoo Studio.

She decided in November she wanted to open her own studio as she had a desire to create a space that was welcoming for everyone, particularly those who were not used to tattoo studios.

“It’s really easy for tattooers to forget how intimidating it is to walk into a tattoo studio,” she said.

“I really tried to create an environment that is nice to be in instead of uncomfortable, trying to lose that 80s 90s tattoo shop vibe.

“It can be pretty rough and intimidating for people on gender and sexuality spectrums.”

The first step Emma took once she decided to open her studio was to visit the accountant who pushed her to go ahead.

The next agenda item was the space.

Cupcake Manor closed at the end of 2017 and the building has been leased a couple of times since but nothing has stuck.

Emma was attracted to the building as it had epoxy floors, was a stand-alone building and had parking on site.

“I saw the building was available and that pushed me along a lot faster than I was originally anticipating, I was planning to open in the new financial year but I didn’t want to miss the building,” Emma said.

New to owning her own studio, there were some challenges along the way from getting her approval from the council to being the target of Facebook scammers twice.

The studio has now been open two weeks and has been successful so far.

“I have been really fortunate, I have regular clients as well so that has been really helpful,” she said.

Being her own boss has been exciting but daunting.

“Now I am also in the position where I am like well if something goes wrong, that’s my fault,” she said.

“But it allows for a bit more freedom than what I have had before.”

Emma has one apprentice underneath her who is her partner, who she is training up.

She hopes to put another artist permanently down the track and will also have guest artists at the studio.

Emma specialises in black work, illustrative style, anime and mandalas.

HELLO STRANGER TATTOO PARLOUR

New studio opened by Emma Marentes

Open Thursday to Sunday

89 Denham Street, Rockhampton

Find them on Facebook

Originally published as From cupcakes to tattoos: New studio opens in Rocky