CHAR MCGAUGHY
Owner, Gold Dust Tattoos and Fine Art
Dallas, TX
Dallas-based Gold Dust Tattoos and Fine Art has been named the city’s best tattoo shop and its owner, Char McGaughy, Best Tattoo Artist, among other awards and special recognitions, since opening in 2013. An illustrator and painter from the time she was a kid, McGaughy built up a steady clientele after completing her tattoo apprenticeship in 2009, followed by creating her appointment only studio.
“I learned how to market and brand myself in addition to constantly drawing, painting and studying the art of tattooing,” McGaughy said. “I knew I wanted to open a shop that focused heavily on customer service and good, clean, custom tattoos.”
As demand for her work grew, McGaughy eventually transitioned Gold Dust into a larger shop with five full-time artists. Along with her wife, Emily, McGaughy is heavily involved in Dallas’s local LGBT community and credited the connections she’s made through it for adding to her success.
“If you’re an outsider in your business like I am–a female tattooer and shop owner–find other outsiders if possible,” she said. “If you’re a person of color, queer person, trans person, etc., connect with others like you. There are often specific issues we deal with as minorities and finding others who are familiar with these experiences allows us to feel a part of a community and have support and advice always available. …Having a tattoo shop where everyone can feel comfortable and safe is a point of pride for me.”
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