BY RACHEL DOVE
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — A multi-talented Martin County resident completed a colorful mural on the outside wall of the historical courthouse that adds another layer of interest to the downtown Inez location, as local residents and those visiting the area flock to “Umbrella Alley” for a one-of-a-kind photo opportunity.
At the age of 9, Katie O’Connor submitted her first official drawing/painting for competition at the elementary school she attended in Pike County. She chose the scene from the Disney movie “The Fox and the Hound.” After receiving praise and a tremendous boost in confidence for her entry, she continued to draw and paint. When she was 12, she was gifted a box of acrylic paints from her great-uncle; the rest is history.
O’Connor was recently approached by Martin County Deputy Judge/Executive Carolea Mills, who spearheaded the popular Umbrella Alley project between the historical courthouse and former jail. Mills asked O’Connor to design and paint a mural of wings and flowers in bright, eye-catching colors to serve as a photo-op location for the public.
“Although I picked the hottest days of the summer to paint, I enjoyed it so much,” said O’Connor. “As a mother of four kids under the age of 5, I don’t get a lot of time to myself to think and just enjoy my love of painting, so this was definitely a labor of love.”
The artist still has a little work to do before the project is complete. She remarked that she and Mills have bounced around a few ideas of possible future additions.
O’Connor, who resides in Inez with her husband Tyler and children Asher, Sage, Salem and Madilyn, owns and operates Iron and Ash, a tattoo parlor on Main Street in Inez. She is a naturally gifted and self-taught artist. Other than a summer program through the Transylvania Governor’s School of the Arts as a teenager, O’Connor’s skills have been honed and perfected through sheer determination and trial and error, as well as online instruction on internet sites such as YouTube.
O’Connor prefers painting with oils, while her favorite subjects are people and animals.
“I also love designing and creating digital portraits and prints,” said O’Connor. “Having the skill set to do those kept me afloat during the COVID pandemic and allowed me to continue my work. My iPad is truly my lifeline, and I use it in every aspect of my work.”
O’Connor became a tattoo apprentice 12 years ago when the opportunity presented itself, and now employs an apprentice of her own, Alyson Diaz. They are joined in the shop by Angeleena Staton, a permanent makeup artist offering services that include permanent eyeliner, eyebrows, lip tinting and cheek blushing.
O’Connor loves a challenge and has had great success in creating and designing unique tattoos as requested by customers. She also performs reworks and cover-ups. One of her most frequent requests is the popular handwriting tattoos that individuals typically get in memory of loved ones who have passed.
O’Connor works by appointment only, and the same applies to Diaz and Staton. Potential customers can contact her through the Facebook page, Iron and Ash Tattoos. Customers can book an available time directly on the page and message the artist to discuss the type of ink they want.
“For the most part, as long as I can visualize what they want, I can design it,” said O’Connor. “However, there’s always the exception because certain scenes do not tattoo well. I will always be upfront about that. My reputation as an artist is only as good as the work I do, so I never give anything less than my very best.”
O’Connor plans to add a quote to the courthouse mural and hopes it will bring joy to all who visit Umbrella Alley and snap a photo or two.
“I applaud our county leaders for their desire to bring beauty to our city,” O’Connor said. “I hope this is the first of many projects to brighten the place we call home. I was honored to be asked to participate in this endeavor.”