POLAND, Ohio (WKBN) — Despite being born legally blind, Nicole Morrone channels her creativity into vibrant and intricate tattoos on her clients.

Morrone, who has been recognized with awards for her tattoo artistry, was born with a condition known as nystagmus, causing her eyes to move involuntarily and struggle to focus on distant objects.

“My clear vision is limited to just a few inches away. With a 20/400 vision, it’s significantly impaired,” Morrone explained. “While I’m legally allowed to tattoo, I can’t legally drive. Tattooing has intrigued me ever since my high school days.”

After earning a degree in studio art and exploring various career paths, Morrone embarked on her tattoo journey two years ago.

The proprietor of Trademarked Society Tattoo in Poland, Ohio, took a leap of faith by offering her an apprenticeship. Today, Morrone’s schedule is packed months in advance.

“At first, it was kind of like something that I felt like I had to warn people about,” Morrone said. “Now, it’s just really become part of my brand and just part of who I am, and I’ve embraced it.”

She has won several awards for her expressive, colorful pieces.

“I just love playing with color. I love expressing myself through color,” Morrone said. “It’s something that I don’t have to look close at to see.”

She wasn’t always so comfortable talking about her visual impairment. The support of her family, friends, coworkers and clients has given her the courage.

“I’ve never had a client, like, not want to get tattooed because of my condition or because of my disability,” Morrone said. “They’ve just all super embraced it. They loved my story, which made me want to share it.”

She recently made a video sharing her story, and it’s gotten over 100,000 views.

“I didn’t know until I had a tattoo machine in my hand if I could do it,” Morrone said. “This is the best thing I’ve ever done for myself.”