62 | VIPPensacola.com
story by
Courtney Murray
P
olli Youngbeck was
destined to be an artist,
beginning to draw at the
young age of four. “I recall my mother
showing our neighbor my drawings,
and our neighbor insisting that no
4 year old could draw that well…
she said it must have been traced!
That’s when my mother pulled out
stacks of my drawings,” remembers
Polli. Graduating with a degree in
design from Auburn University, Polli
continued her art training in Europe
at the Universität Salzburg and also
Heidelberg University. After working
in advertising in Milwaukee for a
brief period she knew in her heart
that her true passion was painting;
which soon led to henna. She moved
on to spread her love of art with
others by teaching painting and
general art classes in the Atlanta
area, as well as here on the Emerald
Coast. Polli discovered Henna by
accident and was instantly intrigued.
No one was hand drawing henna
tattoos nine years ago anywhere
on the beaches between Pensacola
and Destin or Tampa. “I had no
idea what I was doing and tried to
find someone to give me guidance,
but I couldn’t find anyone on the
panhandle,” remembers Polli, “I think
I was the first and only hand drawn
henna artist within a hundred or more
miles. I had to learn the hard way--
jump in and just DO IT!” Henna was
associated with tattoos by many and
wasn’t widely accepted at the time,
so this beautiful new art form had to
be explained to tourists and those
interested in getting henna. It is now
so popular and has such a following
that Polli teaches classes in the
summer.
Henna is an art form rich in
tradition and for the past six years
Polli has been doing henna tattoos
for weddings. Henna is a plant, so
it’s all organic. Polli mixes her own
henna, using two different types from
Pakistan and India that leave a rich
reddish orange stain on your skin.
Using a small bottle with tiny metal
tip, Polli can draw effectively and
shade, just like a painting. Henna
lasts up to a month if you leave it
on your skin for about 24 hours; the
longer the henna remains against the
skin the darker the stain. After the
drawing is complete, Polli taps the
drawing with a traditional mixture of
sugar and lemon juice that helps the
dye release and also helps the henna
adhere to the skin. It’s a process that
requires time, a lot of patience, and
planning.
Hennas are becoming a unique
form of expression for one of the
most important days of your life -
your wedding day. Polli describes,
“As I am a professional artist, I’m
not limited in what I can draw or
paint and can turn a bride’s henna
into a beautiful painting and an
original expression of her special
day. Polli explained, “As an artist, I
love learning, and henna has been a
wonderful learning experience. Not
only is it an amazing medium, it is
also a historical form of art.”
For more information email Polli at
Pollipy@gmail.com.
Wedding
Henna
62 Pensacola Style 1pg.indd 1
12/26/17 4:43 PM