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Jersey’s very first tattoo convention taking place next month has been described as a “celebration of art” – and the word ‘art’ is certainly apt when you examine at the work of one of the tattooists involved.
Ahead of the event at the Grand Hotel on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 September, Express spoke to a local tattooist Caitlin Fauve about her career and what she loves about her job...
Pictured: Caitlin brings together diverse elements in her work.
Brought to life through delicate lines, Caitlin's creations impress with their intricacy and depth. Drawing inspiration from medieval etchings, vintage medical illustrations and scientific diagrams with natural, botanical and animal influences, she brings together diverse elements and sprinkles in an element of surrealism, giving her tattoos an eerie quality.
“From a very young age, I was interested in art history, even though I didn’t understand the full scope of it, and how it influences culture and all sorts of aspects of life, and how they in turn influence art,” Caitlin explained.
“I am also interested in how, before, we had interactions between maths and music, biology and faith, although as science has developed, everything now has a distinct category.”
Just like her interest in art history, Caitlin’s passion for tattoos started early.
“It does sound really cliché, but I have always really wanted to be a tattoo artist,” she recalled.
“I remember I was about six or seven years old, and I saw someone with a tattoo on TV. I thought it was the greatest thing ever. I asked my mum what it was, and she said, ‘It’s a tattoo – never get one.’ Right then, I knew I wanted to be covered and get absorbed in the tattoo world. I saw ink on skin, and I thought the essence of it was great.”
Pictured: From a young age she has always wanted to be a tattoo artist.
After finding herself unhappy in her work, and realising that paying too much attention to others had “not gotten her very far”, Caitlin decided to follow her passion.
“I went to Highlands College, and I did the Level 3 Diploma in Art and Design. I ended up finishing my course just as covid was happening, which was a terrible time for tattoo studios. When they reopened, it took a bit of time to find somewhere. I was really lucky to have been tattooed by great artists, I showed them my portfolio and they agreed to give me a chance.”
While people might mistakenly see tattooing as simply “drawing on skin”, there are many complex elements to take into account – from tuning the machines, to health and safety rules, how to work on different skin types and how to adapt a design to work on a 3D surface, to name but a few.
“You are not considered to ‘know what you are doing’ until it’s been about five years – until then, you are just a baby. It’s a lifetime learning career,” Caitlin said.
Reflecting on the first tattoo she did – on herself as per tradition – Caitlin recalls feeling a mix of “nervousness and excitement”.
“I was just absolutely buzzing, so much so I do not remember the process,” she said. “It’s an amazing reminder of how far my artistic progress has come, it’s very special.”
Pictured: Caitlin's biggest work to date which took almost six hours
Depending on the level of detail or their size, tattoos can take from 30 minutes to up to three hours, although Caitlin’s longest one to date took nearly six hours. A thigh piece inspired by Albrecht Dürer's 'Saint Michael Fighting The Dragon', it was part of an exhibition at the at AlbrechtDürerHaus in Nuremberg this summer.
However long they take, Caitlin says the excitement of seeing clients go to a mirror at the end of a session and look at their tattoo for the first time “never gets old”.
“There is always lots of excitement from the clients as well, as it feels like a massive step,” she said. “It feels like a huge responsibility. I have tattooed people who were on holiday here or who have since moved away. Tattoos stay with people their whole lives and their lives go in many directions, it’s really an honour to play a small part in that.
Pictured: Caitlin believes workplaces are slowly easing resistance but progress is still to me made towards breaking taboos.
“There is an exploitation of insecurities by big industries, so searching for self-expression, individualism and self-love feels like a radical thought and tattoos are the pinnacle of that.”
Whilst she has seen more and more people getting tattoos and resistance in the workplace lessening, Caitlin says there is still progress to be made on the road to acceptance.
“I would never try and convince anyone who doesn’t like tattoos,” Caitlin said.
“I am not in the business of convincing anyone, but I do wish people were more respectful of those who love tattoos because we are not going to get anywhere being hateful.
“Interestingly, the kind of generation who used to be anti-tattoo, maybe two generations above me, are the ones doing more and more tattoos. There is an element of rebellion. People should know that tattoos are for everyone, no matter your age, how you look or where you work.”
Jersey's first ever tattoo convention ready to "celebrate art"
This article first appeared in Connect Magazine which you can pick up around the island or read in full below...
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