BOOST of inspiration: tattoo artist Julie L'Ecuyer

I am a multidisciplinary artist who loves working with color and materials across various mediums. My educational background has not been traditional or linear. My academic journey led me to explore and discover different spheres that have become facets of the artist I am today, greatly influencing my creative work. From microbiology to visual arts, psychology to fine crafts, and teaching arts, I can say that I am both an artist and an entrepreneur. I also hold the position of Visual Content Coordinator for an online coaching company alongside my partner. I wear many hats!

I have a deep fascination for human, animal, and plant biology, as well as the world of microorganisms. The colors, textures, movement, and composition of the images I strive to create are inspired by this organic and living universe.

Tattoos are artworks created on a living canvas: the skin of a human being, someone who breathes, moves, feels, evolves, and ages... The artwork that a person carries on their skin must be in harmony with all of that.

Managing my work schedule, creative time, and personal time to find a balance in all of it is a significant challenge I often face.

In tattooing, I have set a clear guideline for myself: it is important to me to provide the best possible service, create quality tattoos, and take great care of each person who entrusts their skin to me. For this reason, I limit the number of projects I select and undertake. I want to ensure the quality of my work, as well as provide a service that allows every person in my small private studio to feel comfortable, confident, and listened to. Without stress, without pressure... I want to offer an original artwork and a unique experience to each client. The experience is just as important as the tattoo's outcome because we remember the moment!

My process of inspiration always bgins with an image search. I enjoy observing the colors, shapes, and textures that nature offers us. It becomes almost compulsive! I keep a large collection of them organized in my cloud storage. I have access to copyright-free image banks, and I also take photos when I come across subjects that inspire me. Later on, I transform the images, create collages, play with colors, and add painterly textures and graphic effects to compose my artworks.

In tattooing, I also draw inspiration from the individual's physique who will wear the artwork. The composition needs to harmonize with the proportions and movements of the body. It is very different from working on a flat and static canvas. I place certain elements using stencils traced from my drawings, and I complete the composition by drawing directly on the skin to ensure that the lines follow the body's curves.

My weekdays are not always scheduled in the same way, but they always start with a good cup of coffee (or several)! I take this time to do image research, sketch, respond to messages, manage my social media, place material orders, and so on.

I use an iPad Pro to prepare my tattoo drawings because it allows me to manipulate the components of my image and easily adjust elements as needed for printing my stencils.

In the summer, I take the time to go for a walk in my garden and play around with the plants. In the afternoon, depending on the day of the week, I reserve a time slot for either tattooing or my personal painting creations, or my work as a coordinator at Po9. I keep my evenings and weekends for my personal life and self-care. Finding balance is important when you're your own boss.

Because wearing a small piece of colorful nature is beautiful and inspiring! My creations were digitally designed to facilitate the transfer process and ensure better image quality when printed.

In my creative process, I tend to be more solitary. I enjoy having my personal space to think and create at my own pace.

However, in my painting process, I do enjoy exchanging ideas with other artists about aesthetics and techniques. It stimulates me. I would love to have the opportunity to organize a collective exhibition with other female painters.

I am currently working in a new direction in my painting. I have realized that tattooing has changed my way of painting, my work rhythm, my perception of contrasts, my use of colors and textures. Like many artists, the pandemic has had an impact on my work and my perception of the world around us and humanity. Over the past year, I have reconnected with oil painting and portraiture, and I am currently in the midst of exploration. I would love to prepare a new exhibition of my paintings once I have successfully materialized the mental images that currently inhabit me. Stay tuned...