BD: What was your training as an artist?
I never learned art at school, I have just been drawing since forever. I spent one semester at Art University in France but I didn’t like it there. I was always self-taught, and only when I arrived in the Czech Republic, I got some basic lessons to learn how to place shadows and draw anatomy correctly. The rest of my knowledge comes 95% from practice and observation.
BD: What is your personal touch?
I would say a special focus on details and on aesthetic, with a touch of craziness!
BD: Why did you come to Brno?
As I mentioned, I was working as a body piercer in a French tattoo studio. Unfortunately, it was a toxic work environment, and despite promises, I never had the opportunity to begin learning tattooing there. Then, a turning point occurred when a Czech artist joined us as a “guest” for a few weeks. We clicked, and he invited me to come learn with him and his talented colleagues in Brno. Within a couple of months, I left my life in France and arrived in Brno over four years ago now.
BD: How would you describe the Brno tattooing scene, both for practitioners and customers?
What really struck me when I arrived here, compared to France, was that Czechs tend to appreciate coloured tattoos a lot more than the French. In France, heads often turn when I walk around in short sleeves with my coloured arms, but in Brno, no one seems surprised. On the flip side, I’ve noticed that customers here aren’t accustomed to paying deposits and often try to negotiate and drop the prices, which differs from other countries.
I would say that the Brno tattooing scene is fairly diverse, although the problem here, as everywhere else currently, is how popular tattooing has become on social media. There’s currently an oversaturation of the market with too many studios opening and too many people entering the profession. This has led to an imbalance between supply and demand. The tattooing scene in Brno, like worldwide, has expanded rapidly, but the current purchasing power and overall interest from the public is not keeping pace. I am staying hopeful though and think that the market will slowly stabilise to keep only the best artists around and go back to the good old days where tattoos were not a trend and a race to popularity and money but more of a lifestyle and an affirmation of your non-conformism.
BD: How are you influencing Brno’s tattoo art scene?
Am I influencing anything about Brno’s tattoo art scene? It is hard for me to measure that. What I do know is that I am bringing a genre of tattooing mixing different styles that nobody else is in this city and I believe in this country so far, and that I am trying to continue to offer a unique aesthetic and point of view to the world around me.
BD: How dangerous is it to get a tattoo?
Getting a tattoo is not dangerous if it is done by a professional in clean conditions with sterile material. If you have any health problems, it is always better to talk about it with your tattoo artist before getting an appointment.
BD: Printing other people’s skin is a great responsibility, how do you manage the nervousness?
I’d say that the more experience you have, the more your nervousness disappears. I was very stressed in my early years and I still get stressed sometimes when it comes to difficult placements or technical designs. You just have to keep confidence in yourself, take a deep breath and just go for it.
BD: What are your views on the stigma around tattoos?
Obviously I think it’s ridiculous to judge someone’s value, intelligence and professionalism on the basis of their appearance, whether we’re talking about tattoos, body modifications, hair colour, clothes or whatever. Fortunately, as time goes by, people’s attitudes are changing. It’s becoming much more accepted, whether by older generations or even in professions where it used to be frowned upon, and that’s good. Time will do its work.
BD: What would you advise to beginners in the craft?
Draw, draw, draw (on paper, not on a tablet). Learn to observe. Try other media than those you usually work with. In my case, for example, painting has helped me enormously to improve my tattooing. This is a profession that requires passion, discipline and sacrifice, so stay humble, don’t be afraid to work hard and be patient.
BD: What would you like to achieve with your career?
I have no ambition to become a tattoo “celebrity”. I like the fact that I don’t have the responsibility of owning my own shop so that I can stay as far away as possible from administrative pressures and continue to enjoy my passion as freely as possible. Over the next few years, I’d love to take part in competitions and win my first prize at a tattoo convention. I’d also like to travel and tattoo in other countries around the world on a regular basis. And to be prolific enough to organise my first painting exhibition.
BD: What would you like to tell people who are thinking of getting a new tattoo?
To think about it but also not to think about it too much. It is always good to shut off your expectations a bit and trust your tattoo artist. My favourite tattoos are actually the ones I’ve done on the spur of the moment, without thinking about them for months, and where I’ve given the tattoo artist as much freedom as possible.
Research the artist: Check their portfolio. A good artist will work with you to bring your vision to life and ensure the tattoo’s quality. Be serious and patient: Quality tattoos take time. Don’t rush the process. Don’t try to negotiate the price. If you don’t have the money right now, that’s ok, just say that and we will do it when you are ready. Promise, we don’t bite.
Julie speaks basic Czech but is very English friendly. The studio where she works, Bratr Víra Tattoo Attic, is open from 10am to 6pm every day, and most weekends. However, she recommends booking an appointment beforehand. You can contact her via her socials @Julie_obviously.
