Meet Sophie C'est la Vie

Sophie is a tattoo artist working in NYC making some of the most gorgeous designs this square has ever laid their eyes on. From floral to figurative to combinations of the two this artist's works are a feast for the eyes. Their distinct linework and coloring styles are smooth and gratifying. Get to know Sophie as we chat about dinosaurs, the industry, and interactions with fans.

A self-portriat by, Sophie C'est la Vie

Would You Rather

have a perfect photographic memory, or be able to see up to one day into the future?

I love a good old "would you rather." You would not imagine some of the wild “would you rather” scenarios me and my friends have come up with! I believe I’d rather have a perfect photographic memory. I think seeing one day into the future would be too stressful for me, I already am always obsessing about the future, I think it would be problematic. I’d rather remember the past vividly. I’ve had some great moments that I’d love to dive back into for sure!

Some questions with Sophie C'est la Vie

What is your favorite dinosaur? Why is it your favorite?

Wow, favorite dino. Ok I’d say the first one that comes to mind as a favorite is the stegosaurus. I think I really like the angular, geometric ridges on the back, its both very tough looking but also gentle as I recall they were herbivores right?. They also remind me of croissants, the shape, and as I try to think of why I like stegosaurus', I’m finding it difficult not to say maybe one of the reasons is because they are shaped like croissants ha ha!

I know you’ve said that there’s “no big story” regarding the beginning of your career, but how do you think your first apprenticeship influenced your style and trajectory as an artist?

My apprenticeship taught me the basics of being a tattooer, skills that I feel are very important to have that extend further than just tattoo application. I am super grateful for my experience there as it showed me that it's important to be able to be flexible, efficient and adaptable at the drop of a dime. There was no “I only do this one style” at that time for me. There were some days where I would churn out 10+ tattoos of varying styles and subject matter and it was very rare for me to draw anything advance. Working with clients in a way where you don’t have a lot of time to prep and need to be able to draw up a concept on the spot really helped build my self confidence in tattooing. Today I work very differently but there have been times where I’ve had to completely change a drawing or draw things on the spot at conventions in which I feel like I am able to do because its how I learned to tattoo originally. I think it's important to not be so rigid and be able to be fluid in the way you work. Not everything works out exactly how you plan and sometimes it comes in handy to be able to make these adjustments without feeling like I need to reschedule the client for the sake of doing a new drawing. Also working with so many people and giving them what they wanted allowed me to have a larger audience when it came time for me to start seeking people who wanted to get the designs I was coming up with and wanted to do. I learned a lot. The way I was taught kept me on my toes, which makes me able to appreciate the work flow I have today because I understand that it wasn’t always like this and that I worked hard to get here.

Social media has really changed the tattoo industry. How has social media changed how you engage with customers and fellow artists working in the industry?

I feel like social media has been great for the industry, but it's also a gift and a curse. I feel like some of the great parts include the reach of your work to clients, so many people can find your work so easily, its really amazing. There is definitely more keeping in touch with clients in a way that there wasn’t before and also being able to push your artwork more whether they are designs you’d like to tattoo or artwork that you would like to promote. It's a really beautiful thing to be able to have people engage with your artwork on such a regular basis. For myself, seeing the sea of artwork from other tattooers is really inspiring and pushes me to be a better tattooer. Another wonderful thing has been connecting with different artists from all around the world in a way that hasn’t been as easily achieved before. I’ve met quite a few tattooers just via instagram and have made friends with them. It's rad to be able to connect with other tattooers you admire and be a part of the same community. The downside of social media is that sometimes for me it can feel quite heavy. Sometimes there is a pressure that if you aren’t posting enough new work, that you could potentially lose clientele. Is that a real thing? To be honest, I don’t really know, but we spend so much time using social media that it's hard to not feel that way even a little bit especially when you see your peers and other tattooers that you look up to posting incredible stuff. You also can’t control who is taking/ copying your work once you put it out on the web, you just hope for the best that someones not taking your concepts as their own. I think like with everything there is a good and bad side of the coin. I try to keep social media as “social” as I can and keep it a bit separate from my personal life, but overall I think its a great tool as long as you keep it in a balanced perspective.

You recently posted about a workshop you’re creating focusing on tattooing more melanated skin tones. What are common mistakes you see tattoo artists making when working with more melanated skin tones and what role do you think tattoos can play in the empowerment of BIPOC?

I am working on a workshop called Tinted which is a focus on color tattoos on more melanated skin tones. I think the most common mistake a lot of tattoo artists make is actually just not attempting to do color tattoos on darker skin tones. I think tattooers should learn more about working with varying skin tones and adopt a thought process of creating the most successful tattoo rather than making the decision for the BIPOC client of what the “best “ tattoo is for them without really taking the time to understand their wants for their tattoos. Our goal as tattooers should be to make a solid, good, successful tattoo for our clients and with good communication, work on our part as tattooers to learn more and develop our skills, we can provide a better experience for a lot of people who unfortunately for a long time have been marginalized and not given equal consideration when it comes to tattooing. We as tattooers need to work to change that and I hope that offering a resource for tattooers will inspire others to do the same so we can all learn more and grow. I think that tattoos empower us all as humans, being able to tattoo your body is one of the highest forms of self expression, so giving BIPOC clients the equal opportunity to be seen, heard and respected in tattooing is not only a necessity, it's long over due.

What is the best interaction you have ever had with a fan of your work?

Hmmm, let's see. This one is hard, I’ve had so many lovely clients and I’m also kind of shy when people know me and are excited to meet me. I guess the most recent was an artist that was coming to do a guest spot at Saved where I was working and said that they were excited to meet me and that I was a legend or something of the like (which is wild) in Atlanta which is where I learned to tattoo. To be honest, I was shocked and just really shy about someone saying that but was also really honored at even thought of it! I’m the kind of person who just smiles, shrinks into myself and can’t really say much when someone says something nice like that except for omg, nooooo, thank youuuu, noooo, and then my cheeks are red.

What does your family think of your work?

My mom has always been super supportive of me since I was starting to tattoo. I have always been artistic from when I was young so I feel like she viewed it as a business opportunity for me. Although she still complains that I have enough tattoos, I think it's too late for that now tho Mom. I think my dad didn’t really take it seriously for a while, especially when I first started but after a few years in and seeing that I was making a living he became pretty proud of it and even told a few people they should get work from me. My sister loves what I do and is formulating her tattoo plans as we speak. My family in general seems really supportive of what I do which is really great. I’ve also tattooed some of my family members which is pretty cool.

Any final comments? (This is your electronic soapbox for one last answer.)

Final comments, what to say ,what not to say. Thanks to The Family Reviews for interviewing me! Oh also, I started a new venture with 2 friends of mine called This Time Tmrw, it's a private tattoo studio located on the waterfront inside an old warehouse loft in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Feeling pretty excited about it all so stay tuned for new developments and new fall merchandise! Last but not least make sure you eat loads of icecream before the summer is over, and then when it's over eat more :). Over and out! -SCLV

Sophie C'est la Vie