Tattoo Edit: Emily Bonnet
Azra Schorr
01.29.2023
Sometimes, a duck is what will kickstart a long-standing love for tattoos. At least, it did for Emily Bonnet, the first guest of the Avenue’s new online series: Tattoo Edit. Here, I dive into the Northeastern community and highlight the stories and motivations behind getting tattooed through student profiles. Lucky for me, communications and art major Emily was a willing first participant.
Emily is a unique guest because while she sports 10 beautiful tattoos, she is also a handpoke artist. Operating out of her bedroom studio, she decorates clients with her flash, each one with a unique focus on texture and shading. Emily began the way many young artists might: a needle and some ink resulting in a fading stick and poke on the foot. Upon seeing her first work, her partner requested that he also get a tattoo, and then another, and then another. Inspired by the challenge of a new creative medium and “learning how to draw with a needle,” Emily grew more comfortable with the act. Despite struggling with public confidence in her art in the past, Emily posted on her story about tattooing and worked for free on willing participants until she developed the skill and technique necessary to begin an official practice.
Interviewing a tattoo artist, I was curious to discover how Emily manages the pressure and stress of working on a living canvas and creating something so permanent. It was no surprise to hear her say, “it’s very scary.” However, Emily said she always ensures her clients know her work and know what they are getting into, and she prioritized building a safe and intimate experience. At the end of each session, both Emily and her client leave with a deeper understanding of patience. Looking forward, Emily is hoping to continue tattooing for as long as she enjoys it, and when she grows tired she is excited to take on the next medium. And while today she is a great lover of tattoos, there was once a time when Emily was only 18 and got her first one: the duck.
A matching tattoo with her mom, Emily’s ribcage displays an adorable cartoon duck, a permanent representation of the one that is printed on her birth certificate. Following the first, her love for unique and artful tattoos only grew. Through social media, Emily was exposed to all the new styles being created by upcoming artists, and all the ways tattooing was growing beyond the motifs and designs that dominated popular media. A whole world opened up to her, and suddenly Emily found herself a fan of artists all over the world, each one drawing up new ways people could mark and customize their bodies. Paris-based artist Eliott Gamer, who specializes in neo-gothic and abstract tattoos, caught her attention in particular. Her upper right bicep is adorned with two of his pieces, each one a custom design created in his studio. The first to catch your eye is an intricate and softly shaded human-like creature with wings, floating through the background holding a bow and arrow. Its detailed yet fuzzy texture creates a pleasing contrast, one that is even more impressive once discovering the tattoo is entirely hand poked (Emily mentions that it took 3-4 hours). Across from it is Gamer’s second work on her body, a playful chain of jesters dancing across her arm. These caricatures are a signature series from the artist’s flash. Perched perfectly between them both is a little castle done in New York City, and on the opposite arm is an imagined tree species poked by Emily herself.
When asked if any of her tattoos had any meaning, Emily insightfully responded with “I am not one to associate much meaning to tattoos, they develop meaning with time.” This is a fascinating perspective, as the permanence of tattoos often lends itself to a pressure to be meaningful or important. However, therein lies one of the beauties of tattoos; there is such an expansive wealth of imagery and ways in which people can decorate their bodies that everyone gets to choose what their collection says about them. Emily relates her body to a gallery, and as a self-identified viewer and curator, she finds the most purpose in getting pieces that resonate with her artistically. Her tattoos tell the world that she is a creative. They tell people she’s not afraid to take chances and choose tattoos that might lack emotional ties, but are rich in their story and artistic value. Emily Bonnet and her 10(ish) tattoos are a liberating reminder that there is democracy in how we define and present ourselves through our skin. Before I left, I asked Emily what’s in store for her tattoo practice. She’s currently on a school-work related hiatus (finals...), but hopes to return soon with a newly expanded flash offering. We can only hope to see more kooky and lovable characters or brand-new plant species emerging from her creative mind. If you go to Northeastern or are in the Boston area and are looking for your new favorite artist, I highly recommend checking out @moby_octopad on Instagram and booking with Emily when she makes her highly anticipated return!
