Today we continue our series "Come, I'll take you" to meet Stéphane, who opened his tattoo parlor in Saint-Pierre-Bois a few weeks ago.
At 36, Stéphane is undergoing a complete career change. This "former" graphic designer took advantage of a situation to decide to believe in his dream and work for himself, offering his talent to his clients.
During our meeting, we immediately sensed Stéphane's passion and investment in his works as well as in the satisfaction of his clients in the realization and interpretation of his drawings.
We invite you to read the few lines of our exchange to get to know this tattoo artist who is unlike any other.
Hello Stéphane.
Thank you for welcoming us to your living room here in Saint-Pierre-Bois.
Can you introduce yourself in a few words?
My name is Stéphane Guiot, I am 36 years old, I am originally from Sélestat and I have been living in the Vallée de Villé for about 9 years.
How did you come up with the idea of creating a tattoo parlor in the Villé Valley?
It's a project I've had for 2/3 years now, but I haven't put it into action because I had a comfortable situation, a fairly comfortable salary, and when you're in your daily routine, many times you tell yourself that you shouldn't take the alternative path, you don't dare... anyway!
I was laid off last year, at the end of July, but I knew a few months beforehand that it was coming, so I was expecting it. As soon as I heard, I prepared myself. I thought, well, now's the time to train more actively in tattooing, and this is the year to make this project a reality!
That's how I got started.
You wanted to go from graphic design to tattooing, but what motivated you to want to tattoo people?
That's the more human side!
Because when you work for a company that sells to big corporations, you very quickly come back to the financial side of things. It's about creating a great ad, making something that will bring in money from a marketing perspective, and that aspect was starting to weigh on me.
I felt in recent years (I did this for over 15 years) that they were much more stressful. I realized this in the evenings when I got home and I needed a different purpose than just a marketing project with operations behind it.
Tattooing people is… It’s very peculiar… I don’t know how to explain it.
There's a slightly stressful aspect to it because you know you can't afford to make a mistake because there's no eraser, you can't just put a coat of white paint over it and then go over it again like on a blackboard.
And then there's this aspect… (Stéphane thinks for a moment, unsure how to describe this feeling, this sensation) there's this feeling, this human side. You know it's a project that's often very close to the person's heart; there's often a story behind it, and you're going to leave a lasting impression on someone, with one of your works that they'll wear all the time!
There's that aspect that I like, and the story behind it, actually.
I don't really like projects that are too basic, well, I don't know, maybe one day I'll have to do it. Just last week I was contacted about the famous infinity symbol. I always try to encourage people to ask themselves why they want to do it and what we could do to make it as meaningful to them as this symbol that we see everywhere, but which would create something unique.
I really enjoy this research and exchange work with people because I don't want to do things that you see everywhere... or I want to do them my own way!
Would you consider being refused a very basic tattoo where you wouldn't be able to express your style and personality at all?
I hope I can achieve that, but well, you have to live, but I would really like in my life as an artist to be able to choose projects that I'm actually excited about!
I'm very lucky because so far the people who have come to my place have often given me free rein. They've given me a theme and then I've been able to do it my way, so that's pretty cool.
For example, the tattoo I'm getting tomorrow is a completely personal project; I was just given a theme. The tattoo I'm getting on Saturday is the same, so it's actually cool; I'm lucky right now because I have a lot of projects like that.
Do you get big or small tattoos?
I do large tattoos, but it will depend on the demand.
I made characters like Bulbasaur (a character from the Pokémon cartoon) which I made on opening day, but on Friday it was a little clover.
I'm not taking on huge projects yet because it takes me a bit longer than a tattoo artist who's been doing this for 10 years. But it's certain that with time, experience, and practice, I'll be able to take on more and more important projects with larger areas where I'll be able to do much more in a day.
Stéphane, can you tell us about your first tattoo?
Before you started it, what was your state of mind?
Well, actually I was lucky because the first tattoo I ever got was on my sister. She wanted it to be her first.
Just a quick aside, even with my "guinea pigs," I already had the premises. I took the hygiene training at the end of November last year (the certificate is hanging in Stéphane's office). Once I completed the training, I saw everything the premises must include. We know what we're allowed to do, what we're not allowed to do, what's required on the floor, on the walls…
After receiving this information, I set up my premises in January and once I had my premises, clean and up to the standards of the ARS with my hygiene training in hand, I was reassured to tattoo "guinea pigs".
Because for me, even though they weren't yet real customers but were many friends and family, it was important not to give them anything, a disease or something. For me, that's just not possible.
So, that was just a side note. To get back to your question about my state of mind… well, I was super stressed because, obviously, even though you've practiced a lot, you think to yourself, this is really about someone… and it's my sister.
But there was also that same excitement I get at the theater (Stéphane also performs in Alsatian plays in Dieffenbach). It's a bit similar; you have that stage fright, but you still want to go. I don't know how to explain it, but in any case, it was a great experience, and my sister was incredibly understanding.
You put into practice everything you have learned – even if I do it on my synthetic skins or on pigskins when I practice so as not to hesitate on the client – but it is true that once there is a client in front of you and as I said, in this case it was my sister, there is still this aspect of you being observed, you are not alone in your room working.
Is this actually a real exchange?
Yes, yes, there is an exchange. You work on someone's skin and it's really unique, but it's a great experience.
Can you tell us about yourself and your world?
Well, I'm a huge video game fan. I have a display case here (in the living room, right next to the table where customers sit) where you can see some older games—it makes us feel old, doesn't it?—and some more recent ones because I always have seven or eight consoles at home. The kids aren't allowed to play, though. -laughs-
I love the world of video games and I enjoy drawing game characters. I find it fun to embellish them with my slightly geometric dotwork designs. Eventually, I'd also like to be able to tattoo highly geometric things with perfect lines, and I'm practicing for that. It's really something I love. I think it's amazing to be able to get perfect geometric designs tattooed, but it's a lot of work!
You have a tattoo! Can you tell us about it?
It was created by the artist Dime Reck (Paris), he is the one who did my entire arm where all my passions are represented.
There are cards because when I have time I like to manipulate cards (card magic)...but I don't always have the time. Here you can see the theater; I love the theater and I've always loved the theater. I even acted as a child.
Here you'll find the piano because I actually play the piano.
Here's a mechanical clock because I have a passion for mechanical watches. I reluctantly sold my mechanical watches when we built the house, telling myself that they were things I could buy back later, but it's true that I have a real passion for mechanical watches.
And of course, the video game, which you can see here behind my arm.
How can people contact you to order a tattoo?
There are several ways to get in touch, but I prefer to start with an email or Messenger conversation because there's quite a bit to discuss. What we'd like, where, and perhaps some photos that give an idea of the project, but not necessarily of a tattoo, as I don't like being directed towards something that's already been done by another artist. It could be (for example) photos of ferns for a tattoo project with a plant theme.
So on my website, there is a contact form where you fill in everything, the area, the approximate size, that kind of thing.
After this initial contact, we can schedule an appointment, as I do regularly. The person comes here, we discuss the project, and it allows me to assess their facial structure or see if they already have tattoos, and to determine how to integrate them into the design, thus narrowing down the areas.
But it really all depends on the person, what they want, what they already have, and the location they have chosen.
It seems that Covid hasn't changed much for you because the tattoo industry is one where hygiene is really important.
How are you adapting to this health crisis?
In the world of tattooing, hygiene is super important anyway; hand disinfection, hand washing, wearing gloves, disinfection of equipment and premises, and single-use equipment are things that have been in place for years.
These hygiene standards are regulated at the ARS level; you declare when you open a tattoo parlor, there is hygiene training to be completed.
For me, it doesn't change anything, actually. Even when I was tattooing my guinea pigs, I was already wearing a mask. I was already cleaning my premises before and after a tattoo session.
The only thing that will change is that the person will no longer be able to bring someone with them because we're going to limit contact. I started after Covid, so I've only known this period, but I'm looking forward to the day when people getting tattooed can be accompanied.
What could you say to people to make them want to come and meet you and experience this moment of exchange with you?
That's a tricky question, perhaps! (laughs)
Yes, it's a complicated question because I really enjoy the human aspect and the exchange from which the project stems. I'm involved in lots of associations actually, I'm in theatre, I'm with Décibulles (Stéphane is in charge of drinks).
For me, a tattoo, as I see it, is truly an exchange with an artist, a bit like working with a painter. You give them a theme, and they create a painting based on what you've told them, something that evokes an emotion and represents something. That's really the part I love most about tattooing: the interaction with people. Why they would want this tattoo—without necessarily going into details, because sometimes there are things we don't want to say—but really getting to the heart of the concept by saying, "I want this tattoo because there's this reason behind it." And I love that aspect where I can offer something that relates to what they've told me, something unique with my own personal touch.
We thank Stéphane for his warm welcome and kindness. The Guillot'ink salon welcomes you to Saint-Pierre-Bois by appointment.
We hope you enjoyed this article and that it will inspire you to let Stéphane offer you one of his magnificent drawings.
Guillot'ink Tattoo Studio
https://guillot-ink.com/
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