Birds and blooms on her mind, Elvira Fraelic was one of many tattoo artists on the hunt for something different to go with the them of the Porchlight Tattoo Gallery show and sale in late February.
“Every year tattoo artists try to create something interesting,” she said. “What can I bring to the big art table that’s interesting?”
It took her two tries, but Fraelic found her groove pretty quickly with a second foray into fashion crafted from beautifully tattooed fake skin.
Every tattooer has a little of the facsimile epidermis in the books, as it’s a key to starting out before needling actual humans. Many leave the silicone-based material that mimics skin’s elasticity and texture behind – given it’s not quite like the real thing.
“It’s easy to have more freedom in the details. I think it has a lot of potential,” Fraelic said.
Lack of tailoring skills aside, the designer in her saw it as a medium ripe for opportunity and embarked on a tattooed, lace up, corset belt.
First she created the panels, tattooed the images, grommeted the pieces and laced them together. Fraelic shared snippets on social media along the away, and her viewers grew invested. The work created engagement and conversation.
“It’s a really nice way to communicate with the people who consume your art. You can get caught in a vacuum.”
The first stunning piece wasn’t perfect.
So, Fraelic went through her list of lessons and embarked on the second – the lace-up shoulder piece featuring bold blooms and a hooded raptor – that appeared in the show and sale.
READ ALSO: You can thank bats for tequila’ and other juicy tidbits as B.C. bats emerge
READ ALSO: Metchosin singer songwriter launches much-adored Love You Man
The images tattooed on the shoulder piece offered a different vibe than the Grecian-esque inked art on the corset belt. Inspiration comes in many forms, Fraelic said. Often ideas are just images, and the meaning comes as you go, or even once the work is finished.
“You have both experiences, as an artist and as a consumer of art,” she said.
The process was inspiring enough this creator expects to delve into more, whether her own vision, custom work or perhaps collaborations. She still has her eye on more collar pieces and, of course, that quest for the perfect corset belt.
“It sounds ambitious,” she admits. “But whatever, why not?”
Anyone interested can email missfraelic77@gmail.com.
For more news delivered daily into your inbox, please click here.