EPISODE 079 | Heavily Tattooed: Talking Shop with Golden Yeti Art Collective
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On the surface, this episode is all about what it’s like to be a tattooer. Underneath, it’s about the intimacy of forming relationships, doing what you love amid challenges, setting boundaries, and providing a healing and body transformation while sharing in the pain of others.
Specifically, at the Golden Yeti Art Collective tattoo shop in Franklin, Tenn. tattooers not only get creative and take pride in their work, but they provide emotional support and as owner Jeff Barnard puts it, the last high five on the journey of beating cancer. Jeff and tattooer Caitlyn Campbell provide free areola tattoos every Friday for breast cancer survivors and they tell us all about why going to a tattoo shop for that job is better than letting a plastic surgeon do it.
Not only do we learn about that much needed and life changing service, but we really get to know Jeff and Caitlyn over the next hour.
We start out talking about everything from Jeff and Caitlyn’s differing backgrounds in art to the atmosphere of their safe and open floor plan and how COVID impacted business. After getting acquainted, we dive deep into the impact of being a heavily tattooed parent, what it’s like being a woman in a male dominated industry, and how to find respect.
We really do talk a lot of shop and get technical about what makes a good tattooer, what a good apprenticeship entails, and how tattoos going from taboo to mainstream across the generations has opened up the possibilities for amazing artwork, different styles, and top notch talent.
Jeff and Caitlyn also tell us about the most memorable (and heavy) tattoos they’ve ever done, from memorials to coverups.
This episode is fun and informative. I went into the interview super excited to learn everything I could about why Jeff and Caitlyn volunteer their time to help breast cancer survivors. But here’s the kicker - we wrap up learning about Jeff’s own cancer diagnosis and recovery that came at the beginning of this year. You won’t believe the circumstances surrounding how he found out, and you’ll be in awe at the 700-woman support system that came through as an inspiration and lifeline when Jeff needed it.
Highlights
Getting to know Jeff Barnard
Getting to know Caitlyn Campbell
When the art came in for Jeff
How Caitlyn’s fine art background adds to being a tattooer
Why Jeff decided to open his own shop - Golden Yeti Art Collective
What it’s like being a tattoo shop in Franklin, Tenn.
How COVID-19 has impacted Golden Yeti
Caitlyn describes the atmosphere of Golden Yeti
Jeff talks about the evolution of tattoos going from stigma to mainstream and the art shift in tattooing
What to consider when you’re thinking about getting a face tattoo
The impact of having a heavily tattooed parent on a child in school
Jeff’s talk with his son about tattoos
What it’s like being a woman tattooer in a male dominated industry
boundary setting
being taken seriously
finding a tattoo apprenticeship as a woman
The intimidation and hazing factor in the tattoo industry and how it’s changing
Caitlyn’s apprenticeship with Jeff and tattoo and getting apprenticeships in general
Characteristics of a good tattooer
What it feels like to build relationships with clients
The impact of memorial tattoos on Jeff and learning about sharing pain with people
The importance of tattoo cover ups
Caitlyn getting to tattoo her grandmother
The puppy, monkey, baby tattoo
Free areola tattoos for breast cancer survivors
How Jeff and Caitlyn got started
A way to give back
Why not to go to a plastic surgeon for this type of tattoo, from scarring to price gouging to expertise
Gaining perspective on life by sitting with cancer survivors every week
Jeff’s cancer diagnosis
How the unexpected support system of cancer survivors helped Jeff through
Saved by the (Taco) Bell
About Jeff Barnard and Caitlyn Campbell
Jeff Barnard is an owner and tattoo artist at Golden Yeti Art Collective. He has been tattooing since 2007, starting his career in Southern California. He covers all styles of art but prefers a realistic look to his pieces. He draws all of his work straight on clients to help the pieces fit to the flow and natural motion of their bodies.
Caitlyn Campbell is originally from Kentucky, but better opportunities in the art world led her to Tennessee. Fine art was the main focus for her first three years in Nashville, but slowly transitioned to tattooing. Surrealism encompasses the themes in her personal work, but also loves the challenge of any subject/theme that is asked of her. Although she is early in her tattooing career, she is constantly growing and learning from the best daily.
Free Areola Tattoos for Breast Cancer Survivors
Jeff and Caitlyn do free areola reconstructive tattoos for any and all breast cancer survivors every Friday at The Golden Yeti Art Collective. Contact them to get on the list and Jeff and Caitlyn will take care of you to get it right and make it a good experience.
