We recently connected with Cami Saint and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Cami thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

During my career, Ive always tried to put as much intention and sentimental value into my tattoo designs, I truly believe tattooing has a healing element. In 2021 one of my regular clients reached out the day of her appointment to see if we could also do a bigger design in addition to her design she booked with me. Unfortunately, I was booked and couldn’t squeeze another design in that day. When she arrived with her friend to her appointment she was physically upset and on the phone. As she was filling out paper work she proceeds to tell me that she went to another local artist that had walk-in availability that day and during her session she was sexually assaulted. She had just come from the police station. I asked if I could see the design the other tattoo artist tattooed, as I’m looking at the design i realize it’s different from what she described to me earlier. I asked if she was happy with the design, and she wasn’t. I asked her if she’d want to cover it up? Before she left that night, I asked her what she’ would want there instead, she said flowers, I asked if she had a preference in what flowers and she said she just wanted one of them to be a lotus. If you look up what a lotus represents and this circumstance it’s really inspiring that’s the flower she chose. 3 months later we covered that piece with flowers, each one placed intentionally with a beautiful meaning. I didn’t charge her to cover that tattoo, and thats where my project “the color sovereign” physically started.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I was born and raised in cache valley. Growing up everything involved art for me. My home life was unstable and art really was the only thing I could control . I would beg my teachers to stay in during recess so I could draw. After high school and a giving birth to my daughter, I got certified in graphic design hoping I could make a career doing some form of art. I soon realized there was still a very limiting artistic cap in that industry. I had been tattooed a few times by a few different artist, when I met my husband, I started getting tattooed by his artist in Riverdale, Ryan. Ryan was well rounded artistically and honestly one of the first artists I met that was just a great person in general, completely down to earth and all about the art. I had asked Ryan if he’d consider apprenticing me, he essentially said no. So I kept working on my art portfolio. A few months later a good friend of Ryan’s shop passed away and they were doing a fundraiser. They needed help making stencils and asked if I’d come help out. After that day Ryan thanked me for helping and asked if I was still interested in an apprenticeship and that’s how my 2 year apprenticeship started at vicious ink in Riverdale. After my apprenticeship I came back to my hometown to tattoo. I had went through a few different shops in the first half of my career, it seemed I had been spoiled with great business practices and attitudes at vicious ink, because as soon as I started working in Logan I experienced a completely different shop atmosphere. After having my son, I eventually ended up in a private studio setting and really started working on my mental health and bettering myself. I started working with a therapist, Jackie, who was absolutely amazing and really helped my get out of people pleasing and make the jump to a private studio. She also helped inspire “The color sovereign” ( my side project where I coverup/remove tattoos of branded survivors of domestic abuse and trafficking free of charge) and my shop “Sacred Embers”. I started working with multiple healing practitioners and getting attuned in reiki. I like to think what sets me apart from other artists is my compassion for people in general and the mindset that I’ll always be a student to art. I’m well rounded and studied in multiple tattoo styles. As an artist I really take the time to get to know my clients. I want every design to incorporate who they are. I love the back and forth motion in conversations, if something won’t work out longevity wise, I explain why and give options for what we can do, instead of just telling them no. Im really big on integrity and helping others and my community. I like to think I provide healing through designs full of intentional and sentimental value. I think being humble, using every session as an opportunity to grow and earning my clients trust has really been a factor to me continuously booking out months at a time.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I’m always striving to be better so I can provide better for my clients. I’d love for my shop Sacred Embers to be full of artist with values and morals that are deeper than just making art. To be a space where we can laugh and support individual growth as an artist and as a person. My goal with “The color sovereign” is to eventually combine the physical removal of domestic abuse/trafficking brands, with emotional support to remove the scars you can’t see. I’d love to incorporate trauma therapist and other healing practitioners for a complete healing experience for the survivors.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The confidence tattoos can give someone after covering self-harm scars, and of course memorial tattoos and covering branded survivors of domestic abuse and trafficking will always be rewarding as an artist. But I think just the general idea of knowing someone Carries a piece of you through the artwork for the rest of their lives is very humbling. It’s an honor and I’m grateful to have that opportunity

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/camixsaint
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Tattoosbycamisaint
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/SacredEmbersstudio https://www.instagram.com/thecolorsovereign