Beyond the Needle: Tracy Boucher on Ink, Survival, and Leaving a Mark

V13 Media sits down with Tracy Boucher (@tracybtattoos), owner of Parlour Eleven Tattoo, to explore her remarkable 25-year journey through the evolving world of tattooing. From breaking industry stigma to building a studio that empowers women, Tracy’s story is one of resilience, artistry, and determination. More than an accomplished tattoo artist, she’s become a mentor, advocate, and inspiring force in her community. In this candid Q&A, Tracy shares the hard-earned lessons, challenges, and passion that shaped her path.

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Twenty-five years in tattooing is honestly iconic. Looking back at 1999, what would absolutely blow younger Tracy’s mind about life now?

Tracy Boucher: “I don’t think younger me could have imagined how accepted and expansive the tattoo industry would eventually become. In 1999, tattooing was much more underground, niche and disconnected from the mainstream. The industry was small, more local and rougher around the edges compared to what it is today. It’s amazing how respected and globally connected tattooing has become over the last 25 years.

“I also think younger Tracy would be shocked by how much the industry changed, not just culturally but technically and artistically. The equipment, ink, needles and tattoo techniques have enabled artists to achieve an incredible level of detail and artistry. We’ve seen such an evolution in tattoo styles like fine line and realism, even the way we photograph and present tattoos now, it’s a completely different world. Back then, you learned through in-person mentorship, magazines and trial and error; it was a very gate-kept craft. Now, artists can learn from someone across the world instantly and access the best equipment with a click on a computer.

“But honestly, I think what would blow her mind the most is that I found something I truly stayed passionate about for 25+ years. A lot of people spend their lives searching for work that they enjoy and that feels meaningful and fulfilling. Tattooing has been all of those things for me, and I’ve been able to stick with it because it has challenged me constantly, allowed me to grow as an artist and a person and given me a sense of purpose and connection that I never expected when I first started.”

Tracy Boucher, photo by Kennedy Lisa Photography

Getting fired from “normal jobs” because of being too much of a free spirit is kind of hilarious in retrospect. When did the realization hit that working for someone else was never gonna stick?

“I definitely laugh about the fact that I’ve been fired from every job I ever had before tattooing, including working for my father. He was the one who encouraged me to go out on my own and open my first tattoo shop in 2001. He helped me see that it wasn’t necessarily a bad thing that I had a hard time fitting into really rigid environments or jobs where creativity, individuality or independence had to be shut off to fit in.

“At the time, it felt frustrating, like maybe I was the problem, but looking back, I can see I was just wired differently. The harder I tried to fit into conventional jobs, the more obvious it became that I was never going to be happy working inside someone else’s version of success.

“Tattooing was probably the first thing that made me realize being a ‘free spirit’ could actually be a strength instead of a flaw. I think there’s also something funny about the fact that the qualities that got me in trouble in ‘normal jobs,’ being outspoken, independent and unconventional, ended up being the exact qualities that helped me survive and build a career in tattooing for 25 years.”

Back in the early days, tattooing had SUCH a different reputation than it does now. What was it like trying to build a serious career in an industry people barely respected?

“It was definitely very different from what people see now. When I started, tattooing wasn’t viewed as this polished, trendy and mainstream career path. People usually got into tattooing because they genuinely loved it, not because it looked trendy online. Most people still associated tattoos with rebellion, instability or being unemployable. In the beginning, my parents were beyond disappointed and somewhat embarrassed when I decided not just to collect tattoos but to pursue tattooing as a career.

“Being a tattoo artist at that time, especially as a woman, was considered an undesirable occupation, if it could be considered an occupation at all. You certainly couldn’t put ‘tattoo artist’ as your job if you wanted to apply for a loan,  people judged you negatively and underestimated you immediately or didn’t see what you did as a legitimate profession. You couldn’t even have visible tattoos if you worked at Starbucks, let alone as a teacher or a lawyer; tattoos and tattoo artists were still viewed negatively by the general public.

“Tattoo artists had to really fight for a place of respect in business and in our society and culture. We had to learn to wear criticism, judgment, and the negative opinions of others without quitting. There wasn’t the visibility or access there is now; we had no Instagram portfolios, no reels, no online marketing strategies. Our reputations had to be built almost entirely through word of mouth, the quality of our work and how we treated people. We had to earn trust slowly, and there was a much bigger divide between tattoo culture and the general public.

“I think that era created a different level of resilience and commitment. And in a weird way, the lack of respect almost made me take it more seriously. I wanted to prove that tattooing could absolutely be a real career, that artistry mattered and that women belonged in the industry too.

“Seeing how far the industry has come since then is honestly pretty incredible, and of course, my parents are proud of my career path and success.”

Tracy Boucher, photo by Kennedy Lisa Photography

Between business ownership, single motherhood, injuries, grief, mental health struggles, and constant moves… life has thrown some brutal curveballs. What kept the momentum going through all of it?

“I don’t think it was always momentum in the motivational sense. Most of the time, it was honestly just survival, responsibility and refusing to let hard seasons define my life. When you’re a parent, own a business and have people depending on you, you learn how to keep moving even when you’re exhausted, grieving, overwhelmed or questioning everything.

“Tattooing also gave me something steady to hold onto through a lot of chaos. No matter what was happening personally, I could still create, connect with people and put energy into something meaningful. There’s something grounding about working with your hands and helping people carry pieces of their stories on their bodies.

“But I definitely didn’t do it alone. The support of family, close friends and the community around me has played a huge role in keeping me going through the really difficult periods. There were times when encouragement, understanding, or even just having people believe in me made all the difference. After 25 years in the industry, your clients and community become part of your life story too, and those relationships carry you more than people probably realize.

“Mainly, I think the momentum came partly from my family, especially my father, and from deciding over and over again that I still wanted a life bigger than the setbacks I was experiencing and that those things were not going to define me.”

Mental health still isn’t something a lot of business owners openly talk about. What made sharing that part of the story feel important?

“I think I reached a point where I had to be honest because my mental health was having such a huge impact on my life, my business, and my ability to fully show up. The work I started doing through therapy, self-reflection, and really trying to understand myself became such a major part of my life that it no longer felt authentic to keep that hidden.

“One of the biggest things tattooing teaches you is human connection. When you spend hours with clients and build real trust with people, you realize how many are quietly struggling with similar things: anxiety, grief, burnout, ADHD, trauma, self-worth issues, depression. So many people are carrying heavy things behind the version of themselves the world sees.

“I found that relating to people and being honest about my own experiences became a really powerful healing tool, not just for me, but for them, too. I think people often look at business owners or professionals and only see the exterior, the work, the image, the success, the social media, but not the struggles behind it. When I open up to clients, I think it helps them realize they aren’t alone in what they are feeling. Sometimes people just need to feel seen, understood, or safe enough to be real for a moment. I think there’s a lot of power in reminding people that you can be successful, creative, capable, and still be working through difficult things at the same time.

“I’m truly fortunate to have a career and platform that enables me to connect with so many people and create open conversations to help normalize talking about mental health.”

Tracy Boucher, photo by Kennedy Lisa Photography

The 2016 car accident changed the ability to tattoo the way that once felt most fulfilling. What did that transition look like emotionally and creatively?

“The transition was definitely emotional at first because tattooing had always been such a huge part of my identity. After the accident, realizing I couldn’t physically tattoo the same way I once had, or even at all for a period of time, came with a real sense of grief and loss. I think anytime something changes the way you lived your life, there’s a period where you have to mourn what you thought your future was going to look like.

“But at the same time, I was incredibly grateful that I could still tattoo at all. I was able to pivot instead of walking away completely, and that perspective changed everything for me. Even though the tattoos became smaller and less focused on large-scale artistic pieces, I discovered something entirely new to appreciate about the craft. I became really drawn to the technical challenge of creating small, detailed tattoos that still feel clean, balanced, and meaningful.

“Through being forced to only tattoo for short periods of time due to chronic pain, I realized that not everybody wants huge masterpieces on their body. There are a lot of people simply wanting something small that carries personal meaning, especially as tattooing has become more mainstream and caters to people from all walks of life, not just traditional tattoo collectors. While many experienced tattoo artists work toward large-scale artistic pieces, my focus has become creating smaller work, where even though the scale of the tattoos is different, the emotional connection and experience with my clients is still just as important and fulfilling to me.

“In a strange way, what originally felt like one of the worst things that could’ve happened to me ended up opening a completely different path that brought its own kind of fulfillment. It forced me to adapt, rethink what success and artistry looked like and find purpose in a different area of tattooing that I may never have explored otherwise.”

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Parlour Eleven has such a strong “women supporting women” energy. Was building that kind of environment always part of the vision?

“When I came back into tattooing after closing my first business of ten years and stepping away from large-scale company culture, I had a lot of time to reflect on what kind of environment I actually wanted to create moving forward. Coming back into the industry with a different perspective made me realize how important it was to me to build spaces where women felt safe, supported, respected, and genuinely comfortable.

“Tattooing has historically been a very male-dominated industry, and while there are incredible people within it, I think a lot of women have also experienced environments that felt intimidating, competitive, exclusionary or unsafe at different points in their careers. That became something I cared deeply about changing in whatever way I could within my own space.

“So the ‘women supporting women’ energy behind Parlour Eleven wasn’t necessarily something I had fully mapped out from the very beginning, but it absolutely became a core part of the vision as I rebuilt. I wanted the studio to feel welcoming not only for female artists, but also for clients, with a more feminine energy than a traditional tattoo shop.

“I think when you’ve gone through difficult experiences personally and professionally, you become much more intentional about the energy you create around you. Seeing women support each other, grow in confidence and feel genuinely empowered within Parlour Eleven has honestly become one of the most meaningful parts of what I do now.”

Apprenticing artists for 25 years probably comes with stories. What’s the biggest misconception people have about becoming a tattoo artist?

“I think one of the biggest misconceptions people have about becoming a tattoo artist is that it’s just this cool, easy, creative lifestyle where you draw all day and post tattoos on Instagram. People think they can take a two-week course and practice a little on fake skin and friends, and then you’re a tattoo artist. Social media really romanticizes the industry, but people don’t always see the amount of discipline, sacrifice, pressure and responsibility behind it.

“Tattooing is permanent. You’re putting something on someone’s body for the rest of their life, and that comes with a huge amount of responsibility emotionally, technically and professionally. It takes years to really understand application, design, skin, healed results, client communication and care, hygiene, time management, how to adapt your art to an actual human body, and so much more. It’s far from easy, and I firmly believe it takes several years of proper mentoring to learn properly. I don’t think it’s something you can really teach yourself, and I don’t think people should be self-teaching with something permanent on a person’s body.

“I also think a lot of people underestimate how mentally and physically demanding the career can be. It’s long hours, inconsistent income at times, burnout, pressure to constantly evolve creatively, social media demands, customer service, business management and for many artists, working through pain or injuries while still trying to perform at a high level.

“I think another misconception is that talent alone is enough. Artistic ability matters, of course, but tattooing also requires humility, emotional intelligence, work ethic, professionalism and the willingness to keep learning forever. The artists who last 20 or 25 years usually aren’t the ones chasing what looks cool,  they’re the ones who genuinely respect the craft, the responsibility and the people trusting them with their bodies.”

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Every chapter of this story feels like rebuilding from scratch and somehow creating something beautiful again. Where does that resilience come from?

“I think resilience gets misunderstood sometimes. People picture strength as being fearless or endlessly motivated, but for me, resilience has meant being creative and adapting to starting over, even when I didn’t want to or think I could. I think a lot of that resilience comes from things my dad taught me; he was a beacon of light and positivity. He believed that the hardest lessons in life are often the most important ones and that the biggest growth usually comes through the most difficult experiences.

“He also instilled in me the belief that sometimes the worst thing that could ever happen to you can end up being the best thing that ever happened to you. Sometimes that’s pretty hard to see in your darkest moments, and sometimes it takes years to see the good that came from the bad, but I do firmly believe that he was right.

“I certainly didn’t always appreciate his teachings in the moment, but over time, I started to realize how true it was. Every major challenge, loss, setback or rebuilding phase forced me to learn something about myself that I probably wouldn’t have learned otherwise.

“I’ve had a lot of chapters in my life where I’ve had to start over in one way or another, and I think eventually you stop fearing rebuilding quite as much because you realize you’ve survived it before. You learn that resilience isn’t about never struggling, it’s about trusting that you can adapt, heal and create something meaningful again even after things fall apart. I also definitely didn’t build that resilience alone. The support of my small family and close friends in my life has been such a huge part of it. Having people who believe in you, encourage you, ground you, and stand beside you during the hardest seasons makes an enormous difference. I think community and connection are a huge part of survival, especially for women trying to navigate business, motherhood, loss and life all at once.

“At this point in my life, I think resilience looks less like ‘pushing through at all costs’ and more like learning how to rebuild with more self-awareness, honesty and intention each time.”

Tracy Boucher, photo by Kennedy Lisa Photography

Abbotsford, Mission, Williams Lake, Kamloops, every city seems tied to a completely different era of life. Which place changed things the most?

“Honestly, I don’t know if I could choose just one because each place represents such a completely different chapter of my life and came with massive changes personally, emotionally and professionally. The energy of the Fraser Valley was so different from a smaller town like Williams Lake, and then eventually ending up in Kamloops brought another entirely different pace and perspective again. Every move has changed me in some way.

“A lot of those transitions also happened during really difficult periods of my life and mental health. The moves were usually more out of necessity than choice, and they often happened very quickly without a lot of time to process, plan, or really think things through. At the time, those changes felt chaotic and overwhelming, but I can also see how much they forced me to grow and adapt. Every city taught me something different about resilience, independence, community and even about the kind of life and environment I want to create for myself moving forward.

“All of my moves have brought me to realize how important it is for me to be close to my small family, so I’m feeling settled for the foreseeable future in Kamloops, but who really knows what curveball life will throw next.”

After everything, the businesses, the setbacks, the rebuilding, the survival mode years, what feels like the biggest accomplishment?

“Honestly, my biggest accomplishment is raising my daughter as a single mom (with a lot of support from my family along the way) and having such a close, healthy relationship with her now. Through all the businesses, setbacks, rebuilding phases, survival mode years and everything life threw at me, that’s the thing I’m most proud of at the end of the day.

“There were definitely times where balancing motherhood, business ownership, financial pressure and personal struggles felt overwhelming, and I don’t think there’s enough recognition for how hard it can be to carry all of those roles at once. But no matter what was happening around me, being there for my daughter always stayed at the center of everything.

“What feels really special now is that life has come full circle in a way I never could have predicted. I’m now apprenticing her to become a tattoo artist, which is honestly surreal after 25 years in the industry. Watching her grow creatively, develop her own identity and step into this world while also sharing that experience together means more to me than I can really put into words.

“I think success changes a lot over time. Earlier in life, I probably would have measured it through career milestones or business achievements, but now I look at the relationship I have with my daughter, the people I’ve impacted, the community around me and the fact that we made it through some really difficult years together and that feels like the greatest accomplishment of all.”

For anyone currently feeling buried by life, grief, burnout, or just constant chaos… what’s something worth remembering during those “how am I supposed to survive this?” seasons?

“I think one of the most important things to remember during those seasons is that nothing stays the same forever, including the hard parts. The only real constant in life is change. When you’re deep in grief, burnout, survival mode, or chaos, it can honestly feel like that’s just your life now and that you’ll never get out from under it. But feelings, circumstances, seasons and even people change over time, even when it doesn’t feel possible in the moment.

“If you feel buried right now, just know you won’t stay there forever. Life moves in cycles, and some chapters are about surviving, healing, rebuilding and learning how to carry yourself through things you never expected to face. Sometimes growth doesn’t look inspiring or beautiful while you’re in it, sometimes it just looks like getting through one day at a time.”