Today we’d like to introduce you to Caitie.
Hi Caitie, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’m a 33 year old disabled business owner living in Knoxville, where I’ve built a life rooted in resilience, creativity, and healing. I’ve called this beautiful city home for the past eight years, but my journey started in Oak Hill, West Virginia, where I was raised as an only child by a single mother who battled both physical and mental illness. When I was 10, we lost everything in a devastating flood, a turning point that left my mother broken and placed me in the role of her caretaker until she entered a care facility years later.
Life threw a lot at me early on. I left high school before graduating. I lost my first love to a car accident at 17. I spent years trapped in abusive relationships and minimum wage jobs. My mother passed away when I was 24. For a long time, survival felt like my only goal.
But art, especially tattooing, saved my life.
I’ve been creating art for as long as I can remember, though I was often told it couldn’t be a viable career. I tried following a traditional path through my late teens until I met Kate Cook, a local tattoo artist in Oak Hill (she now owns Amber Moon Tattoo in Asheville, NC). I was relentless in my pursuit of an apprenticeship, and eventually she agreed to mentor me. Near the end of my training, I left Kate under pressure from my family to pursue a more “normal” life. Still, I never stopped dreaming about tattooing, and eight years later, I found my way back.
I worked my way through some incredible studios in Knoxville, but due to my health challenges and personal history, I knew I needed something different – a space that was truly mine. After eight months of careful planning and investing every resource I had, I opened Bone + Lily, my private tattoo studio, on August 11, 2024.
Bone + Lily operates by appointment only, and its mission is deeply personal: to create a safe, welcoming space where people of all backgrounds and abilities can collaborate with me or my friend and shop mate Renae on custom tattoos that reflect their identities, stories, and visions.
Today, I have the studio of my dreams, a devoted and inspiring clientele, the love of my life, a perfect dog, a circle of supportive friends, and hobbies that bring me real joy. It’s taken everything to get here, but it really did all work out. And this is only the beginning of this chapter.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I’ve faced my fair share of obstacles, both physical and mental. I am autistic and have ADHD, as well as living with chronic PTSD, depression, and anxiety. I’ve also had a range of chronic health issues since childhood, including autoimmune, digestive, and endocrine conditions, along with joint problems that affect mobility. On top of all that, I don’t have any family support, which has made life’s challenges feel even heavier.
But I’ve learned how to create stability and healing for myself, on my own terms. Therapy, yoga, and building an intentional, supportive environment have been game changers for me. I’ve had to become my own advocate in every sense, and that commitment to self-advocacy is the foundation of how I live, work, and interact with the world. These challenges have shaped me, but they don’t define me; they’ve simply made me more determined to live a life that’s honest, compassionate, and true to who I am.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’ve been a tattoo artist for over eight years and am the owner of Bone + Lily, my private studio located at 8079 Kingston Pike, Suite W in Knoxville. My goal has always been to create a safe, personalized, and welcoming space where clients feel fully seen and cared for.
I work by appointment only so I can give each person my full attention. I also offer trauma-informed and sensory-friendly tattoo services, ensuring the experience is as supportive as it is creative.
I enjoy tattooing a wide range of styles and subjects. My clientele brings me everything you can think of and we brainstorm together to make something unique.
In my personal art life, I love to paint realistic portraits and sketch all kinds of spooky and/or cute designs!
Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
My happy place as a child was my granny’s house. She kept every art supply a kid could want, from markers and crayons to construction paper and safety scissors. We spent many spring days in a covered patio she had built with her own hands, drawing at the picnic table and listening to the birds.
Pricing:
- Tattoo Hourly Rate – $200
- $100 shop minimum
- $50-100 deposit to book (comes off cost of tattoo)
- Free consultations
Contact Info:
- Website: https://boneandlily.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caitiebriannatattoos
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/caitiebrianna/
