Meet Taylor Jones | Tattoo Artist & Owner of SourEyeCandi

We had the good fortune of connecting with Taylor Jones and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Taylor, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I pursued an artistic career because it’s all I really know. It’s the one thing (besides being hilariously sarcastic) that comes naturally to me. I think it’s important to follow your heart in that way. Artistic careers aren’t always the most stable but that’s okay with me. I would trade stability for a happier, and more fulfilling life any day.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My art definitely has a lot of range. My mediums feel pretty endless as they include but aren’t limited to- tattooing, drawing, painting murals, screen printing, digital design, refurbishing furniture, jewelry making and so on. Moving out here from the East coast was a big step out of my comfort zone, and I’m so happy I did it as it kind of unveiled a world of potential & possibilities.

Getting to where I am today has been, and still is a process. Being an artist- there is no ceiling. Even if you get to the very top- there is always room to advance and more to learn. I have definitely come a long way from where I started- but I am always striving to be better. I tend to be extremely self-critical, but I try to use that as a positive to see what I can do to improve next time instead of just putting myself down.

I’m currently trying to expand and build my website and I keep remembering how I got to where I am now from when I first started my tattoo career: slow and steady and with ample persistence.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
This is a fun one! I would definitely take them to the shop I work at, Preying Mantis Tattoo (Kipling). As well as some of my other favorite places in the area: Lakeside Amusement Park (I absolutely adore the charm of that place), maybe Sushi Hai or Odyssey for dinner- depending on what we were in the mood for- both are always amazing. We’d probably make a stop at the Denver Nature & Science museum or the Botanical Gardens… and maybe take a drive up to Estes Park & get a tour of the Stanley Hotel.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I am lucky to have a pretty amazing support system within my friends & family, but the person that comes to the forefront of my mind has to be my mom, Jacqueline. I know that sounds cliché, but she has always been supportive of my creative endeavors and has always been a shoulder to lean on whenever I’ve felt self-doubt. She let me do one of my first tattoos on her and even helped me pay off the last part of my apprentice fees when I was still learning so I could focus on buying my own supplies. My sister, Brittany, also let me do a ton of “practice” tattoos on her in the beginning and for that I’l forever be grateful. She constantly hypes me up & shares my stuff on her social media- whether its for tattooing or my website, the support is always there!

Website: www.soureyecandi.com

Instagram: @tayjonestattoos @soureyecandi