Meet Jakki Storm | Tattoo Artist & Model

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

Hi Jakki, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I have always been the “creative” kid. I spent my school days doodling on page after page of math homework. Deep down I always wanted to be an artist, but the adults in my life assured me time and time again that it would be better in the long run if art remained a hobby and I instead pursued a career in STEM.

So that’s what I did. I spent my lifetime taking technical classes and learning maths and sciences, even though my heart was never in it. I eventually graduated with two engineering degrees and worked professionally as a product development and design engineer. I remember staring up at the fluorescent lights, day after day, wondering if the rest of my life would be experienced within the walls of that cubicle, as the artist in me slowly fell silent. When that career ended abruptly against my will I took it as a sign to finally follow my heart instead of my brain for a change and went full force into modelling, painting, and tattoo artistry. I’ve never looked back.

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.
I am a model and a tattoo artist. The balance is interesting because in once instance I am the canvas and my clients are in the other. My experience with modelling has been an asset in tattooing because I have come to learn how to move and pose the body aesthetically. Likewise, a tattoo must flow and move with it’s wearer to enhance their natural beauty. My application of this study is something I am still learning to perfect everyday.

I have been modelling longer than tattooing, mostly due to the difficulty of beginning a tattoo career. I believe anybody can learn to model with consistent practice and dedication, but teaching yourself tattooing is potentially dangerous and unethical. I waited a long time to find the right apprenticeship to ensure I learned technique correctly and safely. Although that apprenticeship did drill in me the importance of sanitation, it was ultimately a toxic situation I had to leave prematurely. It would be the first in a long line of tattoo shops and artists I would encounter that confirmed the negative stereotypes surrounding this industry.

It was difficult and discouraging coming across users and abusers again and again, but I truly believed tattooing is my calling and refused to give up. After one particularly negative experience wherein I went unpaid for months as my wages went up my boss’s nose, I took a leap of faith and applied to a studio I believed to be far too polished and sophisticated to even give me the time of day. To my surprise they took me under their wing and I have had only positive tattooing experiences ever since.

I’m still building my own understanding of my brand, but in both modelling and tattooing I generally love melding psychedelic motifs together with edgy, androgynous imagery. I love delivering something weird but keeping it grounded enough to remain playful and beautiful. I lean towards vibrant, hyper-saturated color, but never underestimate the power of understated black and grey.

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?
If a friend was coming for a visit, the itinerary would wholly depend on the person. If for example, one of my model friends from Italy was coming to town, I would prioritize taking them to all the local authentic American places they wouldn’t experience back home–such as Walmart, Costco, any massive big box store. After that I would briefly hit some of the more touristy spots before dipping out of the city to take them on some of my favorite hikes. Lastly, regardless of the friend, I will always try to bring them to my favorite speakeasy for some killer cocktails.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
While I will always be thankful to the friends and family who saw my talents, encouraged, and supported them over the years, no one has been there more for me than Buff. Buff was by my side when my world fell apart, when I learned to finally love myself and the artist within, and realized maybe the rest of the world could love my authenticity too. Buff supported me financially when the reality of starving artist set in. They loved me unconditionally and consistently through greater hardships and longer distances. Most of all, Buff believed in me, and no artist could ask for a greater gift than that.

Website: https://www.jakkistorm.com

Instagram: @jakkistorm

Facebook: @jakkistorm

Image Credits
Nik Hampshire
Dima Otvertchenko
Aston Models
Nick Berardi