Meet Jon Young | Tattoo artist

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

Hi Jon, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I choose to purse art because it’s what gets me excited. Creating and making things is like no other. So I choose to pursue tattooing. Tattooing has always been an interest. Not in the art business sense, but the metal aspect of carving images and words into people. People are like reflections of the universe so it’s sort of a cool thing to be able to alter another person for the remainder of their life.

I always enjoyed eastern teachings of energy transference. This to me is not only your state of mind during any activity, but how you feel on an emotional level too. Having calm heart, mind, and body all tie into the process for both the artist and client in my opinion. I want to leave a positive memory. Getting tattooed can be daunting for some, and finding a new artist you get along with isn’t easy.

I hope for people to walk away with a good memory. Even though my art isn’t the absolute best out of the many other artists out there, I still try my best and I hope that’s what matters🙏👽

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.
Tattoos are viewed as many different things depending on the lense looking at it.
Most tattoo artist will feel like cowboys because they struggled harder than others to get into tattooing. Present day, being able to get tattoo supplies is easier than ever before.

For me personally me and my friend started stick and pokes in high school but mostly on ourself our each other. When the tube came that I decided to finally go after tattooing it was difficult. Mostly because I didn’t know where to start. So I made a portfolio and started going about to various tattoo shops locally asking for apprenticeships.

I was denied and turned away. But I didn’t know what I could do to improve? So a couple more wacky portfolios later and some mystic advice, I landed an apprenticeship. As time when on I moved around from shop to shop because of shenanigans or the actual tattoo shop falling under. 5 shops later and now I have been in the same location for the past 1.5 years :,)

Finding style isn’t easy. I personally want to try to move towards tattooing as more of a practice than a typical “business.” Stressing about money and trying to push art and tattoos on others is hard. I never liked the idea of someone paying pull price for something and then the next day, the artist does a massive discount. As if this is a dying Kmart haha. Tattoos should be something special and magical. As you get to look at it everyday for the remainder of your life. And people complain of $100-200 being too much for a tattoo. When most items today easily can cost that or more. Often they are discarded later in the trash anyways. A tattoo stays. Shoes don’t.

So my advice is following your gut feeling and say no to things or artist you do not want or vibe with. And yes to those that you feel comfortable with. Find someone you can make friends with and not just take your money. A lasting memory is what matters to me.

All life to me is equal. People should be able to follow their hearts true desire. I hope I can continue to tattoo as long as I am able too. To coexist in a modern society and still follow something that is a bit exotic and shrouded in mystery, that is tattooing for me. I am greatful to be in the position I am.

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?
I have a small circle and don’t get out much! But my activities with friends usually include going to the skatepark in the morning or dirt parks and get a bike sesh in. After a little session perhaps we would get a smoothie or boba haha. Kava bars or a hookah lounge is always nice place to relax and hangout in the afternoons. I like drawing at places like these personally.
Going out to restaurants is exciting too so I’m always game to switch it up with friends and try new things 👽

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My family :,)

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zephyrr_elf.art?igsh=YnQ4ZXU1eHR2aGRl&utm_source=qr

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/16DXUEPHfu/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Image Credits
Sister Heidi 👽🙏