Today we’d like to introduce you to Jas Dillon.
Hi Jas, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
I am a multidisciplinary artist and tattooer in Dallas, Texas. I graduated from Texas A&M in 2015 with a Bachelor’s in Global Arts, Design, and Architecture. After dropping my Master’s program in Architecture at TAMU, I felt I was being called away from the more conventional creative disciplines. The first in my family to attend college, this decision created a lot of inner conflict. I had to relearn what success really meant to me. I moved into design at that point, working through web, interactive, and experience design.
I began my path to becoming a professional tattooer in 2020 following a layoff from a design agency. Suddenly losing a job that I poured so much energy into caused a massive energetic shift in me. What I was investing my time and emotion into became of vital focus. I found that I needed to be doing something that I could morally and emotionally buy into, while still carrying my own creative torch.
I’ve been getting tattooed as a form of expression and self-care for many years, and I’ve found that this can be a powerful art. In my newly-acquired free time, I started drawing freely again in the hopes that I might find a mentor to apprentice with to learn the trade. From this point on, my journey has been almost serendipitous, solidifying that I’m finally on the right path. Tattooing is an exchange that can change lives and I aim to bring that experience to my clients.
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?
Apprenticeships aren’t easy and require a major leap of faith that sometimes feels like freefall. As someone who struggles mental illness, upending my life brought a lot of challenges and lessons in balance, peace, and boundaries. I still go through stumbles (and expect to), but I’m proud of myself for coming out the other end more self-assured. The connections and independence I’ve gained just add more tools to my belt to meet whatever lie ahead. I had an amazing mentor to guide me, I owe major credit to Doyle (@whoisdoyle on IG) for helping me find myself in this industry.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
As a tattooer, I specialize in magical realism, surrealism, and psychedelia. I really love playing with opposing ideas, like bold/delicate, hard/soft. I love to utilize bold black and smooth shading to create a composition that stands out, and organic shapes and lines that flow with the body. I’m interested in dark and emotional themes, as well as fantasy or trippy imagery. I’m endlessly inspired by nature and science.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters most to me right now is growth and fulfillment. Starting tattooing is humbling. It’s a sacred art that has existed as along as we have. I am honored to get to start fresh in the context of the modern world. I hope to grow alongside the tattoo industry to provide the best work and experience to all bodies. Since growth is more than just grind, my other non-negotiables are time in nature, time to rest, and time to enjoy small, inconsequential moments. Our time on Earth is not guaranteed, so it’s important for me to feel some goodness each day, no matter how small.
Contact Info:
- Email: jasminedillonart@gmail.com
- Website: www.jasdillonart.com
- Instagram: @jasdillonart
Image Credits
Jas Dillon
