Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauryn Jenesis.
Hi Lauryn, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I have always been into drawing, painting and always wanted to be an artist for a living. When I moved to Texas from Utah, I became friends with some people who were tattoo artists. At the time I wanted to be a painter so badly and was trying to do different art shows. I didn’t even consider tattooing. Then after a while of seeing them do their thing, and many failed art attempts… I thought, “maybe tattooing is something I can do?”. I feel tattooing found me and I’m grateful it did.
So I got lucky and one of my friends at the time agreed to apprentice me. I was then working full time at a bar in downtown Dallas. Getting off around 4am and being at the shop the next day at 10am for my apprenticeship. Those were some rough days, but I knew it was going to be worth it… and it was!
I have now been successfully tattooing full time for four years. It is the best and hardest job I have had yet. But I love it! I have loved learning this medium and it has shaped my paintings into something different. I have really enjoyed seeing how tattooing has affected the way I paint. Now I am learning how to do ceramics and I feel like tattooing has just become the new base for all my inspiration in my art.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Is there such a thing as a smooth road? As I mentioned before working full time and apprenticing wasn’t the easiest. I was running on fumes. Also, working with friends isn’t easy. Being an artist for a living also feels very vulnerable. Sometimes I joke it feels embarrassing. Simply because you’re having to put yourself out there all the time and it feels vulnerable. As well as when you’re learning something new you usually suck at it first. You have to put in those hours to get better. As a perfectionist that almost feels like torture. However, all the struggles make the successes all the more rewarding. The best thing about growing as an artist is that I can visually see my growth whenever I look back.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a full time tattoo artist who specializes in fine line, black and grey tattoos. I get a lot of my inspiration from traditional tattoo designs, Asian art, and I love anything feminine and girly. I tend to put a lot of detail into my tattoos and I think my own style of art sets me apart. I also paint and am working towards selling my paintings. My style of painting is very different from my tattoos. It is colorful and more abstract. I love these two mediums because I get to express myself in completely different ways.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Come get tattooed by me or by an art print! But if that isn’t accessible, simply just follow and like my art. I have a lot of different ideas for the future where people can support me as an artist without having to get tattooed. I am always working on how to show my paintings more. So stay tuned:)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://LaurynJenesis.com
- Instagram: @laurynjenesis
