Today we’d like to introduce you to Victoria Jackson.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I have always been an artist, but becoming a tattoo artist was never part of the original plan. I began my professional artist journey at the University of North Texas, I received my Bachelors of Fine Art in Studio Arts with concentration in Drawing and Painting. My goal was to become proficient in portraits and realism. During that time, I began getting tattooed to cover visible self-harm scars I wanted to stop receiving negative attention for. I met Rich during a visit to Denton Tattoo Co, a shop near campus at the time. I shortly after began my tattoo apprenticeship under Rich Session in 2011 while still in college.
In 2013, I graduated from UNT as well as finished my apprenticeship, and began tattooing professionally. I only tattooed professionally for a short time after. I was struggling with prioritizing work and managing what became a drinking problem.
Fast forward a decade. With the continued support of my original mentor Rich Sessions, 2022 I began tattooing again full-time, this time at Fallen Ink Tattoo in Lake Dallas.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
These days I am a mom first and Tattoo Artist second, so maintaining a work-life balance is incredibly important to me. Though I have found a tattoo shop with hours that best fit my current lifestyle and also see the importance of prioritizing a work and family balance, being a mom to a 5-year-old and a newborn makes keeping up with work difficult at times. I just recently took two months off after welcoming my second child, and getting back to work has not been the smooth transition I had hoped it would be. I used to keep work at work only but am now juggling keeping up with drawings and correspondences while also homeschooling my 5-year-old and caring for a newborn. I’m having a lot more late nights to keep up with work.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I prefer doing florals and bold and colorful American Traditional style tattoos. However, above all else my primary goal as a tattoo artist is creating solid, lasting working that makes my client feel confident about themselves.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
Above all else, be true to yourself first.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.vjacksonmahnke.art/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cholitaunikorn.art/
- Other: https://linktr.ee/v.tattoos
