Today we’d like to introduce you to Justin Cho
Hi Justin, 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 backstory with our readers?
My name is Justin Cho, I’m an upcoming tattoo artist in the DFW area! I’ve been interested in tattoos since I was a teenager and was always an art kid in high school. The first time I thought I wanted to pursue tattooing was when I was 18 living in Austin for college at the time. I ended up dropping out of college and while I loved tattoos I wasn’t quite ready to fully commit to making it my career and life. I ended up moving back home to the north DFW area and tried MANY jobs between 2015-2021, with none of them giving me the fulfillment I was looking for. In October of 2021 I got a matching tattoo with my little brother and my love for tattooing was reignited. Something just clicked that day, I knew this is what I was meant to do, what I NEEDED to do! The next few months i started putting together my portfolio to find an apprenticeship and in the summer of 2022 I was given my first chance to learn as an apprentice. I ended up needing to take some drawing and painting classes to progress but I never quit trying to become a tattoo artist. The next couple years I would end up apprenticing at a couple different shops to get where I am today. I’m barely a year into tattooing skin but I’m so eager and hungry to learn and grow! I was fortunate enough to be given chances and guidance by a lot of awesome artists in the local tattoo community and I’m so grateful for everything I’ve picked up along the way. It truly does take a village, and I hope my attitude work ethic, and desire to grow shows that I don’t take tattooing or the graciousness of artists who have helped me for granted!
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?
My path has simultaneously been smooth and incredibly difficult if that makes any sense! Smooth in the sense I was so lucky to get some of the opportunities I did, but difficult in the reality of what it took to get this far. I failed my first apprenticeship based on my own artistic abilities, so having to take art classes to improve was a tough pill to swallow. My next apprenticeship opportunity was also very difficult, I was struggling to maintain my life outside of the shop and it wore me down a lot. I ended up leaving that shop for various reasons and had to find a third place to attempt to finish my apprenticeship. I was fortunate enough to find another shop to take me in but it would ultimately not be the right fit for me either. I ended up “failing” three apprenticeships before I got to where I am today, so it certainly wasn’t the easiest or most traditional path. At the end of the day there are parts of my journey I wish would have gone differently, but ultimately, I truly am grateful for all of those experiences, good and bad. Everything I went through really proved to me how much I wanted to be a tattooer and I know even the toughest experiences I’ve faced so far have taught me something!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I tattoo professionally, it’s my favorite way to express myself and create the art I want to put out in the world! I’m a first year tattooer working on establishing myself and building up my clientele!
I haven’t found a true niche or style yet, I love so many styles of tattooing and I’m always eager to learn and explore different techniques and aesthetics. Currently my favorite things to tattoo are cartoons/anime/nostalgia/pop culture with my own little twist or approach. I love the look and feel of a recognizable character or image turned into a retro or traditional style tattoo!
I’m most proud of my tenacity and attitude towards tattooing. I want everything I do in this industry to reflect that relentless energy. I’d say this attitude is what sets me apart from many of my peers, I have an undying hunger to pursue this passion of tattooing by learning, growing, and creating. I know I share this drive with plenty of other artists, but I don’t view it as a competition, I just want everyone to be able to get amazing tattoo work from amazing people. I want my sincerity and transparency to shine and I hope everyone I get to work with feels that I bring them the best experience possible.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
Booking a tattoo with me is the easiest way to support my work, but sharing my page/following mg journey still goes a long way! I’m also always eager to meet and learn from fellow artists of any medium. Follow my instagram @justinthechosen to keep an eye on what I’m up too. I post my tattoos and other art projects I have going on and I want my social media presence to feel like you’re tagging along my artistic journey.
Pricing:
- Flat rate pieces $100-400
- Half day rate $500
- Full day rate $900
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justinthechosen?igsh=MTF0ZWg0NGdvazF5dA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@justinthechosen?_t=ZP-8uzEv7tsNm3&_r=1
