Meet Samantha Ng of Jaded Youth in K-Town

Today we’d like to introduce you to Samantha Ng.

Samantha, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I was born and raised in Hong Kong and I have always been drawing for as long as I could remember. Since I was young, my mother would tell me how the kindergarten teachers commented that I had “hands of a surgeon” and a creative mind, so it slowly became apparent that I was just more artistically inclined. I remember my aunt brought me to my first Art class when I was nine and it influenced me into considering Art as a serious commitment. I didn’t know what was the medium that would resonate with me the most at the time but I knew it had something to do with drawing. So I started as an Illustrator but grew frustrated with being underpaid and overworked. I also learned that I wasn’t motivated being in a company setting and figured I was much more invested in refining a specific skill and finding my own niches.

When I started making my own zine, I was introduced to Printmaking, which led to my fascination of world-building that would allow me to comfortably tell intimate stories and emotions that I felt were incomprehensible.

What pushed me further into that realm was when I was introduced to the Art of Tattoo from a fellow Printmaker. I find Tattoo to be a really fascinating form of Art that involves so much more trust and care than is credited for. I saw it as a way to bridge the gap between myself and the people who view my Art and it forced me to create pieces in relation to others and also expanded my practice to be inclusive of all gender and race. On top of that, it fits really well with my personality as my work is really meticulous. Thus, so far, I’m a Printmaker and licensed “Skin Engraver”.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road but nothing can work out perfectly. I struggled with acceptance, independence and working as an immigrant WOC Artist in America and sometimes even in my own home country as well.

It sometimes feels lonely picking freelance as a career path. Giving up the idea of working at a corporate environment was hard because of the safety net it gives you in terms of financial stability. I chose the riskier path because at the end of the day, I believed that creating my own Art was something that I feel way more fulfilling and meaningful. I’ve always felt that I had a lot to say and making Art has been a really amazing outlet.

However, building your own business isn’t an easy path either. I struggle with fitting in because Fine Art and Tattoo culture are both predominantly white-male dominated industries. On top of that, Printmaking and Tattoo aren’t commonly associated between the two, but I do believe they are heavily related practices and actually go hand in hand historically.

I also struggle with being an Asian Artist because, culturally, Asians don’t generally revere Fine Art or Tattoo as a lucrative career path. In fact, some look down on it. I try not to think too much about what other people think including my own relatives because at the end of the day, I’m not living for them and I only live for myself. On top of that, this is something that truly gives me energy and excitement!

Jaded Youth – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
My work is known to be detailed, complex and personal. I’m most proud of the fact that I’m able to express myself in mediums that are intricate and vulnerable through drawing and it still surprises me that people want my work, whether it be on their walls or engraved on their bodies. So far, I have been able to be financially self-sufficient working on my own art and that to me is an accomplishment because throughout my adolescence, I was often discouraged by teachers and relatives from pursuing a career as a Full-Time Artist due to financial concerns. Ultimately, I feel really blessed to have been able to produce my own work as my livelihood and I look forward to improving and diversifying my craft in the near future. I think what really helped in the long run is that my personal style and vision sets me apart from others.

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I define success by looking inwards and investigating whether or not if I’m living the most authentic self!

Contact Info:

• Website: jaded-youth.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @jaded_youth_

Image Credit:
Artist Portrait-Claudia Marin

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