Meet Jeonghun Seo of Los angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeonghun Seo.

Hi Jeonghun, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’m originally from South Korea, where I initially studied fashion design. Even as a student, I was very interested in tattoos and already had several on my arms. Ever since I was young, I’ve always loved the act of drawing and creating my own artwork. Eventually, toward the end of my studies, I decided to leave school and pursue what I was truly passionate about: tattooing.

When I first started tattooing, learning the techniques and building my social media presence were definitely not easy. However, I’ve always dedicated myself to studying, experimenting, and refining my own artistic style.

Throughout my eight years as a tattoo artist, I’ve consistently created my own original designs, and I consider this one of the most important aspects of my work. I’m always trying to introduce something new into my artwork and continue evolving as an artist.

At the same time, I believe it’s important to keep up with the changes and trends around us. Whether it’s managing my Instagram account, creating videos, editing photos, or exploring new ways to present my work, I always try to stay open to new possibilities. While I want to become a true master of my craft, I also want to continue learning, adapting, and embracing new ideas.

Eventually, an opportunity brought me to Los Angeles, where I’ve now been working as a tattoo artist for approximately four years.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The journey has certainly never been smooth, not even for a moment. In the early stages of my career, my first priority was learning the technical skills of tattooing, but those weren’t things I could master quickly. I faced many difficulties, and like anyone else starting out, there was a time when I had a lot to learn and improve. I constantly questioned myself and my abilities.

I believe tattooing techniques are something you develop slowly, step by step, through your hands. It’s about gradually building a sense of control and learning to understand the characteristics of skin through experience. Even just a few years ago, I still had many concerns about my technical abilities. These days, I feel that I can approach my work with a little more confidence and peace of mind. However, I still believe there’s a lot more for me to reflect on and improve.

The second major challenge was probably developing my own designs and artistic style. Creating more mainstream designs might have helped me attract a wider range of clients, but I wanted to develop something unique and recognizable as my own. Before my style became more refined, my artwork and designs may have seemed unfamiliar or unusual to people.

When I think about the clients who chose my designs in those early days, I feel incredibly grateful. Back then, every single opportunity to tattoo someone meant so much to me.

Perhaps because I spent so many years going through that stage, I still feel a deep sense of gratitude toward every client who chooses my work today. I try to give each design the attention and detail it deserves, and I always remind myself of the importance of staying humble.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’ve been working as a tattoo artist for eight years. While tattooing can generally be divided into different styles, I’ve been developing and working in my own unique style. If I had to categorize it, I would probably call it Neo-Oriental.

My work is based on traditional East Asian imagery and motifs. I mainly draw dragons, tigers, and other subjects inspired by Eastern art and culture. One of the distinctive features of my work is my use of vivid colors.

Naturally, my personal tastes and preferences are deeply reflected in my artwork. The most important philosophy behind my designs is simply to create art that is truly my own.

When I create a design, I never use other artists’ work as a reference. I always start from a blank canvas and develop everything from scratch. I believe this is where the individuality and uniqueness of my artwork come from.

Over the years, I’ve developed my own interpretations of dragons, tigers, koi fish, cranes, and many other subjects. These designs have been refined over a long period of time, and even today, I continue to make small adjustments and improvements to their details.

What I’m most proud of is being able to create artwork that is genuinely my own and knowing that there are people who appreciate my designs enough to choose them as permanent pieces on their bodies.

How do you think about happiness?
Being a tattoo artist is one of the greatest gifts and sources of happiness in my life. I’ve loved drawing ever since I was a child, and that hasn’t changed at all.

Whether I’m drawing a tattoo design or tattooing directly on a client’s skin, I still feel the same joy I experienced when I was a child drawing pictures. More than anything, I simply love drawing.

I’m also incredibly grateful that I can make a living by creating the kind of art I love and genuinely want to draw.

I don’t think there’s been a single day in the past eight years when I haven’t drawn something. I draw every single day, and even after all these years, it still brings me the same excitement, joy, and happiness.

Pricing:

• Pricing generally varies depending on the design and size. Designs with more colors, intricate details, or larger dimensions typically cost more. For a detailed quote, please feel free to contact me via email or Instagram DM. I’m always happy to provide a quote as soon as possible.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nobodytattoo?obrf=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61591568482745&mibextid=wwXIfr

Image Credits
I own the copyright to all the photos I’ve submitted. You are welcome to use them freely.