Meet Narae Jeong of Koreatown , Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Narae Jeong.

Hi Narae, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
1) Can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today? You can include as little or as much detail as you’d like.

Who would have ever imagined that I would become a visual artist? All of my childhood friends often find it surprising that a tomboy Taekwondo girl has grown up to be a professional artist. 
I was born and raised in a Taekwondo dojo, where people of different age groups practiced the same martial art movements repeatedly—thousands of times. As a young soul, I naturally blended into this environment; I joined a professional athlete team at age 10 to train for tournaments, and I remained obsessed with mastering and winning until I achieved my goal of winning national championships. 
Curiosity for the world outside of the motherland was pulling me with all its strength, so I had to leave Korea for Africa for a couple of years. Soon after, I relocated to the U.S. in 2008 as an international student. It took me some time to discover what I could once again be madly passionate about after Taekwondo. I applied to art schools, and luckily, I heard back from them. Everything seemed to be moving smoothly until I got a call from my mom, who told me to return to Korea because their business was facing financial difficulties. 
Just as I was about to embark on my artistic journey, I was no longer the princess relying on my parents’ support. My artistic journey began as a struggling international student living in her car in a foreign country. Yes, you heard that right: I lived in a minivan throughout all four years of college. 
At that moment, attending Otis College of Art and Design, which offered me a scholarship, was the only realistic way to continue my education in the U.S. I survived Otis’s rigorous program and graduated with honors, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Toy Design. Luckily, I was able to jump straight into the professional world as a toy designer. I was finally no longer living in my car, had weekends free from art projects, and was no longer struggling financially. 
Although life started to treat me better, I felt something was missing. To understand what I lacked, I focused on learning more about myself, and I had a profound realization: I need something in my life to be absorbed in—something I can obsess over. That ‘something’ turned out to be mastering technical skills in art and the art of tattooing.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
2) Has it been a smooth road? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way? 

Being an artist often means traveling a bumpy road. Art is highly subjective, and it’s easy to lose track of whether you’re heading in the right direction. I don’t recall myself being anxious or uncertain before I entered the art world—it was quite different from solving math problems with exact answers or memorizing scientific terminology for biology exams. 
Fortunately and unfortunately, I am still learning how to maintain my peace amid ongoing self-doubt. The challenges I face are sometimes amplified by critics who don’t want to see my success. Their unconstructive, irrelevant comments can contribute to boosting self-doubt. However, I have come to realize that such hate often stems from unresolved insecurities in others themselves—not from a reflection of my work quality. 
Now, when anxiety creeps in for any reason, I tell myself a spell: “I do ‘me’, what I love, authentically.”

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
3) We’d love to learn more about your work:
 
* What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc.?
I am a self-taught tattoo artist specializing in highly detailed, single-needle work. This technique creates delicate, permanent body art with virtually no room for error. I have always been known as a perfectionist since childhood. For instance, when a coloring book was given to me at age 3, I would focus on coloring within the outline while other kids colored freely. At 11, I dedicated weekends to perfecting a single kick move by practicing it 1,000 times. Tattooing with fine bugpin needles suits my natural tendencies for precision and perfection.

* What are you most proud of? What sets you apart?
It took me some reflection to answer this honestly—I’m still figuring it out. I am not sure what I am proud of in my work yet. Creating permanent body art is thrilling but also feels fresh and scary every time. The fear of ruining a piece pushes me to practice drawing on paper and silicone skin before each session—this mindset of striving for the best results, both for my clients and myself, is something I’m proud of. 
Additionally, I’m not afraid to step out of my comfort zone to explore new styles and mediums. This openness has allowed me to develop versatility—from realistic renderings to whimsical illustrations—which sets me apart from others.

What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
4) What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey? 

Moving forward with grit. I am naturally a competitive, impatient person who used to dream of getting to the goal line before anyone else arrives: that is, being the first to achieve something. How arrogant of me, indeed. I had to have a deep conversation with my competitive, anxious self. Then I accepted the cliché reality: There’s no such thing as an overnight success or mastering any field without cheating and being a con artist. Also, “Life is not a race.” We all move at our own pace. What is important in the process of achieving your goal is that you are moving forward at your own pace. It is okay to be distracted, but keep moving forward with grit.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.studionarae.com/tattoo
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/narae_ttt