Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin Jhi.
Hi Erin, 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 mom is an artist, so I grew up watching her draw and paint. I definitely got the artistic side from her, and I always knew I wanted to do something creative. I spent most of my formative years in South Korea, but I really wanted to move to the States to pursue art more seriously. I ended up moving to Virginia for college and studied Communication Arts at VCU.
In school, I started giving my friends stick n pokes in my dorm room. It definitely wasn’t the most ideal or sanitary place to tattoo, but I had so much fun doing it. That’s when I realized I wanted to take tattooing more seriously. I had friends who were already tattooing, and I learned a ton from them. After living in Virginia for a few years, I decided to move to LA and join Bear With Me. I feel super lucky to be able to do what I love, whether it’s tattooing, illustrating, or painting.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Sometimes it’s hard being so far away from my family. They all live in South Korea, so visiting them is a long and expensive trip. But I’ve been really lucky to build a strong support system in the States! I’ve made so many good friends that I can lean on during tough times. Being on my own has definitely helped me grow and made me more independent.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I do illustrations, tattoos, and I also run a monthly sticker club. My art style is cute and colorful with a bit of cynicism and dark humor sprinkled in. I think a lot of people relate to that.
Honestly, I’m really proud of my sticker club. It started with just a handful of members, and now it has hundreds of active patrons. It’s a space for me where I get to illustrate whatever I’m excited about each month. There are no rules or client restrictions which is why I love it so much. Client illustration and tattooing is my main job, but the sticker club lets me have fun and build a small community around it.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
People are always surprised to hear that I don’t like Halloween. A lot of people assume I like Halloween since my brand logo is literally a pumpkin but I’m actually a Christmas girl through and through.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.erinjhi.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erinjhi_
- Other: www.patreon.com/erinjhi
