Today we’d like to introduce you to Jameson Wen
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My name is Jameson Wen. I am a tattoo artist and fashion content creator based in Los Angeles. I started my tattoo career a little over a year ago when my partner got me a tattoo machine for my birthday. I had briefly mentioned my interest in tattooing to him, but I never thought I would take it seriously!
For about a year, I experimented with tattooing at home while still attending college and working two jobs. Because of my busy schedule, I didn’t have much time to fully commit to it. However, a year later, I realized that tattooing had the potential to generate more income than the career I was pursuing in college. That realization led me to drop out and pursue tattooing full-time at a shop.
After apprenticing at my local tattoo shop, I had to move due to family issues, which led me to become an independent artist. My first guest spot was in San Francisco, and after that trip, I made plans to return and travel to new cities across the U.S. I spent months going from city to city, working non-stop while exploring new places. It was the most I had ever traveled in my life, and I had the best time meeting new people and experiencing different cultures.
I’m still actively traveling for guest spots in different cities, and my passion for this career will never fade—it’s the best thing that has ever happened to me. While tattooing is my main source of income, I’m also working on building my presence as a fashion content creator to establish another revenue stream. My page is still relatively small, but I’ve been consistent in posting content and growing my audience.
By the end of 2025, my goal is to reach at least 20k followers on my fashion account and attend fashion shows along the way. This is just the beginning of something great, and I’m beyond excited for what’s to come!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It hasn’t been a smooth road at all. 2024 was the toughest year I’ve ever had. I started the year with huge credit card debt and bad credit due to family issues.
I’m grateful for the shop where I began my tattoo career, but I eventually felt like I couldn’t reach my full potential there. On top of that, I had a huge fight with my mom, which led me to leave home, quit my position at the tattoo shop, and move to San Diego.
Leaving the shop turned out to be a blessing in disguise. As an independent artist, I was able to work more freely and keep 100% of my income. This allowed me to pay off all my debt quickly, buy a new car, and significantly improve my credit score by the end of 2024.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
For tattooing, I specialize in black and red ink, with a focus on freeform and floral designs. I’m also known for my signature black and red gradient/blend tattoos, creating a unique style that draws people to follow my work.
My proudest pieces are large-scale back and sleeve tattoos, which can take up to 20–30 hours to complete. I know I’m capable of highly detailed work with intricate shading, and I believe this is what sets me apart from other artists.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
Meeting my current partner has been the best thing that’s ever happened to me. He kickstarted my career by getting me my first tattoo machine, encouraged me to explore new things, gave me a place to stay when I was at my lowest, and now travels with me everywhere to assist me with my work.
I’ve also been incredibly lucky in my tattoo journey. When I started my apprenticeship, I found an amazing shop with a great environment, had the nicest and most easygoing mentor as my boss, and was given the freedom to work at my own pace and set my own schedule.
Having tattooing as my career has also allowed me to pursue other passions, like fashion. It gives me the financial freedom to invest in new things and build my social media presence in the fashion space.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/jamesonwenn
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jams.tatts
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/jamesonwenn
Image Credits
All tattoo photos are by me (Jameson Wen), and outfit photos of me by Jesus Vazquez.
