Today we’d like to introduce you to Yuri Shim.
Hi Yuri , thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’ve loved drawing since I was a kid and have always been really into art. I was drawing since I could remember and ended up studying it in college. I earned my BFA in graphic design and I spent almost a decade working as a graphic designer and art director. Eventually I wanted to explore something different so I ended up taking a permanent makeup tattoo course but quickly realized that it didn’t offer the creative freedom I wanted. One day, my boyfriend mentioned that he wanted a tattoo and encouraged me to try it using the machine I already had. (Don’t worry – I’ve upgraded my machine since then haha). This was the start of it all and after countless practice tattoos on my boyfriend, fake skin, myself and some close friends (thank you all – I wouldn’t be here without you) I pursued it as my professional career and landed a spot at Banana Tattoo Studio in Los Angeles.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I wouldn’t say smooth haha. I’ve definitely had some struggles on the way.
Before tattooing, I was working a full-time job at a corporate company and that came with the security of a stable income and benefits. When I decided to pursue tattooing full time, I basically gave all that up to go for something I was truly passionate about. It was tough because I was always worrying about how I’d be able to financially support myself. I actually ended up selling my car at one point to reduce my outgoing expenses. Luckily, throughout my journey, I had people beside me who supported, encouraged and believed in me to help me get to where I’m at today.
Learning how to tattoo in general was also a huge part of the struggle. It was tough because I didn’t have anyone to teach me – I was fully self taught. Just cause you know how to draw does not mean you know how to tattoo. It’s learning a completely new medium that is so different from traditional art or digital art. You can’t erase or undo like you can on paper or photoshop. Shoutout to my boyfriend who let me use his body as my canvas and for always challenging me to learn new techniques and styles! I’ve probably done over 20 tattoos on him. Bless is soul haha <3
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a self taught tattoo artist who specializes in fine line tattoos. I’m known for my fine line script/lettering tattoos and fine line illustrative realism tattoos. I’m most proud of my recent illustrative realism tattoos—looking back, I never would’ve imagined I’d be capable of creating work like this. What sets me apart is my strong background in graphic design. It’s given me a strong foundation in design principles, typography, and composition, which naturally carries over into my tattooing. My background also allows me to effectively communicate and collaborate with my clients, helping transform their ideas into thoughtful, well-executed tattoos.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I love LA. The weather’s perfect, the food is unreal, and the mix of cultures here is something I never get tired of. You can find the best tacos on the street one minute and some hidden gem restaurant the next. Plus, the creative energy in this city is amazing—everyone’s making something, whether it’s art, music, fashion, tattoos, whatever. It’s just a place that always keeps you inspired. The thing I like least is probably what everyone hates — the traffic and parking. Sitting in traffic for an hour to go five miles is INSANE and finding parking feels like a sport (that I never signed up for).
Pricing:
- Minimum $200
- $200 an hour
Contact Info:
- Website: https://bananatattoola.com
- Instagram: @ink.sense
