Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeff Young.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I’m 29 years old, born and raised in San Diego. I’ve spent most of those years drawing, painting and now tattooing, I had two great art teachers, one in Elementary School as well as one in High school who helped me get where I am now. Not to mention the disconnect I generally found in public school, which led me to me doodling all over my work instead of participating in class (my real start in making anything close to ‘art’). I found something comforting in it, that I couldn’t seem to find anywhere else, and still can’t. I could never stop making art, or doodling or painting or tattooing, sounds silly, but I’ll be at it until the day I die.
Please tell us about your art.
I’m a tattoo artist, currently at Federation Ink on 30th and Adams in normal heights. I also love to paint and draw, I spend most of my time doing it. If I was a child and in grade school today I would probably be tested for something like add or add, or both. I always found school to be boring and drag on forever. my only escape seemed to be the paper and pencil or pen I had in front of me. I was constantly told that if I spent as much time on my tests as I did on the drawings on the back I would excel in school. Not that I failed or dropped out, I graduated with pretty good grades, I just found something in drawing and painting as a kid that I have never found in anything else. I can’t describe it, but it’s a sense of peace I guess. pretty corny, but that’s the truth. Now as an adult I’m lucky enough to make a career out of it. I enjoy American traditional tattoos, and the style itself. I’d like to say that’s my style, but maybe with a little 90’s punk twist? like old school Garfield wearing a lasagna helmet, or a misfit’s rat fink. I don’t know I love the bizarre and macabre, my favorite artist is Robert Williams.
Do you have any advice for other artists? Any lessons you wished you learned earlier?
Work. There are no handouts, and if you do get one by some lucky star, work it off. and then work some more. there will always be someone better out there, or someone who has already done what you have… just do your best, and then make it better. instill a work habit that can’t be beat, then beat it. it may sound harsh, but I wish I would have known and done that a very long time ago. Someone once said the day your art is good enough, is the day you should stop, because you’ll never grow after that. that has always stuck with me.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
You can always stop by the tattoo shop, Federation Ink, or my Instagram @jyoung_tattoos , or maybe find someone I’ve tattooed, ha ha. You could always come down and get a tattoo! I also do painting commissions and almost all of my artwork is for sale.
Contact Info:
- Address: Federation Ink
4683 30th st
San Diego CA 92116 - Email: jeffyoungtattoos@gmail.com
- Instagram: @jyoung_tattoos
Image Credit:
Iphone, federation ink, and me
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