Today we’d like to introduce you to Hazel Javinal.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Hazel. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Growing up, I was always that little girl who loved to draw. Instead of buying toys and dolls, arts and crafts were the items that fascinated me more. Drawing and painting were my salvation, but I honestly had no idea that my path was going to direct me into tattooing. When I finished college, I knew I wanted something more than a routine 9-5 career. My brother is actually also a tattoo artist himself, and he was able to open a window of opportunity for me to practice the craft of tattooing since he knew art was something I really loved. I thought to myself, “I really have nothing to lose trying something new.” As soon as I picked up a tattoo machine and landed ink on my first skin, I fell in love and haven’t stopped since.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It definitely was not a smooth road for me. I am a first generation Filipino-American, so growing up my parents have always been traditional and upheld so many values behind getting an education. After high school, I struggled with finding a career choice I wanted and jumped from college to college. After almost ten years of figuring myself out, I finally applied and committed myself to go to Dental Hygiene school and finished with a degree. At the time, I felt accomplished, because I knew it was the right thing to do, especially when I have two small boys to think about and raise. But was it something I really wanted? Or was it an expectation I needed to fulfill to honor my parents? As an artist, your mindset shifts unconventionally, and deep down in my heart I knew, I wanted something more. I wanted to create, but I was put in a box. When I decided to pursue tattooing, my parents were mortified. They could not fathom the choice I was making, because for them, being any type of artist is not a career, it’s a hobby. Until this day, I still struggle to get my parents approval, and it’s been two years since I first had my hands on a tattoo machine. But how do I stop doing something that makes me so happy? For any women who choose to create their own path my advise for you is to keep pushing forward. This is your journey. Passion and work can coexist and anything you desire is attainable with hard work, love, and dedication. If you have a family with a mindset like mine, I still advise for you to trust your life’s journey and the processes you go through even with the struggles that come with it. Your family will still love you anyway.
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I am a San Diego based Tattoo Artist. I specialize in florals designs and needless to say it wasn’t on purpose! When I started, I was going for a more Japanese inspired aesthetic, but somehow flowers were the ones that happen to fall on my lap. It was all a beautiful accident, needless to say, because now, I really take pride in my floral pieces. Of course, I am definitely open to other challenges with different designs that I am not used to doing. When I have some new clients who trust me enough to do something totally left field and we kill it, those moments are most rewarding, because they give me the opportunity to learn something new and grow. What sets me apart from others? Hhmmm, that’s a good question! I guess it would be that I choose not to settle. I often push my boundaries and test my limits. And I realize going through the motions of living, people are afraid of failure and that’s the reason most settle in a comfortable space. But for me, you have to trip over your own feet a couple of times in order to grow.
We’re interested to hear your thoughts on female leadership – in particular, what do you feel are the biggest barriers or obstacles?
The tattoo world is definitely a more male-dominated field, although I feel this is the best moment in time to become a female tattoo artist. We are more accepted in the community and working alongside male colleagues I have felt a space of equality, compassion, and fairness. There are some incidences I have experienced when I have had some people who have talked down on my career choice. For example, they have voiced that females don’t belong in the tattoo industry, or that tattoos make women look more rugged than delicate. I believe that is also a reason why I became more passionate in this industry because female tattoo artists are breaking barriers of the sweet and sensual facade we are supposed to uphold in our society. We take pride in our art form and showcasing it on the skin is just another beautiful medium we are able to place them on.
Contact Info:
- Email: hazel_javinal@yahoo.com
- Instagram: @thetattooedwahine
Image Credit:
Personal image @wsupjoey
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