My Tattoo Artist Journey Timeline

[@joybun0]

so real and authentic. I’m inspired, thank you.

[@jjjaylud]

🥲🙏

[@ivyxu4121]

This is the kind of things we all need to hear from time to time, not just for tattoo artists but for everyone who’s trying to go far in their careers. I really appreciate what you do and learnt so much from your tattoo videos. Best wishes to your new private studio and the family!!

[@jjjaylud]

thanks for always supporting Ivy. appreciate the wonderful words.

[@lmalittleteapot]

This is the day I decided to not to smoke on daytime. man, I'm listening to you voiced dozens of thoughts that have been swirling around in my head for months that I can't separate. I watched all your videos at once. Thank you for sharing your experience so openly and helping out. from Istanbul with love

[@jjjaylud]

wow.. I'm happy this did that for you because it's very hard sometimes. And very strong of you to decide to stop. It's not easy. Thank you for the motivating message I will definitely make more videos soon and share more.

[@parthpapaiyaballin24]

Most underrated tattoo artist. See you in December!

[@jjjaylud]

Thank you man. See you soon!

[@imalogui]

best video on youtube for tattoo artists. truly humbling and inspiring. thank you

[@jjjaylud]

that means a lot thank you!

[@dyanetolentino6049]

hello jjaylud! its so evident that you put your 110% into your craft and I love to see the passion. You continue to inspire more and more people including myself. I hope one day I get to have a tattoo from you because that would LEGENDARYYYY

[@jjjaylud]

It makes me very proud and happy to hear that. Thank you for the love!

[@easoteric]

my favorite tattoo yt channel, just love the simplicity and wisdoms sprinkled in

[@jjjaylud]

thank you so much. that's encouraging for me..!

[@cathymorfin7702]

I feel so related to a lot of things you’re saying.. Thank you Jay for sharing your experiences and your knowledge🙌🏻

[@jjjaylud]

I’m glad it did that for you. As long as we remember to stay on track we will be fine 🙌

[@araaenyc]

Respect your stories from the inside. Thx 4 sharing.

[@jjjaylud]

Ofc!

[@CHAOS3RDEYE]

Good stuff bro, this is the content we need other than the long real- time uploads. Motivating

[@jjjaylud]

happy to hear that. it gets tough sometimes. pay it forward to the next person or those close to you! I'll shake off my blues right now and get to some more editing. thanks for the reply.

[@wuzzwellb764]

Thank you for this.

[@phatsudakeomanivong4291]

Man I follow you on IG and love your work! I needed to hear this today. It re-inspired me to do more and to keep going to better myself even when shit hits the fan.😭🙌🏽

[@jjjaylud]

dang I didn't think this would help so many people. I had a heavy day that day and needed to vent to the camera. I'm glad you got something out of it

[@Larkspurlazarus]

Surprisingly, we were born in the same year and the same month, maybe even the same day? More coincidentally, I also started my new journey around 21 years old. At that time I had just graduated from university in China and decided to study Indology and Tibetology, which had become more interesting to me than my first major, so I went to Germany. After eight years I'm still in Germany, continuing my studies. Two months ago I bought a tattoo machine and started tattooing myself because I always want to get some sentences tattooed on my body, from different ancient manuscripts in various languages and scripts I've been reading during these years, meanwhile, it's impossible to find a tattooist who is also knowledgeable in Sanskrit, Sogdian, Tocharian, etc. I'm not intending to tell my own story, just trying to explain why I'm here watching your video and to express my appreciation for you. I have an inexplicable feeling that if we had been classmates in high school, we would have become good friends. 😆

[@jjjaylud]

haha we probably would be friends. I'm Chinese too but born in America. In college my Chinese language professor said one time, In ancient Chinese culture your beauty is judged my your handwriting and not your physical beauty. Also one time a Chinese cab driver told me in Chinese to show him my hands and he said in a classroom I may be the 6th smartest person or something like that. Just by looking at my hands. What is this reoccurring thing with our hands with Chinese culture? Also chopsticks is very demanding on the hands. I think this background helps with tattooing. Anyways I enjoy all colors cultures and nationalities. Different beauties, strengths, specialties. So I think its so cool you are studying that.

[@jocker7270]

You are special ❤

[@jjjaylud]

Really appreciate the love

[@sherwincompa9587]

You making these videos makes it feel like apprenticeship 😄 i hope to meet/get tattoed by you someday!

[@jjjaylud]

happy to hear! I must make more videos. been working a lot

[@matiasvereertbrugghen7633]

Thank you!

[@noname-pj9sv]

I feel like I'm living your story. Just not as far along as you have made it. I moved to NYC to learn to tattoo. I was living out of my car while I got an apprentice gig on church ave in flatbush. High foot traffic thats the same demographic as Jamaica ave. Had a lazy mentor and split my time between shops once could do an ok tattoo. lost my girlfriend due to being away for so long. I'm working 7 days a week and not really getting an opportunity to do the work I want to do. I'm getting burnt on immersing myself in tattooing in a shop. I think my tattoos can and do suffer from over working myself. I have a private studio and I'm thinking now I should just work 4 days at the new shop , leave the church ave shop, and do personal portfolio work to work on my skill level.

[@jjjaylud]

These all make you stronger unless you lose yourself and give in to them. I'm happy for you all the good and the bad. you know your situation and are aware so that's good. If something isn't working then change it. If you can't change it then endure it! keep going man because I will keep going too :)

[@noname-pj9sv]

jjjaylud thanks. I’d lovee to book a session some day. Doing us lowly wannabes a service here. Appreciate it greatly

[@jjjaylud]

@@noname-pj9sv loooooool you're welcome!

[@joshm9163]

Man thank you so much for these nuggets of information. If you have the time to answer: What did you do to help develop the self discipline to tattoo for extended periods? I always find my mind starting to wander around the 4 hour mark. Thanks again for all the information

[@jjjaylud]

such a great question. these are so good for me to answer and help me plan more videos. Honestly everyone is different and you have to plan your environment around your personality, strengths and weaknesses. so for example nowadays I realized I don't perform well with tattoo projects/styles I don't care for so I started to be more picky with the designs I accept. I had to learn to say no which was hard for me. Early in my career I took on everything and it was exciting cause it was new and I could learn from them. But now I don't learn much from the simpler designs so I only get excited for bigger designs. Also I sometimes decline designs that don't look good or are cliche etc. Basically it has to make me feel good on many levels and excite me. That feeling and excitement is what drives me to go for long hours because I'm looking forward to the end where I take a photo of it and upload it so I can show off hahaha. Another thing is fitness. I go to the gym 2-3 times a week and sometimes I'll let my laziness get the better of me and ill flake. Those weeks are when my body feels the worst.. So when I get enough workout for the week, my mind and body are sharp and I can go for hours. Maybe the discipline to go to the gym will build your discipline to stay longer in the tattoo seat? maybe the mental processes for both of those overlap? im not sure but cool to think about. Slowly change your habits and see which change works for you whether its filtering projects and focusing on what you love to tattoo vs for money(if you have that luxury), or something like exercise. Or something I'm not aware of that is unique to your personality or situation. If you learn a cool discovery about your performance from making an adjustment, please lmk!. It's nice for me to learn and gain a wider perspective too.

[@joshm9163]

@@jjjaylud Thanks Jay. It's refreshing to find tattooers that aren't so pretentious. I'm going to put this advice into practice and get back with you. Besides, the gym coincides with my new year goals 😂. Have a good one

[@jjjaylud]

@@joshm9163 really appreciate that. ill get my butt to editing the video footage I already have. Been lazy but hearing that it helps, makes me keep going. happy to hear you have those goals set too. Have a good one

[@PALAAAA]

the moment you lie, the moment you fuck with reality 👁️👄👁️💧

[@jjjaylud]

hahaha yea I always think about that so I felt like I had to say it. we all lie, sometimes unknowingly cause truth hurts like hell.. but best to keep it real!

[@vu5344]

You paid 3k for your first apprenticeship for a year and didn’t get to tattoo?

[@vu5344]

Besides that, great video very informative and I agree with all the things you said.

[@jjjaylud]

Yeah I guess not hahahhaha. It was a pretty bad apprenticeship. But it’s ok it got my foot in the door. It led me to a great place(dragonfly) so it’s not all bad

[@vu5344]

@@jjjaylud damn I’m angry for you but at least it got you where you are today to inspire others like myself.

[@amaddinthenow]

3k for the other tattooist to allow you to tattoo? If anyone would say something to me, that I didn't get a social permission to do what I do - I'd break his tattooing arm on the spot.