We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Victoria Jackson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Victoria, thanks for joining us today. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your creative career sooner or later?

I have always been an artist but becoming a tattoo artist was never part of the original plan. I began my professional artist journey at the University of North Texas, I received my Bachelors of Fine Art in Studio Art with a concentration in Drawing and Painting. My goal was to become proficient in portraits and realism. During that time I began getting tattooed to cover visible self-harm scars I wanted to stop receiving negative attention for. I shortly after began my tattoo apprenticeship under Rich Session in 2011 while still in college.

During my tattoo apprenticeship I was also attending college full time, and working 3 part time jobs. My work life balance during this time was nonexistent, work was my life and good grades were also still a high priority. In 2013 I graduated from UNT as well as finished my apprenticeship and began tattooing professionally. I only tattooed professionally for a short time after when I was forced to take what ultimately turned into a 9 year hiatus. Just fresh into my 20’s I was struggling with prioritizing work, my mental health and managing what became a drinking problem.

I felt that I had failed myself as an artist as well as wasted my time, energy, and money on a degree I would ultimately not use. During this 9ish year hiatus I worked in numerous industries, mostly non-creative, looking for my calling elsewhere. I worked as a real estate assistant, veterinary technician, veterinary ER front desk, dog-walker, server, bartender, Librarian, dog daycare attendant and manager, visual merchandiser, Therapeutic Art Life Coach, and art gallery director, not necessarily in that order.

In 2016 I got sober and shortly after moved to Colorado for a change of scenery. In Colorado I worked as a Therapeutic Art Life Coach at a women’s rehabilitation center and this was greatly fulfilling for me and started a family. After 5 years of consistent sobriety, I moved myself and my family back to Texas in 2021 and did freelance art and portrait commissions. With the support of my family I decided it was finally time for me to go back to tattooing in 2022.

Though I often think about how much further I could be in my tattoo career had I never taken time off, I know that the years off were necessary for me to learn how to prioritize my physical health, mental health, and career. During this time I’ve grown as an artist, even if it was not specifically as a tattoo artist. If I had not taken time off I more than likely would not have chosen sobriety, and may have ruined my reputation as an artist by doing poor quality work.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

Today I am Mom first and a Tattoo Artist & Artist second. However my journey to becoming a professional Artist & Tattoo Artist officially began in 2009. At the time I still thought I wanted to be a professional illustrator of some kind, focussing on becoming proficient in realism and portraiture. During my time as a college student I began getting tattooed to cover visible self-harm scars I wanted to stop receiving negative attention for. I shortly after began my tattoo apprenticeship under Rich Session in 2011 while still in college.

During my tattoo apprenticeship I was also attending college full time, and working 3 part time jobs. In 2013 I graduated from the University of North Texas, receiving my Bachelors of Fine Art in Studio Art with a concentration in Drawing and Painting, as well as finished my apprenticeship and began tattooing professionally.
At the time a double minority in the North Texas tattoo industry, a BIPOC woman, my goal has become to provide the same quality of service and artwork to black and brown clients, and in the future specialize in scar cover ups and hyperpigmentation repair.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

These days the most rewarding aspect of being a fulltime artist is the reasonably flexible scheduling and availability it gives me by allowing me to equally prioritize both work and family life. I am a Mom first and Tattoo Artist second, so maintaining a work life balance is incredibly important to me. I found a tattoo shop with hours that best fit my current lifestyle and also see the importance of prioritizing a work and family balance. I understand that time is more important than money, and that I cannot get back years missed with my young daughter. When I am not at the shop I do my best to make up for the time I spend away from my family by spending quality time together and homeschooling my daughter.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Being a primary example for my daughter of making your dreams come true solely through hard work and determination is the drive in my creative journey. Through experience I know how easy it is to give up and how hard it is to even be motivated to try again. Not every day can be a good day, however she motivates me to carry on regardless, knowing that better days are always ahead.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/v.tattoos
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cholitaunikorn.art/

Image Credits
n/a