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JESSE SMITH
by Geoffrey Stephenson
Photos courtesy of Jesse Smith
From the December 2005 issue of Prick Magazine.
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 Jesse Smith. |
 Tattoos by Jesse Smith. |
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How long have you been tattooing?
Almost seven years now.
How did you get into tattooing?
I met this fella who was tattooing out of his house in Newport News, Va. and he taught me how to make a ghetto gun. I really wasn't planning on becoming a tattoo artist, I just thought it would be cool to put a piece of my artwork on somebody that would last for the rest of their life. After my first piece, I had people lined up at my front door waitin’ to get tatted up. Not because it was good, but because it was free. About a month later, I purchased my first professional machine. I spent about a year trying to put together a decent portfolio, and soon made my rounds to all the local tattoo shops to see if I could get a job as a professional. Initially, I got rejected by all of them, but about six months
later I tried again and eventually got scooped up.
Did you do an apprenticeship?
No, I never got around to getting an apprenticeship although I wish I had. I made a lot of stupid mistakes while tattooing out of the house that I still look back on with regret. If I
could do it all over again, I would have definitely tried for an apprenticeship. I learned more in one month at a shop then I did in a whole year and a half out of the house.
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Who are some of your influences?
Although I am definitely inspired by the typical fellas like Jime' Litwalk, Gunnar and Tim Biedron, the people who influence me the most are the people who I have worked with who were not only great artists, but also great people. Bugs was one of my first great influences. I had the pleasure of working with him for about nine months. Although a very strict and firm boss, he would never let me short change myself when it came to putting together a tattoo. I remember him bitching me out because a bubble that I tattooed was a little more oval shaped then the rest.
Another great influence that I had the pleasure of working with throughout my travels was Jason Stephan. Not only was he a great artist, but he ended up becoming one of my best friends. We would always feed off of each others motivation. Whenever I wasn't feeling so motivated, Jason would come into work with three new sets of flash that he bashed out in a week. Then I'd feel guilty that I hadn't been doing much art, so I'd go home and knock out a couple of paintings. I could never get comfortable being lazy when working with Jason.
One of the more recent fellas that I have had the pleasure of working with is Greg "Craola" Simkins. Although he is not a tattoo artist, he has definitely had a great influence on my artwork and my drive. Every time I check out his website he's put up a ton of new paintings and all of them are ten times better then the ones he posted on the last update. He's also an extremely humble artist and a great guy. I've also been collecting artists, who I respect as well as admire, on the links section of my website. Anytime I find an artist who I feel has, in some way, pushed the envelope I add them. I use my links section as a library for artists to look at if I need some inspiration.
How do you feel about the emergence of tattooers in the fine arts over the past few years?
I think it is great. Because of these fellas, and females, the world has started to recognize tattooing as an art. When I first started tattooing, it seemed as though there was a lot of space between the art world and the tattoo world. Now that gap seems to be getting smaller and smaller.
How important do you think it is for a tattooer to evolve his style?
I think it is extremely important to evolve. If you don't evolve, how are you going to stay entertained? And if you're not entertained, then you won't put your heart into it. I always find that when I haven't taken any drastic steps in my artwork I feel as though I am just going through the motions. The "new" is what keeps me going.
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You recently got back from trips to China and Germany. How were your visits, and do you travel often?
China was awesome! Although it wasn't a financially fulfilling trip, it was a great experience. The first day that I got there I had a line in front of my booth of people who wanted to get their picture taken with me. Not really sure why, but it was definitely
flattering. I felt like a movie star. While I was there I got interviewed for Chinese TV, which I'm sure I totally botched because I could hardly understand the translator and I don't really think she could understand the fella who was interviewing me. It was definitely a chaotic situation. I also scooped up an award while I was there ... although I don't really know what it was for. I had tattooed this girl’s chest and she entered it for
some sort of color category.
Germany is always great. I actually graduated high school over there and my father still lives there, so I try to make it out there to see him at least once a year. He sets me up at one of his motorcycle rallies, and I get to tat up all his biker buddies. Don't really do much custom work over there, but bikers don't have any problem throwin’ some cash once they get a couple of beers in them.
I definitely try to travel as often as possible. Because of tattooing, I have been given the opportunity to go anywhere in the world, and I plan to take full advantage of it.
What do you think you would you be doing today if you weren't a tattooer?
Painting or illustration of some sort. I used to airbrush at Kings Dominion while in between tattoo jobs when I was first startin’ out. I also drew caricatures at Busch Gardens. I was always tryin' to find some sort of art job.
What do you like to do outside of tattooing?
Everyone always laughs when I tell them how much I love to play volleyball. I guess it's not considered such a manly sport, but I love it. Between tattooing and volleyball, I really don't have much time for too many other things. They seem to keep me content for the time being.
What's next in the future for you?
Not really sure. I'm really happy with where my life is heading right now, so I'm just tryin' to sit back and enjoy it while it lasts. I will definitely be travelin’ a bunch next year.
As of right now I'm plannin' on pullin' a few conventions. Tampa is the only one confirmed right now, along with a guest spot at my boy Jason Stephan's shop "Electric Eye" in Cocoa, Fla. in the later part of March, and one up in Massachusetts at this new shop called "Off the Map Tattoos" sometime next September. Outside of that, who knows, maybe Australia...
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Jesse Smith can be found in Richmond at Tattoo 702 located at:
Tattoo 702
702 North Shephard Street
Richmond, VA
804.254.5775
For more info on Jesse Smith, visit www.jessesmithtattoos.com.
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