A conversation with Jay Rose, new interviews every Monday.
A true welsh sweetheart in the heart of Los Angeles. You learnt to Tattoo in LA, did you have a traditional style apprenticeship? What made you want to get into the industry?
Yes, I had a traditional style apprenticeship. I apprenticed under @rockydarkroads at a street-shop in West Hollywood, Los Angeles called Golden Daggers.
The reason for wanting to get into the industry is incredibly layered, but I think the initial spark began with music. As a teenager - growing up in a small town in Wales, UK - all I cared about was music and art. I would watch music videos on MTV2 and buy magazines like Kerrang, and see people I’d never seen before - covered in tattoos, expressing themselves creatively and not giving a fuck about societies expectations. That was very powerful for me to witness. I wanted to be like them!
I was a slow burner and didn’t begin my apprenticeship until I was 29 years old. By that point in my life, I’d been getting tattooed for over 10 years but it wasn’t enough for me just to be a tattooed person. I started thinking of the possibility of me becoming a tattooer, but I really struggled with self-confidence and never thought I was good enough. My circumstances changed when I relocated from London to California with an ex. Whilst waiting for my green card to be approved, I had a lot of time to really think about what I wanted to do with my life and so I started to make this idea my reality. It’s like everything slowly but surely just fell into place. It wasn’t easy by any means, but it just felt and still feels so right and obvious that I should be doing this.
The way you draw is unique to you, black and grey with a magical witchy vibe. I personally adore your style of tattooing and know obviously your clients to do! Did you find your style of drawing changed when you learnt to tattoo or is this something thats always been with you?
Thank you! Yes it’s changed big time! Or developed shall we say. I’ve been drawing since I was a kid, but I studied fashion illustration at university so upon graduating, my style was very loose and expressive. When I began putting together a portfolio to obtain my apprenticeship I adapted my style to be more precise. I began by referencing classic American traditional style imagery as a foundation to understanding tattoo design. Over the years I’ve built upon this and figured out a style that is my own and true to me and my interests. As my technical ability progressed over the years, my style adapted too.
I found your work because you used to make amazing little stitch works, and not so little ones like your flash sheet you stitched. Lately over the past few years you’ve been creating amazing ceramics (that you can now buy everybody, get on that). How did you get into ceramics?
I’ve always had a soft-spot for pottery - the smoothness of the glaze contrasting with the rougher texture of the raw ceramics, the weight of the piece in your hand, the tiny natural details of the speckles in the clay etc etc. That stuff really excites me! I think I’m just a very tactile person. I love how you can create practical objects - a bowl for example - that can completely transform a mundane moment into something that feels elevated. I started pottery because I wanted a slice of that action! I also have a bit of an issue with creating mass-produced merchandise - ethical reasons / environmental impact etc. For me, creating something completely by hand is so much more special and feels like an honest extension of me and my intention. I’m also a bit of an introvert, so making ceramics lets me be creative alone and helps me to re-charge from the energy exchange of tattooing clients.
Do you find in your down time you edge towards one medium over another e.g ceramics rather than painting?
It’s a balancing act that I’m still trying to figure out to be honest! I’ve definitely neglected painting of late - relying on my iPad and the Procreate app too much....
You recently finished a beautiful back piece which had been ongoing for some time. Do you have any bigger projects at the moment you’re looking forward to starting/finishing?
Yes! I have a handful of larger projects I’m in the process of and some new one’s I’ll be starting soon. They all involve snakes!
Tattooing is an extremely emotional experience for a lot of people, whats been the most emotional experience you’ve had as a tattoo artist? Or even as a client?
They sure can be! Most appointments are pretty straight forward and don’t involve tears, but there definitely are some that stand out in my memory for being a bit more emotional. Wether it’s a tattoo that’s in remembrance of a loved one who has passed, helping a client reclaim their body through a cover-up, or simply tattooing to help them feel happier about their outward appearance and to feel more like the person they want to be. Seeing their smile when they look in the mirror at the end of their appointment is my favorite part : ) Difficult to witness that moment now as we have to wear masks all the time.... : (
What/Who do you think are your main influences in your work these days?
The tattoo artists I look up to the most are Jenna Bouma and Nathan Kostechko. Then in terms of what inspires me, I’d say nature, folklore and death.
You hold a lot of heavy blackwork on your own body, are there any artists you’re still really wanting to get work by?
So many!! But I really dislike getting tattooed so that’s a bit of a problem! Haha!
Last but certainly not least, how is phoebe? Is she loving the extra time with you throughout Covid-19?
Haha at first I think she was getting a bit frustrated with me being home all the time! Like she was thinking ‘go to work mom! I need my alone time!’ but I think she’s got used to it now!
