who. the tattoo artist
major. environmental studies & political science
hometown. berkeley, ca
dream job. photojournalist
When midnight hits and the noise ordinance takes over, a similar trend can be found throughout Isla Vista on a Saturday night. The masses of party-goers disperse. Some get buffalo chicken cheese fries, while others return home to their beds. Those with remaining energy turn their music volumes down low and change their light settings from bright, rainbow, and flashy to a dim monochromatic glow.
Red solo cups tumble across the deserted Del Playa in the ocean breeze. Smashed beer cans leach neglected drops of Bud Light into the maltreated front lawns of party houses. Furry masked bandits scavenge through dumpsters in search of half-eaten Jesus burgers.
On certain Saturday nights, as the craze dies down, a calm buzzing can be heard over the lapping waves. This is the sound of a tattoo gun of an amateur Isla Vista tattoo artist.
Justin, a third year UC Santa Barbara student, has given over 30 tattoos since picking up this craft in high school. He began by simply practicing stick-and-pokes on himself in his room. After mastering the art of poking fine lines, he began inviting friends over for ink. To quote Justin, “We would hide in my room from my parents.”
Today, he lives in his own Isla Vista apartment, walls decorated with sketches, paintings, and photographs all created himself. This artistic space is where Justin gives his tattoos openly, with no one to hide from.
“Everytime I give [a tattoo] it’s always in a situation that’s really fun. It’s never been anything stiff… It’s usually with friends. We hang out for the night and sometimes I’m able to give them and sometimes I’m not. If I’ve had a little bit too many drinks I don’t wanna mess it up for them.”
“Being in Isla Vista we are all so close together and [tattooing] usually arises out of some pretty debaucherous situations. There’s always a lot of people that are up for ink whenever I’m able to give it to them.”
Throughout Justin’s experiences tattooing, many have suggested that he charge for the work that he does. Justin explains, “I don’t usually like to charge people for it just because it’s usually a full experience. We all hang out the whole night and then conclude with a tattoo.” While he admits to accepting small sums for one in five tattoos, this is typically only to cover the costs of the materials.
Wrapping up the conversation with Justin, it became clear that he views his work tattooing as not a job, but as an opportunity for building connections. The real value in Justin’s Saturday night sessions lies in the memories they enable him to create with the person on whom he is tattooing. To quote Justin, “It’s pretty special to have your tattoos on people’s bodies for the rest of their lives. It’s interesting to think that they’ll always have that memory in mind.”
Isla Vista’s small radius makes it easy to have a night filled of dancing on Del Playa followed by tattoos around the corner. Access to his own work space allows Justin to host his friends for ink at any time of day… or night; these tattoos oftentimes take place at 2:00 am. Reflecting on his time living in Isla Vista, Justin feels grateful to live in a place that enables him to form connections and create memories that will last beyond his time residing in this beachside town.