Today we’d like to introduce you to Jordan Lentz.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I have been drawing as long as I can remember, and fascinated with tattoos since I was a teenager. I moved to Chicago for college and received my Bachelor of Fine Arts from the School of the Art Institute in 2014. I was specifically interested in scientific illustration and took classes at the Field Museum with resident artist Peggy Macnamara. She greatly influenced my work and started my fascination with drawing insects.
While still in school, I admired many tattoos as well as tattoo artists and finally got my very first tattoo, a cicada. I had spoken to several tattoo artists who expressed how hard their apprenticeships were. Everyone I spoke to was very discouraging about trying to learn to tattoo, but I refused to let that stop me. After graduation, I got a job teaching a couple of illustration classes and working several more odd jobs including cleaning and installing beer taps. I started actively looking for a tattoo apprenticeship and visiting shops all over the city with my drawing portfolio; most wouldn’t give me the time of day, but I kept looking. Finally, I went in to chat with an artist at a small shop, whom also attended SAIC and who had tattooed a friend of mine several times. He told me how grueling an apprenticeship was, but it wasn’t anything I hadn’t heard before. I returned numerous times to chat with the shop owner before I eventually landed my first apprenticeship. I left after about 3 months when the apprenticeship didn’t pan out. It was very difficult to walk away from, as everyone warned me how hard it would be to ever find another opportunity to learn to tattoo.
It took me around a year to get another apprenticeship here in Chicago at a much larger shop with higher quality work. I visited the shop every couple of weeks to bring in new drawings, chat with one of the artists and continue to inquire about an apprenticeship. Finally, said artist agreed to take me on as an apprentice, with the understanding that I would also be working for the other artists at the shop and assisting them with whatever they needed. It was long and as my progress kept getting delayed, I eventually left. It was another very difficult decision to make, as I knew this was still the end goal for my career.
After leaving my second apprenticeship I took a position as the Director of Drawing and Painting at the art center where I had been teaching. I took a break from pursuing tattooing and worked while focusing on a solo gallery show of my pencil drawings. I still hadn’t forgotten my passion for tattoo, I was just at a loss of where to go next.
I eventually decided it was now or never, and I purchased all of my own equipment. After that, I practiced on willing friends and myself before getting a few guest spots, that eventually lead to a more permanent position.
Has it been a smooth road?
I think I faced a lot of struggles getting to where I am now. Obtaining an apprenticeship was very difficult and nothing about the work is glamorous. I had to work full-time unpaid while maintaining multiple part-time jobs to support myself. Being an apprentice is degrading, almost every artist I have talked to faced similar experiences of opposition, hazing, and secrecy about the craft, but it is chalked up to “tattoo culture.” Being a queer woman in a male-dominated industry makes it that much harder, but I am optimistic that this mentality is evolving as more well-known queer and female artists are popping up all over.
I am thankful I found collective of artists now, who work to raise each other up and learn from one another, the exact opposite of what the ‘traditional tattoo culture’ has been. I offer up a safe space for all people no matter their sexuality, gender identity or body type to get tattooed. I am constantly learning from other artists to work on my own artistic practice.
Tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a Tattoo Artist and what sets you apart from others.
I work at an appointment only private studio. I strive to provide a safe tattooing space for all people and bodies and I work with a lot with people of the queer community. I maintain a positive atmosphere and I want people to feel at ease when getting tattooed by me.
I specifically focus on black and grey realism and illustrative tattoos, oftentimes, working on natural subject matters like animal specimens and botanicals. I am still trying to find my place in this crazy world of tattooing, and am most excited about insect and bird tattoos. I have started to work on much larger projects that have proven to be the most challenging and exciting for me.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love that there are endless activities to do in Chicago, whether it is the nightlife, good food, or visiting your local neighborhood farmer’s market. I am also in love with our botanical gardens and Field Museum, where I spend a lot of my free time gathering reference images and relaxing, especially during the winter months.
I sometimes miss the lack of nature and quiet in the city, but I think my least favorite part about Chicago is the winter. I’m from Madison, WI so you’d think I’d be used to it, but winter is my least favorite time of year.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jordanklentz.com
- Email: jordanklentz@gmail.com
- Instagram: @jordanlentz
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