Today we’d like to introduce you to Nikki Jo.
Hi Nikki, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I started my apprenticeship on Valentine’s Day in 2003, when I was a junior in high school. My mom is actually the one who got me into tattooing. She went with a friend to get a tattoo while I was home babysitting my little brother. When she came back, she said, “I think I got you a job at this tattoo shop!”
I was shocked and honestly, a little scared. But all my friends were like, “Nikki Jo, you should do it!” I’d been infatuated with tattoos since I was young. I drew and painted a lot, and in high school, I was known for my art. My mom always encouraged me to find a job where I could use my artistic skills. She wanted me to love my career, and I’m so thankful she pushed me in that direction. I feel really lucky that I started so young.
My first studio was called Mystic Knight, in Longview, TX. I learned so much there about both life and tattooing. I had to grow a backbone very quickly in this industry (especially back then). The town I grew up in was small and closed-minded, but this shop opened up a whole new world for me. My mentor and coworkers were unlike anyone I’d ever met, and I loved it. We were like a family, and I was the youngest sibling.
This was a Street shop. We mainly did flash tattoos from the walls and books for walk-in clients. I apprenticed for about a year and a half before graduating into a full-time tattooer at 18. After I’d been tattooing professionally for about a year or two, my mentor joined a motorcycle club. That’s when the whole vibe of the shop shifted.
The club eventually moved into the other side of the building, and the wife of their Vice President happened to be a tattoo artist. She had been tattooing for a lot longer and won competitions. She had far more knowledge than my mentor, and she basically re-taught me how to tattoo. I spent as much time as I could watching her work. She took me under her wing, and I was so grateful. She taught me not only how to use better equipment, but also the importance of being able to do any design that walked through the door. That’s a big reason I’ve worked in so many different styles throughout my career. It helped me grow as an artist.
In 2006, I started at Garage Art Studio, a more custom shop (though we still did plenty of flash). The flash was stronger and more versatile anything from Japanese traditional to fine-line black and grey, American traditional, and fancy script lettering. I also started drawing directly on clients with Sharpies. (Funny enough, I got in trouble for that in high school, but now I get paid for it!)
This studio also traveled to a lot of conventions. The owner was considered one of the best tattooers in town, and his mentor was one of the old-school artists who helped pave the way for modern tattooing. I met and worked alongside a few of those old-school legends, and threw dice with them at conventions. That’s where my “old school” mindset really took root. I always say there’s an old man tattooer that lives in my head.
Garage Art Studio was like tattoo boot camp. If we weren’t tattooing, we were drawing, painting, cleaning, or practicing lettering. If it was 2 a.m. and people walked in, we made it happen. That work ethic shaped me in a big way.
In 2010, I moved to Austin and started working on 6th Street. It was a huge change, but I was prepared thanks to my earlier studios. I worked with an amazing team there and made some of my first real friends in Austin. I was only there about a year and a half, but I left with enough stories to write a book.
In 2012, I moved to Gully Cat Tattoo on South 1st. That shop will always be one of my favorites. It was small but established, and my career really took off there. I went from barely getting a few walk-ins a week to being booked four to five months straight. Leaving after five years was tough, but it had run its course.
In 2017, I started at Golden Age, the first woman-owned shop I’d worked in. It was mostly appointment-based, with only a couple of walk-in artists. For the first time, I could set my own hours, which meant I had to learn discipline. Pretty quickly, I realized I needed an assistant to help with scheduling and booking. My assistant, Lindsey, basically saved my career. I’m still so grateful my coworkers connected us. Golden Age gave me the confidence I needed to eventually run my own business.
That led me to 2020. Like many of us, I was navigating a confusing time. I was ready to open a private studio, but I had no idea how to start. Then I overheard some coworkers talking about opening a studio together, so I jumped on board. That September, we opened Companion Tattoo. Everyone said we were crazy to start during COVID, but it worked—and it was great for two years. By then, I’d learned what I needed to know to branch out on my own.
Today, I own Glowing Lotus Tattoo, a private studio in the Phenix Salon Suites at South Park Meadows. I’ve been here for two years, and I love it.
I may open another business one day, but for now this is exactly what I need. I’m enjoying the calm. I still get plenty of fast-paced excitement at events—I work pop-ups with Vibe City Markets at The Concourse Project, sapphic events with The Afters List, and private events like birthdays, weddings, and fundraisers.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I’ve definitely had my ups and downs in this career. My first mentor struggled with addiction, started bringing shady people around the shop, and got kicked out of the biker club. I had to help keep the lights on in that place more than once. Then I had a falling out with my other mentor that I really admired, all over a small miscommunication. Those moments were painful, but they forced me to stand on my own two feet and learn resilience early on.
Moving to Austin was another big challenge. After building my career for seven years in East Texas, I had to start from scratch. A year and a half later, the 6th Street shop I worked at shut down with no warning, and I had to rebuild again. Later, when I was finally finding stability on South 1st, that shop was robbed ,we lost everything. Each time, I had to start over, but each time I came back stronger.
Another struggle was figuring out what kind of tattooing I truly loved. Because I grew up doing so many different styles, it took years to hone in on what really spoke to me. When I finally did, I got busier than ever—but I had no clue how to handle that kind of growth. For a while, I overworked myself, went through big life changes, heading towards burnout. It wasn’t until I connected with a well-known artist at a convention that I got the guidance I needed to find balance and keep moving forward.
When I started setting my own hours I was so excited to be free that I wasn’t working enough. I realised very fast how bad my self discipline was starting to get, and I was messing up my schedule by not paying attention. I think my burn out had hit hard around that time. I knew it was time to get an assistant. I’m so happy I did! She has truly helped me stay on track.
Every shop, every stage of this journey, has come with its own challenges and drama, but I see all of those moments as life lessons. Honestly, I’d rather take the road I did with its obstacles and struggles than have it all be sunshine and rainbows. An easy path will never teach you anything.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
These days I do mostly black and grey floral work and large ornate designs. I also love doing anything that I get to add bright colors too. My favorites are pet portraits. I’m a Gemini so I love duality. I have found out over the years that I can never only do black and grey or only color. I have to have both in my life to keep me satisfied.
I think what sets me apart from some other artists is the way I do my drawing process. I like for my clients to be in the room and watch me draw. I want them to be apart of the process. The design is going to be on their body for the rest of their life. I believe they should have a say so about what it’s going to look like. Some of my clients have no clue at all what they are getting until the day of their appointment. I truly appreciate the trust they have in me. They know I would never force them to get a design they aren’t completely happy with. I also feel that it’s a very intuitive process. I’m an idea extractor I have to pull the ideas out of people’s minds and tattoo it on there body forever. This also requires very clear communication, which is lot easier in person than through emails. A lot of people overly process their thoughts and ideas about their tattoos. When they walk in my room we can process those thoughts together and make it a reality.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
This is where my “old man tattooer” side comes out. Back in my day, we did apprenticeships, showed the shop respect, and in return, we were taught the tricks of the trade. These days, it feels like anyone can buy some fake skin and equipment off Amazon, watch a YouTube video, and start calling themselves a tattooer.
But there’s so much more to this craft than those videos will ever teach you. The most important thing—though it may seem boring—is learning proper cross-contamination protocols. Take a bloodborne pathogens course. Learn safety first.
After that, do the real work of finding an apprenticeship. It won’t be easy. You’ll probably get turned down more than once. But if this is truly your calling, don’t give up. Keep pushing, keep showing up, and stay humble. If tattooing is meant for you, you’ll make it happen.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Glowinglotustattoo.com
- Instagram: @nikkinuckles @glowinglotustattoo
Image Credits
Only Headshots by @kuhlphoto Christina Kulman
