Today we’d like to introduce you to Julian Lightner
Hi Julian, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hello! My name is Julian but some may know me as Jules. I’ve been tattoing for 4 years now. I’ve always been a creative, whether it be music, dancing, or drawing. But drawing was always my thing. I used to draw things from memory all the time when I was kid like Megaman 8, sora from kingdom hearts, Yo from shaman king and etc. and while that translates to tattooing… it is not at all how I got started. I know a lot of people will read this and think “well he went about things the wrong way” or maybe they won’t. But I got started into tattooing during the global pandemic of Covid-19. Not a lot of shops/studios were taking in apprenticeships like that and if they were, it was an arm and a leg plus showing your portfolio just to get in with them… So, after a year of hardcore bookworming and researching and doing a lot of the foot work and ground work on my own, a friend of mine reached out to me and started mentoring me before he passed away. He taught me the basics, told me what I would need to get started and after his passing I had to take the knowledge he gave me and build on those blocks.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has been anything and everything but a smooth road. A lot of things I had to figure out myself as most shops and studios in the area almost gatekeep any information. So it’s honestly truly a tough thing to even get your foot in the door with tattooing. But my dad always said that there is more than 1 way to skin a cat.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
What you should know about my studio and setup is that it is a private studio. Meaning, it is a more intimate space where it is just me and the client and 1 other guest if they chose to come along with the client.
The artistry that I specialize in is more within the Anime and Cartoon style tattoos or neotrad. I enjoy doing those along with certain flowers and butterfly pieces as well.
What sets me apart from everyone else is that I’m all about the quality of my work, time given to everyone who opens up my door and talks with me, the experience I give them, and the memories made. Everything I do is about the quality and never about the quantity.
I’m most proud of how I’ve built my brand from the ground up. I’ve had nothing but love and support from family and friends but the work put into building the relationships and memories associated with the shop is what I’m most proud of.
My pricing is also by the piece and not by the hour.
If it’s anything I would like everyone to know, is that here at Hidden Dragon Tattoo of Summerville, it’s nothing but good times, great laughs, and even better memories. I only offer services for tattoos but also do $5 raffles and even holiday raffles for tattoos whether they be free or a valued package. So definitely reach out and let’s see what I can make happen for you.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
A lot of people don’t know the reason as to why I started my studio/brand… it is because it would make me the 2nd person in my immediate family to start something for me, as my mom had her own scrapbooking store a few years back and recently closed it down due to unforeseen circumstances… But also, to live out my passion and love for not only the art of tattooing but also the art of creativity as well. It allows for me to be free creatively and allows for me to be me… the other reason is back in 2017, I went to a tattoo convention in Virginia Beach when I lived there. The gentleman who gave me my 2nd chest tattoo, Jordi Pla, ended up going onto inkmaster, Season 13 I believe, and to me, that was him going after a “once in a lifetime” moment… and I looked at myself internally and made a decision that whatever I was going to do, had to be done by the time I was 30. So I made sure I seized my “once in a lifetime” opportunity to live my life the best way I can so the legacy I leave behind, can speak for itself without me having to speak for it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Hiddendragontattoo.com
- Instagram: https://Instagram.com/hidden_dragontattoo
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/5Btvr5yG5cg1RfjJ/?mibextid=LQQJ4d
