Amaze the eye with the delicacy of dog and cat fur: this is the goal of the owner of the L.A. private studio ‘Non from Seoul’ when she creates her unforgettable tattoos.
Yeono, how many years have you been tattooing and what inspired you to become a tattoo artist?
Hello! I’m from South Korea and have been tattooing for 10 years. I specialize in pet tattoos. I was raised by open-minded parents who have fully supported my interests and passions.
Tattoo by Yeono, @tattooist_yeono
My parents had tattoos and held a deep fascination for tattoo art, which introduced me to the culture from a young age. Thanks to their influence and support, I became accustomed to tattoos early on. With over a decade in this industry, my experience spans various tattoo genres.
Tattoo by Yeono, @tattooist_yeono
What do you think sets you apart now?
What distinguishes my work is the skill I’ve refined in intricately depicting animal fur. It encapsulates everything I hold dear about tattoos, animals and my clients. My work is a harmonious blend of these passions, making each tattoo session a joyful and fulfilling experience.
Tattooing is not just a profession for me; it’s my life.
Tattoo by Yeono, @tattooist_yeono
As said before your style is a photographic Realism very focused on the world of pets. How did you come up with the idea and how many years did you spend perfecting it?
I was drawn to the deep connections between pets and their owners, which inspired me to specialize in photographic Realism focusing on pets. It took about five years to perfect my techniques, emphasizing the unique personality and emotions of each pet in my portraits.
Tattoo by Yeono, @tattooist_yeono
Do you have any pets or you just love tattooing them on your clients?
I’ve grown up with dogs and cats since I was young. Although I haven’t kept any pets since moving to the United States a few years ago, I still have two cats living with my parents in South Korea. I deeply love animals, and as a result, I have many animal tattoos on my body.
It’s both a joy and an honor for me to work on animal tattoos.
Tattoo by Yeono, @tattooist_yeono
I notice that for pet subjects you prefer Black-n-Gray while for Realistic tattoos of human beings (actors, musicians, sportsmen) you often prefer colour. How come?
That’s a very interesting question! Many clients do ask for color animal tattoos, but I prefer not to use color because the techniques used in Black-n-Gray for capturing the delicate texture of fur appeal to me more. Perhaps because I have been doing this for a longer time, I feel more confident and enjoy working in Black-n-Gray.
Tattoo by Yeono, @tattooist_yeono
Can you tell me what exactly “Non from Seoul” is? Your private studio in Los Angeles? A creative laboratory? A new way to approach live tattoo art?
‘Non from Seoul’ (IG: @nonfromseoul) is a tattoo studio located in Los Angeles, where multiple artists have gathered to celebrate art created beyond cultural boundaries.
Tattoo by Yeono, @tattooist_yeono
What relationship do you have with tattoo conventions and which ones will you participate in during 2024?
Attending tattoo conventions allows me to meet fellow artists and fans, seize new opportunities, and immerse myself in the vibrant tattoo community.
I love being able to learn, grow, and share my work, making each tattoo convention a fulfilling experience.
That’s why I sometimes plan to attend conventions. I participated in the ‘Gods of Ink’ (IG: @godsofinktattooconvention) in Germany last April, but I don’t have any plans for future events yet.
Tattoo by Yeono, @tattooist_yeono
And your last famous words are… ?
My goal is to deepen my ability and offer my clients more sophisticated and meaningful tattoos. Currently, I think exploring various art forms can provide inspiration and influence my tattooing, bringing fresh perspectives to my work, and I plan to put effort into this area!
Follow Yeono on Instagram: @tattooist_yeono
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