JEYSSON MARTIN

VEGETATTOONS

My name is Jeysson Martín, I’m proudly Colombian, and I’ve been fully dedicated to tattooing for over 11 years. Since I was a kid, I’ve been surrounded by art, even though I didn’t see it as a professional path at first. I drew for fun, for distraction—it simply made me happy. I remember spending hours tracing illustrations from encyclopedias my mom used to buy and sketching the cartoons I watched on TV. That love for drawing stayed with me. In fact, back in seventh grade, I was already selling “tattoos” to classmates, using tracing paper, a technical pen, and Speed Stick deodorant. I’d make quick stencils and stick them onto their skin for just a few coins—maybe 50 cents—but without realizing it, the seed was already planted.

I’ve always been an active, curious person with a strong desire to learn. Throughout my life, I’ve participated in sports, music, extracurricular classes—anything that allowed me to grow. I studied Graphic Design professionally, and shortly after, I completed a specialization in university pedagogy, which led me to work for 10 years as a public high school teacher in Colombia, teaching design and arts. Teaching gave me great satisfaction, but in 2014, I discovered tattooing—and everything changed.

I was fortunate to begin my tattoo journey at Classic Tattoo Supplies, a studio in Colombia where I met people who introduced me to the professional tattoo world: conventions, magazines, industry icons. After just a two-month course, I launched my career as an independent tattoo artist. I started working from home—between my living room and dining room—tattooing friends and family. Every penny I earned went into supplies, machines, and improvements. Slowly but surely, I built a small studio in a space at my mom’s house. It was a process full of sacrifice, constant learning, and immense personal reward.

Over time, I started attending events, expanding my network, and tattooing in other countries like Bolivia. I’ve also been invited as a judge at conventions and have won several international awards, including first, second, and third place in my specialty. In 2022, I made one of the biggest decisions of my life: I left my teaching job, sold my car, closed my shops, gave up my apartment, and moved to the United States with one goal—to live entirely from tattooing.

Thanks to art—and my mother’s support—I now have legal residency and all my documentation in order to work in the U.S., where I’ve had the privilege of tattooing in well-known shops like Black Cloud, Overkill, and currently Indelible. At the same time, I’ve been developing my personal brand, Vegetattoons, which reflects my artistic vision, my journey, and my passion for creating meaningful tattoos.

My signature style is built around vibrant color work, influenced by cartoons, shadow realism, and the pop culture of the 80s, 90s, and 2000s—video games, movies, and characters that defined a generation. But I’m not limited to just one style. I also enjoy working on spiritual, symbolic, animal, mythological, or personal themes—as long as the piece holds meaning for the person wearing it. To me, the most important thing is that each tattoo connects deeply with the client’s story, emotion, or memory. My mission is to create unique, intentional pieces and provide a professional, personal, and safe experience from the very first contact.

Today, I can proudly say that everything I’ve achieved has been thanks to art, persistence, and never giving up. Tattooing changed my life—and through it, I hope to leave a meaningful mark not just on skin, but in the stories of everyone who trusts me with theirs.