Artist Interviews 2025

June  
By Julia Siedenburg



June is an artist with many talents. She draws, tattoos, and sketches. Besides running her successful tattoo studio where she focuses on creating beautiful watercolor tattoos, she also hosts painting workshops and draws incredible images on the side.

And on top of all of that, she also creates these adorable little comic strip stories about different times in her life. From moving to the US from Korea to becoming a tattoo artist and opening her shop, June has reached many milestones in her life.

If this sounds interesting to you and you always wanted to learn more about the art of tattooing then I have no doubt you will enjoy this interview as much as I did, dear reader.

Why do you think art plays such an important role in the world?

Art is so important in this world because it allows people to express unspoken feelings. This offers a way to process emotions that are often difficult to articulate and to communicate things that might not ever be communicated through conventional forms. Art also has the power to heal pain and frustration by creating moments of connection and understanding. Art can move people to smile, cry, or feel some other unexpected emotional stirring. These are the superpowers of art and they are crucial for us humans and for our societies.


One of my paintings from my solo art show, “Sweet Ocean”

Who are the tattoo artists or painters that inspire you the most? 

Since I’ve been focusing on flower tattoos lately, I’ve been inspired by tattoo artists who specialize in floral designs. Vanessa Core (@vanessa.core) is one of my favorites, and I love Amanda Wachob’s combination of floral and abstract work. Recently, I’ve been leaning toward a more simplified and unique style, and Jonas Wood’s distinctive, simplified paintings have been a great source of inspiration.



How did you find your way to becoming a tattoo artist?

I always wanted a job that involved drawing and creating. When I moved to New York City from Korea, I was struggling to find my direction. My sister mentioned that I looked into tattooing and it was like a light bulb went off in my brain. Becoming a tattoo artist sounded so cool—it just felt like the perfect fit. From that moment, I dedicated myself to pursuing a career as a tattoo artist. It was a very long and difficult journey! I worked in many street shops in New York before becoming mostly by appointment and then ultimately opening my own shop in Los Angeles.



What makes permanent body art so unique?

Permanent body art is truly unique because it becomes a part of you. Once it’s done, it stays with you forever. Over time, it becomes intertwined with your identity. This transformative process often leaves people feeling changed in a profound way. Getting a tattoo can evoke a powerful sense of permanence and self-expression, making it a deeply meaningful experience.



Your tattoo work is very special in the sense that you focus on beautiful and vibrant watercolor tattooing. What made you focus on this specific technique? 

I used to focus on realistic tattoos because I was good at them, but I always felt that something was missing. I wanted to create work that felt more like me. When I started incorporating watercolor effects, I felt so much freer. I love expressing movement through abstract color flows and dynamic elements. Instead of tracing real photos, I now redraw everything from my own perspective, adding my unique touch. Combining these designs with vibrant watercolor effects excites me and keeps me inspired as an artist.



Where do you take the inspiration for your designs and how long does it take to come up with a requested design?

I design tattoos inspired by my customers’ personal stories. A single flower, for example, can convey a wide range of emotions depending on its shape and how it’s placed on the body. I usually create the design the night before the appointment and refine it the next morning if needed.




Can you describe to our readers who are unfamiliar with tattoo work what the process is like and what might be some surprising aspects of your work? 

One thing that surprises some people is that I don’t share the final tattoo design until the day of the tattoo session. To some people, it sounds crazy. “It’ll be on me forever! How can I commit to the tattoo without seeing it first?” However, it works well because my customers already know that they like my design style. They share their ideas and specifics in advance and they trust that I will create something unique based on their direction and in my own style. When they arrive, I show them the final design, and we go over it together. If any adjustments are needed, I make those tweaks on the spot. For customers who feel too nervous about this process, I offer in-person consultations before the tattoo booking. In those, I also make a rough sketch which seems to help settle any nerves.



You recently hosted a painting class. Tell us about that experience and what you discussed with your students. 

Often, when I am drawing or painting, I am in the flow state and I’m not necessarily thinking about my process. This is why I love teaching. When I teach, it forces me to think about and articulate my process so that I can share it. In that way, teaching is a really great way to make me better! In my recent class, I asked students to choose either an ocean landscape or a flower to paint. I told them to start by researching their subject to understand the physical structure and then to recreate it in their own way on the paper. It was so fun to watch them work!



You have created multiple little cartoon stories about your life in Korea, moving to New York, and other moments in your life. Tell us what motivated you to create this, and who your target audience is.

I have always loved comics and storytelling. In fact, my original career aspiration was to be a comic book artist! My parents steered me away from that unfortunately but now I am trying to realize that dream as a sort of side job to my tattooing. I know that a lot of people feel stuck in their lives for different reasons. I too have felt stuck so many times and a lot of my cartoons and stories focus on that feeling and about how to get unstuck. There’s no real secret. Really, people need to just go for it! But those stuck people are my target audience. I am hoping people will read my stories and decide to go for their dreams or be more creative in their lives. I also like sharing my stories for my tattoo customers to know more about me. Many of them told me that it makes them feel more connected to me as their tattoo artist. 




What are your plans for the future? Are there any more comic strips planned?

I definitely plan on creating more comics and publishing them on Instagram. The reactions have been so positive and affirming. I even hope to publish my own cartoon one day to fully realize my childhood dream of being a cartoonist. At the same time, I want to continue growing as a tattoo artist and painter, so I’ll keep working on my skills in both tattooing and painting.