Meet Jamison Stagaard | Tattooer and Tattoo shop owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jamison Stagaard and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jamison, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I knew pursing an artistic career was my only option to maintain my sanity. I’ve worked many jobs and thankfully because of tattooing I can exists in society. It’s all I’ve ever really believed in for myself. Tattooing definitely gave me a home and a sense of purpose. It grounded me and gave me motivation. It also lead me to meet some of the most amazing people in the world as well as incredible mentors.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I enjoy a variety of different mediums in art and find influence and inspiration in many different genres. I enjoy making miniatures, strange movie prop sculptures and painting. I went to school for comic book and animation but didn’t feel it was a right fit for my career. A student at that school was apprenticing to be a tattooer and I got a tattoo from him thus began collecting more tattoos from that point. However I was continuously turned down about an apprenticeship or was told yes but for 20 grand or so, Which I couldn’t afford. I was in a punk band with friends. One of them being my friend Brian Marsman who has since passed away. He got a pretty solid apprenticeship from meeting his mentor in a AA meeting. To say I was jealous would be an understatement. Eventually I found a free apprenticeship in an area of Jersey I didn’t love. It was pretty toxic abusive shop so I didn’t stick around past 6 months or so. Feeling defeated and stressed the night I quit I got extremely intoxicated. I was acting a bit reckless and then I received a phone call from my mentor Ray Hart Flores. He used to work at the shop I had just quit and told me to sober up and come to his shop Lucky Hearts in Jersey City the following day. So just like that I had another chance. My parents did not believe in this career choice. At this time I had moved into their basement so when given the ultimatum to quit pursuit of this career if I lived under their roof I moved out. I spent majority of my apprenticeship sleeping in my 96 Jeep Cherokee and on couches of supportive friends. It was a difficult time and the shop had a lot of difficult characters come in but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I had a light at the end of the tunnel and would squint at all the telephone poles in Jersey City and envision palm trees in California. I worked as had as I possibly could from that point on and was able to create an awesome career for myself. My mother has since very genuinely apologized for not supporting me then. I told her I don’t know if I would have had as much drive had she supported it. Having no place to lay your head at night or take a hot shower can be a huge motivator to work hard. Now as far as my tattooing, over the years I’d say my style is a bold traditional application with a illustrative approach. Longevity is very important to me and I try to do tattoos that will hold up strongly over the years.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I currently live in Lompoc CA which I love. I have good friends from Jersey who live in Pasadena. I try to visit them as much as I can and we love going to the Huntington Botanical gardens. That place is absolutely unreal. We love to eat at Sage plant based restaurant when I’m there. My favorite restaurant ever would be Olivers in Moniceto absolutely best vegan food I’ve encountered. I have another good friend from Jersey who lives in Venice Beach and that’s always a great time as well. So much to see there, lots of inspiration. I really have been enjoying the slower pace of Lompoc. I usually lived in busier cities like Huntington beach and Santa Barbara. Finally being able to slow down my life significantly at 39 years old has been very nice. The locals are awesome here and I’m so amazed by how many hidden gems are in Lompoc. Shoutout Southside Coffee, Eye on I Restaurant and The Shamrock to name a few.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’ve had too many mentors in my 15 year career to ever possibly list but some of the most impactful include Ray Hart Flores who was my first real mentor in Jersey city NJ. He is a lunatic and an absolute genius. Currently tattooing at Revolver in New Brunswick NJ. Krooked Ken and Eddie Peralta of Powerhouse Tattoo in Montclair NJ. They took me in and sent me out into the tattoo world. Met so many legends because of these men. My very good pal Ken Knox of 805 ink in Santa Barbara CA. He has helped me immensely build my career and my shop. Kenny is beyond talented and hilariously out of his mind like I am. Honestly I could write a book about all the amazing tattooers I am grateful for however these are the ones who helped me through very pivotal transitions in my life. Lastly a massive appreciation for the incredible team I have at my shop, Chase Holland in a phenomenal tattooer who has been with me through our previous shops water damage and the massive build of our current location during the pandemic. He refuses to do anything but his best effort with everything he does, Sarandon Rose who was our apprentice and is now a talented rapidly improving tattooer and our manager Jeremy who does everything he can to keep this train on the tracks while keeping morale hilarious.

Website: Fortifiedtattoo.com

Instagram: @Jamison_tattooer @Fortified_tattoo

Youtube: Fortified with Jamison Stagaard

Image Credits
Sarandon Rose Max Flyin 90 Tyler the barber