Meet Victoria Do | Tattoo Artist

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

Hi Victoria, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
While I really enjoyed my time working for other people, especially while I was first starting out and finding my voice and learning the ins and outs of the industry, a big goal of mine has always been to become independent as an artist. Obtaining freedom to follow inspiration without questioning it is a big part of the dream for me. I believe a lot of this need for independence and freedom came from my parents, who both left Vietnam during the war in 1979 in pursuit of a better life. Albeit our situations are DRASTICALLY different, there are a lot of themes and values that overlap that my parents instilled in me at a young age: Be the best version of yourself that you possibly can be, have courage, and try to find ways you can stand on your own two feet.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Generally speaking, my tattoo art is a blend of fine line work and detailed designs.  My work is a mix of delicate, intricate, and prominent imagery with a balance of realism and stylization.  I’m inspired by a range of subjects from fragile florals to strong animals to elegant shapes.  I’ve also found that I find a lot of inspiration through my client’s stories, ideas and their unique experiences. 

Lately, I’ve been so overwhelmingly moved that I’ve found myself expanding beyond tattooing and exploring different mediums in my studio — mostly blending fine art with other mixed media. This process of discovery has been super exciting for me.
I consider myself extremely lucky to be in a physical space where I’m able to experiment, get messy and fail safely (which, I’m sure if you ask any artist in any art form, is a huge part of making good art)
A theme that is constantly popping up in my life is curiosity. I find staying curious and taking risks is something that our society encourages people to shy away from. A lot of our society is built around benchmarks in life — go to school, get a good job, get married, and have kids. But early on, I knew this guideline wasn’t tailor made to include my passions and because of that I made a promise to myself to stay curious.  From taking a drawing elective in college where I discovered my skills as an artist to applying to an apprenticeship at Bang Bangs in New York — somewhere deep down, I knew that if I followed my curiosity, I would eventually end up closer to a life that I envisioned for myself.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I find myself falling in love with California more and more everyday, but for somebody who’s just visiting — a combo of the typical LA hot spots and little gems might be a fun mix.
– PCH drive up to Santa Barbara for a day trip
– If you can, get over to Malibu
– Courage bagels on the east side (get there early! it’s worth it!)
– Frogtown flea market
– Dinner at Lingua Franca in Frogtown
– A comedy show at the store, laugh factory or the groundlings
– Doing the stereotypical Runyon Hike is fun for a first time LA visitor — if you’ve already done that then a hike in the Palisades is always a dream
– Lunch at Chateau
– Highland Park Bowl
– Checker Hall in Highland Park has an amazing happy hour
– See a DJ at shrine or sound night club
– Wine at Covell
– LACMA
– Kbbq is a must
– Cobi’s in Santa Monica is amazing for dinner

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My family, of course. I owe everything to my parents who were part of the mass exodus of Vietnam in 1979. They came to this country with nothing but a dream and a hope for a better life and for that I’ll always be grateful. Without them, making art would look a lot different for me.
I’d also like shoutout Bang Bang for seeing talent in me and giving me my first apprenticeship.

Instagram: @victoriado

Image Credits
Film photo of me in red- Ricardo Escalante