Meet Lancing Chen | Tattoo Artist + Illustrator

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

Hi Lancing, we’d love to hear about a book that’s had an impact on you.
Recently I re-read Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi and the experiences written in that book shook my bones to the core. I also really love Barefoot Gen by Keiji Nakazawa. What both of these stories have in common is that the protagonists (both are autobiographies) keep their heads up in their own way despite the horrors they’ve endured. I like how they both show the resiliency of the human spirit in this world we live in. I think everyone should read them.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My name is Lancing Love Chen and I’m a tattoo artist and illustrator based in the Bay Area. I was born in San Jose, California. My dad was a technical designer and my mom was an art teacher, so art was hard to miss at home. Both of them were artists, night owls and extremely hard workers. My dad worked night shift and I remember watching my mom burning the midnight oil finishing paintings for art shows. As I progress further in my career I think of them constantly. We all grew up in a tiny condo together, which looking back was a crazy tight squeeze for a family of six! I don’t remember it affecting me much though, all I remember was drawing to pass the time. I immediately took to a pencil as soon as I could hold one and they’ve been extremely supportive of me ever since.

I watched a lot of cartoons growing up and I think that definitely influenced my sense of humor and the way I wanted to make art. I grew up watching a ton of Cartoon Network and Peanuts and anime and just always being fascinated by pictures. I think as I got older and was growing into my career I was afraid to fully embrace my roots and what I liked, but now I’m at a place where I embrace those things and thank them for all the joy they’ve brought me. Growing up I also loved making comics featuring all of my friends and they’d respond positively to them, and I think that was also me realizing that my art can have an impact on people.

I went to San Jose State University and majored in Animation/Illustration. After graduating college, I worked as a concept artist at Playstation on the title ‘Concrete Genie’ for about four years. I had a lot of reasons to stay especially in terms of stability, but once we wrapped up on CG I wanted to see how I’d do creating on my own. It was a very big risk (not to mention the pandemic happened shortly after I left), but I have no regrets. I worked a few freelance jobs in animation and worked as an art teacher for a bit before I finally settled on tattooing, but the times in between taught me what I really like to make as an artist. It made me realize rest and quiet time in order to get inspired is important. The shift forced me to go through different paths I wouldn’t be aware of had I not wandered to other fields of work. It absolutely wasn’t easy, but anything worth pursuing never is.

I didn’t really grow up with the goal of becoming a tattoo artist. Before I started I was completely green to the whole industry. In the past I’ve admired tattooing from afar especially when social media made tattoos a whole lot more popular, but I was preoccupied in my previous jobs before thinking that was even a possibility to try for myself. There were a lot more styles of tattooing coming through and that’s how it piqued my interest, so when the opportunity came around to apprentice, it became a “why not” situation quickly especially when nothing else was lined up for me at the time. So it happened and I feel like I found what works for me creatively as well as a way to sustain myself. I don’t think it really was a planned out process, just more a slow, blossoming burn. Kind of like how water flows through tributaries before finally reaching the ocean. Ultimately I think as long as I was drawing something, I’d be happy. It ended up being the best decision of my life and I think it suits me a lot more.

I think integrity and intuition really matters a lot to me when I create. I hate putting out stuff because it’s the hot new trend, or if I rush into an idea, or if someone told you that it’s the “right” way to do it, things like that. I think that approach is like a flash in the pan and doesn’t really do anyone any good in the long run. I think what makes art interesting is the artist’s own point of view. It tells me their values, what matters to them, what inspires them. I like to create as organically as possible and at my own pace, and with my heart all over my sleeves. I try my best to not force something if I’m really not feeling it. I am proud of keeping this principle in everything I make.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love San Jose to death and the bay in general! I would absolutely take them to Emma Prusch Farm Park to see the chickens running around all over the place.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My family, one hundred percent. They’re the reason why I get to do what I do and they’ve sacrificed everything in order for me to have a good life.

Website: https://www.lancinglove.com

Instagram: lancinglove