By: Genelle Gogue
To obtain a tattoo license and apprenticeship, you must be over 18 years of age, which is what Senior Jahlanii Buada is doing. Buada had started her apprenticeship as soon as she turned of age, but has been observing since years before, she said, Buada started learning under her father, but she has also learned from Tattoo Artist Orly Locquiao at Humble Beginnings Tattoos in San Jose and Walnut Creek, Buada said. Locquiao isa successful tattoo artist and has had the opportunity to work with former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick and still helps Buada here and there, she said. Buada plans to be a full-time tattoo artist in the future and it is what she is working up to right now, she said.Doing tattoos has always been a passion for Buada since watching her father do them at a young age, she said. “It was in preschool, when I was graduating. They [asked] ‘What do you want to do when you’re older?’ and I said I wanted to be a tattoo artist like my dad,” Buada said. Buada does all types of art, including music and drawing, but tattoos are different because they have more meaning, Buada said.Trying new things with tattoos can be difficult since it’s working with skin, and it’s on people forever, Buada said. However, it is also fun to try new things since it’s how you learn, she continued. Buada has assisted some tattoos on family members with her father and she learns from each one.“ I think all the tattoos that I’ve done were just so beautiful and so amazing, and each of them have their own story and it helped me grow,” Buada said. Buada has been successful in art other than just tattoos. She designs clothes, draws and makes music Even though becoming a full-time tattoo artist is her goal, art is her main focus.“I like to learn a bunch of new things so I’m always doing something, but my main focus I’d say is art, like tattoos, and drawing and painting, that’s where I really want to go towards,”Buada said. “Follow your dreams. I know it’s so cliche, but if you’re happy at the end of the day with what you’re doing that’s all that matters.