Meet TJ Pearsall

Today we’d like to introduce you to TJ Pearsall.

Hi TJ, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
I have always been fascinated with tattoos and tattooing, but also just art in general. I started tattooing in my hometown of Kutztown, PA, shortly after I graduated from college around 2009. I am so thankful that I got the opportunity to start tattooing, and I absolutely fell in love with it once I started.

I worked for two different shops in Pennsylvania and had a blast at both, can’t say enough great about my coworkers and everything they taught me there. In 2015 one of my good friends got a job opportunity in SLC and asked me if I wanted to go check out Utah. I said why not, got rid of about 70% of my personal belongings, packed up the car, and drove out to SLC.

Once we got to Utah I loved the vibe Good Times had, and by a chance run-in with Ben Martinez, I got the opportunity to meet everyone in the shop. Soon after that, I got the opportunity to start working there and I still love working there to this day. Can’t express my gratitude enough to Colby and Danny for giving me a shot to work at such an exceptional shop.

At Good Times we definitely have something for everyone, every artist at this shop is extremely talented! I’ve gotten so much better by just being around them, amazing artists and people. Shout out to the Good Times crew!

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
There definitely have been a few obstacles on the path, but I have always been surrounded by an amazing group of people. My family and friends are the reason I am where I’m at today. It took a lot of bad tattoos to get here, and they are wearing most of them!

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I specialize in what I like to call western-Japanese tattooing. I try to pay respect to the traditional style of Japanese tattooing while having some American traditional influence as well as my own unique style.

Some of my biggest influences are Matt Lambdin, Chris O’Donnell, Grime, Chris Garver, and Horitomo. I mostly do large-scale pieces, and I am so thankful to all my amazing clients for that.

Who else deserves credit in your story?
I have so many people to thank for getting me here! As I have said previously, I literally could not be here with all my family and friends! I have always been blessed with an amazingly supportive family and friend group, and everyone always encouraged me to follow my heart.

I am so thankful for everyone who has gotten tattooed along the way, especially those brave souls at the start of my career. Jason and Dan really taught me how to tattoo, and answered all of my annoying questions along the way. When I got to Good Times, I had never worked with so many other artists.

I was used to working with 3-4 other people and Good Times had 10. I was intimidated at first, but everyone at the shop was really supportive, and I have learned so much from all of them. I will be forever grateful for the opportunities I have gotten and the people I have worked with!

Pricing:

• $15o an hour

Contact Info:

• Instagram: TJ_goodtimes

Image Credits
Jadie Jo Photography