Today we’d like to introduce you to Jaleel Owens.
Jaleel, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I’m from Memphis, Tennessee. When I was 19, I dropped out of college. Start hanging out getting in trouble. My car was shot up one night in Memphis. My mom told me something I’ll never forget. (No parent wants to bury her child.) Eventually, I moved to Atlanta a few months later to pursue my career as an artist in 2011. I signed up to go to AIU (American Intercontinental University) my major was Fashion & Marketing. My fashion is known to be on another level. I love clothes. But I also moved to Atlanta without a job, so I decided to cut hair first. Just to get off my feet. I made enough money to buy a tattoo kit after hearing about my drawing skills and what I could do with em. I dropped out. And started tattooing at home. I found a shop to do an apprenticeship at but it didn’t work out.
After six months in the shop closed unexpectedly without notice and my equipment, I no longer owned at the end of 2012. 2013, I started all over tattooing at home from what I learned and got a call from a tattoo shop in Campcreek to come in and work. Campcreek BodyArt & Removal. The owner was Melvin “Smoke Duse” Robinson. He was like a mentor to me, like a big brother/father figure for a point in time. My father was not around. I have a stepfather. But my biological father split up with my mom when I was too young to remember. My father left home so I grew up without him. He came to 1 football game I can remember when I was a senior in high school. After that, before I moved to Atlanta, I have seen him and stayed for a month with him before Atlanta. Back in 2013 in the new shop. I was Smoke’s first Head Artist. For seven to eight years, he showed my color and the different tones and also contrast and shadows with black and grey to advance my skills. Smoke was Dope! He recently was shot on September 25th at 2:30 pm and later transitioned on the 28th at Grady Hospital at 4:00 pm. He stops breathing at 4:30. He wanted me to have it. We talked about me running it before he passed. The feeling this situation brings is “Bitter Sweet”. You receive blessings but sometimes it’s not as planned or expected. But you have to be ready. And I’m now taking on the Legacy he left. And as I’m starting to prepare for this journey. It’s about to be 2020. And it’s a marathon. So right now, I’m currently reconstructing and building. And doing all the things he was doing. My plate is full. Being busy keeps me active and helps with mourning. I’m now licensed in Fulton County and Memphis, Tennessee. And I have my own shop. It’s a dream come true. The way happiness is the part that will bother me for a long time…
Has it been a smooth road?
Some of my obstacles were just gaining my respect as an artist. Learning who I am as an artist. Becoming a professional Tattoo Artist. The hate, the criticism. I also had my equipment stolen during my first apprenticeship. I’ve lost a lot of true friends & relationships over my career and trying to become established. I just recently lost my brother who was shot and killed. That was one of the most life-changing things dealing with or connecting to my career as a whole.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
My company name, my brand, my lifestyle is Celebink. I don’t specialize. But what I can say is the work I create. The style I invented, the vibe I bring to the table is clean line work, smooth shading, fancy calligraphy, identical portraits, realism. My roses give the realness look. Do you want artwork or designs with high quality? I can guarantee that. I’m most proud of how far I’ve come. How much knowledge I gained. No matter what I went threw the storms. My realness and ability to get the job done in a good time span. I know what I’m doing.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Atlanta is definitely the place to be for starting your own business, especially as a black entrepreneur. Coming from Memphis. Certain things we just are not accessible to. We can’t visit certain places that’s not there in Memphis and do certain things that are offered to us that’s offered here in Atlanta. For example, the colleges for students and the job opportunities for actors, singers, comedians, artist and more. Atlanta is definitely a place of hospitality and grinds so it can be done here 80% of the time than other cities (my opinion).
Pricing:
- Tapout Tuesday. I charge $400.00
- Minimum is $60.00
- 150/hr
Contact Info:
- Address: 3560 campcreek pkwy
Atlanta, Ga 30344 #148 - Website: Www.celebink.com
- Phone: 9016439825
- Email: bookmecelebink@yahoo.com
- Instagram: Www.instagram.com/tennakey
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/jaleel.owens.94
- Twitter: Www.twitter.com/celebink
- Other: https://youtu.be/wamSW8VuZCQ
Image Credit:
Celebink LLC
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