Inking Authentically: Meaning, Visibility, and Intention (feat. Jessica Tippins)

Jessica Tippins is a North Carolina–based tattoo artist and owner of Five Studio, with a decade in graphic design and makeup artistry; she moved into permanent cosmetics in 2019 and expanded into tattooing in 2023. She explores tattoos as lasting self-expression—co-creating designs around a client’s “why” and choosing meaning over trend. We dig into placement-as-message (visible vs. private), boundaries and etiquette, and how “forever art” can support wellbeing. This episode of Being Authentic AF was produced by Brandon Talton. Original music written and performed by John Fichera.