Who Is Jason Stores?
Jason Stores is a tattoo artist working out of Lincoln Tattoo Company in Venice, California. Lincoln Tattoo is located at 2518 Lincoln Blvd, Venice, CA 90291. lincolntattoo.com
On Instagram, he goes by @jason_stores_ltc and maintains an active presence, sharing completed tattoos, works in progress, and occasional personal reflections.
Clients on Yelp often praise him for his skill, especially for pet portraits, and comment on how friendly and easy to talk to he is.
Additionally, Jason Stores has opened up publicly about personal aspects of his journey—including addiction, recovery, and how tattooing itself has become part of his path to healing.
While the public record is not exhaustive, what we do know paints a picture of an artist who combines technical competence, deep cultural awareness, and emotional transparency.
Style, Influences & Signature Work
Chicano / Lowrider / Black & Gray Aesthetic
Many of Jason’s signature works trend toward Chicano-style art, lowrider aesthetics, and black & gray shading. The use of subtle gradients, bold contrasts, anatomical precision, and cultural motifs (like Aztec iconography, skulls, script, gangster-inspired imagery, etc.) is visible in many of his pieces posted online.
An example: a client’s Aztec-themed sleeve, clearly imbued with Mesoamerican symbolism and shading techniques, is attributed to Jason Stores.
He’s also done pieces with fantastical or pop-culture subject matter: for example, someone posted “Dungeons & Dragons by Jason Stores (Lincoln Tattoo Company, Venice, CA)” in a forum. These kinds of pieces suggest that Jason doesn’t limit himself strictly to one “genre” but is able to translate diverse subject matter into his own visual vocabulary.
Emotional & Personal Depth
What often sets tattoo artists apart is not just technical skill, but the emotional depth and personal meaning behind their work. Jason has discussed how his life journey—especially his fight with addiction and the years of sobriety—has informed his relationship to tattooing. In the Unsavory Fellow podcast, his story is framed as “From Pain to Purpose, with a tattoo machine in hand.”
Because of that, many of his tattoos, especially the more personal or portrait-type pieces, may carry layers of meaning both for him and his clients.
Honing Technique & Client Trust
Another indicator of his craft is his willingness to share in-progress work and talk candidly about the process on social media: from design drafts to healed outcomes.
All of this suggests that Jason’s skill is not just in making something look good right off the needle, but in planning, execution, and long-term quality.
The Journey: Struggles, Growth & Redemption
To understand an artist’s work, sometimes understanding their journey is crucial. Jason Stores’ narrative includes a chapter of struggle and transformation.
Addiction & Recovery
From what he’s publicly shared, Jason hit low points in his life, and tattooing became a kind of anchor or redemption vehicle. On the Unsavory Fellow podcast, his experience is discussed in terms of rock bottom and rebuilding.
Over time, tattooing isn’t just a job—it becomes part of his healing path, a way to express, connect, and help. That adds a dimension to his work: each tattoo may carry more than surface aesthetics—it might represent resilience, rebirth, or remembrance.
Building Reputation at Lincoln Tattoo
Lincoln Tattoo Company hosts several artists. Jason is one of their featured names.
The fact that he is listed early among their roster (Jason Stores, CJ, Jordan Hart, Stevie Layani, etc.) suggests he is a flagship presence.
Also, his ability to book and sustain clients—portraits, sleeves, pop culture pieces—suggests that over time he’s earned technical mastery and client loyalty.
Social Media & Community Engagement
Jason uses Instagram to showcase his portfolio, engage with clients, and reflect personally. This humility and openness help to humanize the artist behind the machine.
Memorable Works
Some tattoos by Jason Stores stand out in his body of work, either for their concept, execution, or client response. Here are a few:
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Kraken Sleeve: A dramatic oceanic, tentacular piece attributed to Jason, incorporating bold shading and dynamic flow.
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Aztec-Inspired Sleeve: A client’s arm tattoo combining Aztec motifs, perhaps mythology or warrior iconography.
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“Dungeons & Dragons” Piece: A pop-culture commission that received attention in tattoo discussion forums.
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Pet Portraits & Portraiture: Yelp reviewers mention pet portraits—these are often technically demanding and require attention to subtle detail.
All of these reflect his versatility—for fantasy, cultural themes, portraits—and also his strength with shading, line work, and translating ideas into skin.
What Makes Jason Stores Stand Out
Having surveyed what we know, here are the key differentiators that help place Jason Stores among notable tattoo artists today:
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Blending Tradition with Innovation
He roots his style in Chicano / black & gray traditions, yet brings in modern and pop culture elements. That flexibility lets clients commission works across genres without losing coherence. -
Emotional Honesty & Storytelling
His personal story of struggle, recovery, and purpose gives resonance to his art. Clients commissioning portrait pieces or emotionally charged work may sense that he “gets it”—not just aesthetically but psychologically. -
Technical Competence & Reliability
Positive client reviews, especially for challenging commissions (pet portraits, realism, large sleeves), reflect confidence in his skill. He seems disciplined enough to deliver complex works with consistency. -
Strong Local Identity & Community Presence
By operating in Venice / LA, being part of Lincoln Tattoo, and maintaining social media visibility, he’s rooted in a vibrant tattoo ecosystem. That helps him attract both local and traveling clients. -
Humility & Relatability
He doesn’t position himself as an untouchable celebrity—he responds with honesty, shares doubt (“what’s my favorite tattoo?”), acknowledges pain, and lets his work speak. That vulnerability often resonates with clients more than hype.
Things to Watch Out / Consider
While the available information is compelling, there are a few caution points and open questions:
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Booking & Wait Times: As with many in-demand artists, one should expect long lead times. His popularity and the depth of work he does likely pushes his schedule out.
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Pricing & Commission Scale: Large, detailed works—especially in the vein of portraits, sleeves, or custom fantasy pieces—will command premium rates. Clients should prepare accordingly.
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Travel & Guest Spots: I did not find public confirmation of Jason doing many guest spots or traveling to other shops (though he may). If you were hoping to get inked in a city far from LA, that’s something to ask him directly.
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Aftercare & Longevity: As with all grayscale and fine-line heavily shaded tattoos, longevity depends a lot on aftercare, skin type, and placement. Make sure you understand what healing will look like.
How to Get a Tattoo by Jason Stores (Tips)
If you’re considering getting inked by Jason, here are some practical tips based on how such artists commonly operate and what I could glean:
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Reach out early: Send a message or email expressing your idea; include reference images, the size and area you’d like tattooed. Artists like Jason often book weeks or months in advance.
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Be flexible: Let the artist suggest tweaks—they have experience in how designs translate to skin, movement, aging, etc.
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Be clear on budget & scale: Big sleeves or portrait pieces are different beasts. Clarify your budget and see what’s feasible. Don’t expect a full back-piece for a minimal hourly budget.
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Plan for healing & touch-ups: Be aware that following aftercare is critical. Also, ask whether he offers touch-ups within a window.
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Document & share (respectfully): Many clients love showing the healed result months later. Jason seems open to seeing healed photos on his Instagram.
Jason’s Legacy & Future Potential
While Jason Stores is already well-regarded locally, his personal narrative, combined with technical prowess and versatility, gives his work potential to reach further. As tattooing continues to intersect with art shows, storytelling, and multimedia, artists like Jason—who bring authenticity, cultural grounding, and adaptability—tend to grow beyond “just a tattoo guy” into voices in the broader creative world.
If he continues to share more of his life, process, and growth, I expect his influence will ripple beyond Venice into bigger forums: interviews, guest artist spots, perhaps publication features. His voice—both artistic and personal—has a resonance.