Jeff Rodriguez

jeff (at) modernagetattoos.com

My name is Jeff R. I was born in Washington Heights, NYC and was drawing at a very early age. I honed my drawing skills during class while growing up and decided to study art. I wanted to be a cartoonist but later changed my mind.

I earned a degree in Fine Arts (graphic design and illustration) from William Paterson University and spent some time at the School of Visual Arts, NYC.

I worked as a graphic artist and art director for a couple of years before deciding to learn to tattoo from the late John Bradley, who not only taught me how to tattoo but also taught me a lot about people and life. I started tattooing in 2000 and have been working for Robert Balter since 2007. He helped me improve as an artist while working at his New Jersey location before it changed hands and I began working at the Nanuet location in 2013. I have recently become an art teacher, so I tattoo full time during the summer and on weekends during the school year.

I find tattooing to be incredibly challenging and fulfilling. I consider it an honor when someone trusts me enough to let me tattoo them.

I am inspired by many things but most of all by my son, family and many of the people I meet including the children I teach and the stories told to me by my tattoo clients.