Jaclyn is an award-winning artist and holds a BA in fine art from USF. She grew up in New Jersey just minutes from Manhatten. She is a wife and mother to two girls. Jaclyn is a business owner, tattoo artist, portrait artist, muralist, and maker. She was a certified art teacher, and is now a girl scout troop leader!
Jaclyn has always been an artist. As a child she started experimenting with portrait work and her passion and talent for art grew well into adulthood.
She put herself through college working as bartender and waitress, taking commissions for portrait work and murals, as well as selling her original paintings. In the background while she did her art, she kept the t.v. on, enamored with reality television, specifically the fashion and tattoo shows.
Tattoo was a medium she always wanted to try but never had. Jaclyn loves to experiment with new media and loved the stories behind the tattoos she was seeing on t.v. These artists were actually living as artists and getting paid to do what they love. They were changing people's lives. It wasn't until after meeting her husband, Jason, and having their two kids, Quinn (5) and Paige (3), did that desire become a reality.
After staying at home with the babies for a few years and toying with the idea of being an art teacher, she decided to go for it. Jason pushed her to follow her dream and supported her through a short apprenticeship.
After a couple years, working in a couple tattoo shops trying to start her career as a tattoo artist, all while trying to juggle life and work, she and her husband decided it would be best to open a private studio. The Ivy has allowed Jaclyn to make her own schedule, do what she loves in her own environment, and still have the freedom to care for her family.
In just seven short months, The Ivy has hired on two more artists and has grown into something really beautiful. Jaclyn has gone from struggling college student, to stay at home mom, to a professional artist in various media and successful business woman.