Junior Mondragon is still doing designs, though his focus has shifted.

Though he started out focused on architectural design, he shifted to designing tattoos while in college. As he pursued that degree, he took his first steps into the art of tattoos, starting a self-taught career under the guidance of a mentor and good friend.

Now he has his own studio.

Mondragon opened up his studio, Deviant Tattoos, Jan. 3 in the same suite as West Columbia Dental and Absolute Hair at the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and Leaphart Road. While his studio is fresh this year, he previously opened a tattoo studio in Salt Lake City in 2010. 

“I got my bachelor’s in computer science engineering. Instead of designing houses, I design tattoos,” he told the Chronicle, explaining he got into tattooing out of “peer pressure.”

“A good friend opened his shop and he wanted me to try it. I did an eclectic internship and learned on my own,” Mondragon said, adding that he also had a mentor who helped him in Utah.

He said he’s always been artistic and into art, so it was just a natural pathway for him. Plus he didn’t need to get his master’s, as it’s the route many architects take.

In his tattoo shop, he employs another artist, Matthew Davis, and an artist-in-training, Sativa Mondragon. Sativa doesn’t practice on people while she is learning and will have to gain 1,000-plus hours before becoming a tattoo artist.

Mondragon said he and Davis have different styles, allowing customers to choose the artist matching their taste better. He explained that Davis does some “realism art with an animated version of realism and neo traditional.” His daughter, Sativa, is currently into “color realism and color anime,” while Mondragon does “realism art.”

“I’m sought after for realism, doing high quality detailed work,” the owner said. “There’s a very small niche who do realistic artwork. I like original customs and highly detailed work.”

Mondragon said he’s done thousands of tattoos in his 13 years of experience. After he moved from Utah to South Carolina, he worked at Mr. Shorty’s Tattoo Emporium before deciding to open up his own studio, similar to the one he operated previously.

In addition to realistic tattoos, he said his Latino background sets him apart.

“I have an extensive background in Chicano artwork,” Mondragon said.

When people come to get a tattoo, Mondragon said people often have ideas but don’t know how to execute them. Many people often want to remember a significant part of their life or healing.

“They get to tell their own story on their skin,” Mondragon said, and he helps with that.

He has no restraints on the types of tattoos he will do, with the only restrictions being based on state law, which include statues that someone has to be at least 18 years old and no tattoos can be done above the collarbone.

Mondragon does smaller pieces that are done in a day to larger pieces, such as arm sleeves or pieces across the back, which can take months. He said he sits with his clients and discusses what they want and also breaks down the educational process and cost process. The cost is broken down by time and detail and precision.

“Your work is your walking portfolio,” he opined, noting the pride he takes in the art he creates for people.

Tattoo parlors/studios have only been legal in South Carolina since 2004. Mondragon’s shop joins a handful of others around Lexington County, including ones in Irmo, West Columbia and Red Bank. Tattoo shops are not permissible within Lexington town limits. 

Deviant is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, with walk-ins and appointments available.