Joanna Roman
I’m Joanna Roman and I’m a tattoo artist from Chronic Ink.
I’ve been tattooing for 6 years and I specialize in fine line tattoos. I love what I do and it’s been a dream come true. I became the first female owner of Chronic Ink, I had moved out on my own. I was gaining notoriety as an artist and my bookings were full and I was feeling accomplished. You can say I was living the dream.
Something Marvellous - Joyia
But then I got diagnosed with Crohn's disease. It's affected every aspect of my life. It got to the point where I was living day to day and I didn't know if I could tattoo until I woke up. This wasn’t good for my clients and it was super stressful for me physically and emotionally. I felt I was letting everyone down and the momentum I had going was slowly draining.
This took me to a really dark place
I think anyone who's dealt with a chronic illness will understand the toll it takes on you. But thanks to my family, friends, and clients. They have given me the strength to fight back. While I was bedridden I was sketching a lot. There's a note in my Ipad from 2022 that says Brilliant Ideas and one of them said make belly chains. I had so many pent up and unused designs that I thought would make great jewelry.
This is how Chronic House was born.
So here we are. This is my attempt to be reborn. This is where I say fuck you to crohns. I want to feel like myself again. I want to feel alive. I don’t want to feel caged to my bed and watch life pass me by. I just want to design things and spread my art all over the world. I hope you like these pieces because for me they are more than just jewelry. Butterflies are my most requested designs and I want these butterflies to make ppl feel alive.
My papa was a huge inspiration in this line. He loved to sing in his church choir and he was always so proud of me. And whenever I felt down, he would always remind me 'Joanna, you are Marvellous." So, I hope this jewelry makes you feel marvelous too. After he passed, I sent one of his songs to my friend Joyia and she turned his music into a song that symbolizes what Chronic House means to me. "this is what you're listening to right now"It is a song of hope, finding your power and that yes,