T h e T e a m
Meet The Artists
Dwane
Erin
Christo
Blake
Jade
Alex
Jade McLean
Jade has been artistic since childhood. He majored in art and design in the twelfth grade followed by the AAA School of Advertising where he studied fine art, graphic design and advertising. He was also very sports orientated so kept busy on and off the easel.
Thereafter he travelled to Israel (where he started getting tattoo art) and the UK where in London he began his illustrious career in the art of tattooing. Being a busy capital he was able to learn from many other artists as well as attend a number of different tattoo conventions where he was able to pick up all the ins and outs of the profession.
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London was a crazy and busy place back then. Jumping around living in various different suburbs he certainly had a lot of experiences… wild and sweet, which all added to his charisma and adventurous mindset.
After 4 years overseas he decided to come home to SA. He worked in other studios in Jhb and Pta for another 4 years before opening Jaded Ink. During this time he’d met a number of different people in various different artistic professions. Attending a lot of music events, sporting and extreme sports events and a variety of others Jade immediately made friends with everyone which entailed the beginning of the sponsorships and collaborations.
Other hobbies or activities that Jade does partake in include basketball, boxing, motorcycling, hosting events as a MC, drawing, painting, enjoying quality time with family and friends and being a great father to his 5yr old son.
After 16 years of being a tattoo artist, priorities change, with knowledge and age, through hardship and progression. But there are 2 consistencies, 1 to be better and better day by day in this profession and 2 where the customer is king (maybe not always right) where each and every person has the best possible experience here at Jaded Ink.
Signature Work
Dwane Oelofse
It was at the age of 17 that I discovered what piercing was and that I wanted to do it. At the time I didn’t care to go to a reputable studio and get the piercing done properly, all I cared about was piercing my helix with my mother’s sewing needle that I had burnt black with a lighter before sticking it through my ear. Funny thing is, it did not go right through immediately, it seared its way halfway into my ear before coming to a halt. I then proceeded to do the whole burnt sewing needle black, push into existing stinging hole and proceed to push again. Once through, I then put in a piece of cheap jewellery. This all lasted a total of 5 days before I went to a reputable studio in the East Rand Galleria at the time.
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Al, the piercer at the time, explained everything to me with regards to what I had done wrong and why. He also explained the procedure that a Body Piercer needed to follow when doing the piercing and what the client (Me) had to do to look after the piercing and make sure it heals perfectly. I was captivated by everything that was involved and wanted the opportunity to learn a skill that you can travel with.
My opportunity came 5 months after I was out of Matric. The owner of the studio I had enquired at gave me the opportunity to come in and see if it is really what I wanted to do. I started off as any apprentice does in the beginning, I was the scrub maid, the coffee maker, food runner etc. I didn’t mind though, because through it all, I got to ask questions, watch what was being done, and learn from an experienced Body Piercer who had apprenticed under the pioneer of piercing Eddie Graham, in a profession that was growing rapidly in South Africa at the time.
I got given my opportunity a year into my apprenticeship, after doing numerous practice piercings on friends and family, to finally do my very first piercing, which was a tongue piercing. It was daunting as all hell, nerves running through my entire body making me feel like I was going to explode. Once I had done the piercing and the client was walking out with a smile on their face, I got that sensation that ran through my body of this is what I want to do for the rest of my life.
It was with a sad heart that I had to take a sabbatical from piercing, a vocation I had seen myself doing for the rest of my life, because of irreparable differences between myself and the Studio I was working at, at the time.
5 and a half years ago I was granted the opportunity again to get back into the industry, and I grabbed it with both hands. I have been fortunate enough to work with great artists as well as learn from experienced piercers over the last 5 and a half years. I am the proud owner of Modified Monkey, a company that has taken dedication, hard work and help from friends and family in the business.
I am now based inside the awesome Jaded Ink, with a vibrant and amazing crew that has welcomed me with open arms. I specialize in Daith piercings and I am always up for an ear project or two.
Signature Work
Erin van Breda
artI am 21 years old; I am Romani-Irish gypsy descent and I am a Buddhist. I am an illustration student at Open Window. I apprenticed in Centurion for 3 years, however I was not happy with what I learnt there. I approached Jade in July 2019, and he gave me an opportunity to re-initiate my apprenticeship and to learn the correct professional techniques.
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My tattooing fields of interest lie in realism, surrealism, abstract, experimentalism as well as spirituality. I am heavily inspired by Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali and Jean Michael Basquiat. I am working towards my junior artistry and am currently looking for canvases and practice skins who are interested in exploring the various forms and expressions of the tattoo medium.
Signature Work
Blake
I’m Blake, one of the resident ink fiends at Jaded Ink. I’ve been lurking around the tattoo scene for years, but I’ve spent the last five officially behind the machine, sinking ink into skin. I’ve had the itch to create on every medium possible since before I can remember.
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But art isn’t my only obsession. When I’m not bringing custom tattoo concepts to life, I’m launching dirt bikes as a professional freestyle motocross athlete. Finding the balance between the two is a chaotic masterpiece, but they feed off each other perfectly. The adrenaline from the track directly fuels the creativity in the chair.
I live for a challenge and thrive on thinking outside the box. Throw your wildest concepts at me—there is absolutely nothing better than the ecstatic reaction from a client when we turn a crazy idea into a permanent masterpiece.
Signature Work
Christo Kleynhans
I’m Christo Kleynhans. I’ve been in the tattoo game for over a decade. My roots are in graffiti and the corporate design world, but I ditched mainstream marketing to create permanent, hand-crafted art that actually means something to the individual wearing it.
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My graffiti background fueled a deep obsession with custom lettering, typography, and script. I don’t just trace everyday typefaces; I build custom artwork. I was drawn to tattooing because of the sheer difficulty of the medium and the personal connection it creates. It’s a relentless craft that is always evolving.
When I’m out of the studio, I spend most of my time training in competitive dog sports. That passion naturally bled into my ink, giving me a massive love for tattooing hyper-detailed dog portraits so my clients can carry their best friends with them forever.
While my heavy specialty is black and grey, I’m always ready to throw down on full-colour pieces. Let’s get in touch and build your masterpiece.
Signature Work
Alex
I’m Alex. I’m a 20-year-old tattoo apprentice with a background in graphic design, but my real education started way earlier. Tattoo studios were basically my daycare. Spending my youth watching artists work sparked a permanent obsession with using skin as a canvas to build something far beyond the ordinary.
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The journey here wasn’t exactly smooth. Late 2024 and early 2025 threw enough setbacks my way to make me question if I’d ever actually hold a machine. But I don’t back down easily. In July, I landed an apprenticeship under Jade, learning the craft the right way and following in some seriously heavy footsteps.
When I’m not in the studio, you’ll find me on a skateboard—either wrecking my ankles in competitions or picking myself up off unforgiving South African tar. Skating taught me everything I know about resilience: no matter how hard the slam, you get back up and push harder.
Right now, I’m deep-diving into black and grey realism, grinding every day to make a name for myself in that space. Drawing used to be my escape from reality; now, it is my reality.
Signature Work
