JonBoy Speaks on Gucci Influence & Reveals Keys to Success

Coveteur recently linked up with tattoo artist JonBoy to speak about his beginnings, the influence of Gucci in his lifestyle and work, as well as several keys to success. The artist works out of a NYC tattoo shop Bang Bang under the mentorship of Keith “Bang Bang” McCurdy. He has tattooed famous celebrities like Kendall Jenner and Hailey Baldwin, although in the interview he reveals that he does not get starstruck and that everyone is a celebrity to him. Check out highlights from the interview below and read the full piece via Coveteur.

On the Gucci influence:

“The level where my career is right now, being at Bang’s, I find my inspiration where I am. All I have to do is take a few minutes, walk around the stations—all these guys that I work around are the best tattoo artists in the game. My inspiration [also] comes from Gucci. Alessandro’s done such a great job in opening the doors for artists—it’s a new wave in the fashion world. They caught my attention because they started using really cool imagery and a lot of it reminds me of tattoos—tigers and snakes, even the Asian/Japanese type stuff. I think that’s what kind of got me on this obsession with Gucci. I genuinely, truly, am a lover of Gucci and what they stand for. Everything’s Gucci; my dog’s Gucci, life’s Gucci [laughs]. It’s a lifestyle.”

On why patience is a virtue:

“You have to really learn how to deal with people and be patient with people. That’s the hardest part. That person has been thinking about that tattoo for years, so work with them, and if you can’t do it then let them get tattooed by someone else or learn how to do it. That’s why I’m busy. Some of these tattoos are the tattoos that most artists can’t do or don’t want to do because they’re hard—they’re small, so there’s no room for error. I grew up with a mom and a sister, and they had issues with their looks. I see how important it is to really make sure a female is happy with their tattoo. I want you to be able to look at your tattoo in the mirror and be like, ‘Wow, I look sexy, I look good.’”

On how everyone is a celebrity:

“It’s exciting. I don’t get starstruck, but it’s neat tattooing these people that are on this platform. They’ve had such an influence on our culture that I feel honored that I get to even mark them with my machine. I treat everyone like a celebrity because what does that even mean, a celebrity? You’re being celebrated, so I’m celebrating you. I’m here for the people. I am [at a point] right now in my career where people just want to get tattooed by me, and that’s special, so I make sure that every day I’m on it and that my head’s right and that I’m there for my client.”