Today we’d like to introduce you to Chonny.
Hi Chonny, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I started to tattoo quite late in my life. Usually, people start as early as 18 but I started when I was 29. I was always obsessed with tattoos at a young age and was intrigued how people wore so many different styles of art on their body. I think the idea of getting tattoos was so out of the ordinary and amazing.
Growing up in a very traditional Korean family, I definitely did not get the support I wanted from my family. I was offered an apprenticeship when I was 17 and I told my parents about it because, to me that was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Obviously, they were not thrilled and told me if I were to follow this route I would basically be disowned. Since I did live in my parent’s house, I respected their wishes. Many years later after working in corporate and endless sales jobs, I had another opportunity to finally get another apprenticeship, so I decided to follow my passion and start all over in the tattoo industry. Many unpaid hours, countless drawings of circles and straight lines, mental pain, and emotional and verbal abuse, I was able to reach my goal. It can be very slow and frustrating in the beginning, but I was able to market myself very well. Many years later and hundreds of tattoos later, I am now here, in my own private studio, living my dream. I did meet a lot of amazing artists and shop owners who helped me along the way. Giving me advice and words of encouragement when I needed it the most. I will always be forever grateful to them and all my beautiful clients who supported me along the way.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Definitely not.
The way I started in this industry was one of the hardest parts. Going through a two years traditional apprenticeship was definitely one of the hardest things I have been through. Basically, you’re an unpaid manager/ janitor/ assistant/ artist. Juggling everything you have to do while focusing on trying to be a tattoo artist can be mentally draining on your mind and body. At the same time, you have to keep yourself financially afloat because you’re not getting paid for two years. The first year of the apprenticeship you’re not even allowed to hold a tattoo machine. It was one of the hardest times in my life. Luckily for me, I have a very firm foundation (wife) that held me down during this period.
Once I discovered I can use my social skills to further develop my tattoo career I used it to my full advantage. It was heartwarming to know so many people trusted me to tattoo them with very little experience. I’ll always be grateful to them, beachside of those experiences I’m able to do what I do now. I wish there was such a thing where everything can work out perfectly, but I’m so happy I went through those mistakes to get to this level right now. I will forever be pursuing perfection in tattooing but I don’t believe there’s such a thing as a perfect tattoo. I am my own worst critic, but I’ll always pursue the best I can be, and I am forever grateful to my clients who allows me to be a part of their life. Thanks to all of them I can be the best that I can be, and get better with every tattoo. I will always strive to get better with every piece and one day hopefully I can be honestly 100% be happy with my work.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
If I were to put a title to it, I am a fine line/ single needle artist.
I’m proud of the type of work I was able to produce in the little time I had to grow in this industry. Fineline/single-needle art is definitely something that shouldn’t be taken lightly. A lot of people think the tattoos should be cheaper because it’s smaller. Which is absolutely wrong. There almost zero margin for error in this style of tattooing.
I think what sets me apart from others in this industry is my ability to relate so well with my clients. I can definitely adapt to their personality and situation to make them feel comfortable. I have a very easygoing vibe and I think that’s why my clients and I can get along so well.
What were you like growing up?
I grew up in a basic (mostly) Asian-American background. I was pretty easygoing and just did what my parents told me to do.
Mostly I was just trying to please my parents, and once high school came around is when I kind of went off the rails.
Hung around the wrong people, got into a lot of unnecessary trouble and basically just being a dummy. Won’t get into too much personal things when I was young and dumb 😉
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @chonny562.tattoo
- Other: @sorry.mom.La
