Who Is Boneface and Why Does His Story Matter?

Anwan “Boneface” Johnson is a Tattoo Artist, tattoo shop owner, and one of Ink Different’s Master Mentors. He’s owned Boneface Ink for 20 years and recently opened the Flash Tattoo Mall, a 15-station tattoo shop for visiting Tattoo Artists.

His very first tattoo machine was homemade, a jailhouse machine powered by a VCR motor.

His story matters because he didn’t wait for someone to offer him a path. He built one. And he did it by being honest about where he stood.

Why Would a Tattoo Artist Hire People Better Than Him?

For Boneface, it was the only way he could see to get better.

He had a burning desire to be the best. “If I’m second place in 100,000 people, I still feel some type of way,” he says. But he’s also self-aware. “I know when I’m terrible. Everyone’s so much better than me.”

So he got a building in the middle of two military bases, so clients would come from both sides. He was already pretty popular where he was from and knew how to bring people in. Then he hired the Tattoo Artists he admired and wanted to learn from.

He offered them three to four months of free booth rent and a high percentage, about 75/25. And he sat over their shoulders, watching them work.

“I’m the boss,” he laughs. “What are you going to tell me, to leave?”

Tip: Boneface turned his tattoo shop into his classroom by surrounding himself with Tattoo Artists who were better than him.

How Does Humility Make You a Better Tattoo Artist?

Boneface’s humility started with honesty. He admitted he was terrible and needed to learn.

He also believes tattooing teaches humility on its own. “I think tattooing itself will humble you,” he says. He doesn’t feel he has to humble new Tattoo Artists. Getting out there and doing the work will do it.

He sees ego hold Tattoo Artists back. Some feel they’re above certain kinds of work, like small flash tattoos. “Everybody’s above something until they’re broke,” he says.

Before you start, read about the mistakes aspiring tattoo apprentices should avoid.

How Can You Learn From Artists Better Than You?

Here’s what Boneface’s experience suggests:

Step 1: Be honest about your skill level. Boneface knew where he stood.

Step 2: Get close to Tattoo Artists you admire. He brought them into his tattoo shop.

Step 3: Watch them work. He sat over their shoulders and studied how they tattooed.

Step 4: Make it mutual. He says it was a two-way relationship. He was learning from them, and he was helping them.

Step 5: Take care of the people teaching you. Some of his Tattoo Artists struggled with addiction. He helped them get into rehab and gave them a place to stay, even setting up rooms in his tattoo shop.

Step 6: Put needle to skin. Boneface says you can’t do surgery until you know the whole body, and at the end of the day, you have to tattoo to truly figure it out.

For gear, see the tools every beginner Tattoo Artist should know.

Why Do Live Mentors Still Beat Online Tutorials?

Boneface didn’t directly compare live mentors and online tutorials. But his own path shows the value of learning by watching people work in person.

He also sees how much easier it is to access tattoo resources today. Some new Tattoo Artists come in and get good fast because of those resources. But he still believes real understanding comes from tattooing itself, not just studying it.

Safety is part of real training, too, including the OSHA bloodborne pathogens standard. Tattooing is also a human craft, which is why Tattoo Artists are still essential.

What Does the Traditional Tattoo Apprenticeship Teach You?

Ink Different’s Traditional Tattoo Apprenticeship is an 18 to 24 month, four-phase tattoo apprenticeship built for beginners. Ink Different has trained Tattoo Artists for 15 years. No prior art experience is required.

• Phase One: Art and design, online.
• Phase Two: Machine practice on synthetic skin, online.
• Phase Three: Supervised tattoos on real clients in a tattoo studio, learning from experienced Tattoo Artists.
• Phase Four: Building independence and preparing for licensing.
• Licensing support: Guidance through your state’s requirements, like how to get your tattoo license in Texas.

This is a career that comes with confidence. You’ll finish with job-ready skills, licensing support, and a guaranteed job offer at one of Ink Different’s own tattoo studios. The Traditional Tattoo Apprenticeship is available at 60+ tattoo studios nationwide.

Ink Different also offers Spanish-speaking locations in Denver, Orange County, NYC, Miami, San Antonio, and San Diego, and a “Good Humans” culture from day one.

Ready to Learn From the Best?

Boneface built his career by learning from Tattoo Artists better than him, then passing that support forward. He doesn’t give his Tattoo Artists set schedules. He asks what they can give and holds them to it. He’s never parted ways with one on bad terms.

Today, Pensacola has 80 to 90 tattoo shops, and every Tattoo Artist who has worked for him owns one of them. “I just like to be able to say I’m a part of your story,” he says.

He also started Mental Health Mondays, a weekly check-in for men, built on community and confidentiality. His advice for anyone in a leadership role: check on two or three people a week.

If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out to someone you trust. In the U.S., you can call or text 988 at any time.

Seats are limited, with only two apprentices per tattoo studio per Mentor.

For aspiring Tattoo Artists: Apply now to Ink Different’s Traditional Tattoo Apprenticeship and start building an AI-proof career with licensing support and a guaranteed job offer at one of Ink Different’s own tattoo studios.

For Tattoo Artists and shop owners who want to mentor: Learn how to become an Ink Different Mentor at inkdifferenttattoos.com/affiliate.

And for aspiring shop owners: Explore Ink Different’s shop owner training to build the systems, team, and brand your tattoo shop needs.

Find Boneface on all social platforms as Boneface Ink, including Instagram at @bonefaceink.