Meet Shelby Johnson of Rochester hills

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shelby Johnson

Shelby, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Where to start? My childhood: pretty rad. But like any family had it’s weird times.
Teen years were fueled by hot topic, heavy metal, hang times with friends, and the start of my tattoo journey.
I became obsessed with the tattoo industry and set my goals to become an artist at the little green building off Auburn road.
I finished high school, and immediately started college, making my own degree, mixing fine art and media and communication skills, with a few history classes thrown in. All while working on a factory so I could afford getting tattooed almost every week.
I continually hung out at the tattoo shop, and absorbed as much as I could until they finally gave me a spot as the counter girl.
After 2 years of begging and thrown hints, I became an apprentice, and absolutely fell in love with life.
After Long hours, stubborn determination, blood, sweat, ink, and only a few tears, I became a full time tattoo artist. I worked hard to build up my clientele, and made a ton of great friends along the way.
After a few years I moved to Florida, and started fresh by the ocean.
I tattoo in Palm Coast along with my apprentice for now, until the big move back home to Michigan.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There’s no such things as a smooth road. Especially in Michigan.
All my obstacles were solid life lessons, but having to navigate life after losing a parent has been the hardest part. My mom was so proud of me and my siblings, but raised us to be tough, and overcome anything.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a tattoo artist! I specialize in making people love their bodies, and making people look good naked.
I tattoo in all styles from traditional, realism, watercolor, black work, and fineline, but mainly work in the neotraditional style. With different line weights, and bright bold color.

Starting in a very male driven industry, and navigating through advances in technology, and social media has been an interesting feat for sure, but I did it, and I’m still doing it, and always looking to learn more and get better every day.

What was your favorite childhood memory?
Ooh it’s hard to choose. I had a pretty easy childhood, but my favorite memories are always the ones with my family laughing.
At moms house it has to be the great skittle war in the dining room, which ended up staining the walls and we had to repaint.
At Dad’s house it has to be the slip and slide through the kitchen with dish soap and the kitchen sink sprayer. But always when we were all together giggling over something untill we’re out of breath.

Pricing:

• $150\hour
• $1000.00 day session
• $50 deposit

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @thubbink