Tattoo Artist of the Week Ryan Boltoon

A new addition to the array of awesome categories LW Mag covers is Tattoos. We will now be bringing you Tattoo Artist interviews every second week. This way you will be able to get more info on different artists, their shops, what style of tattooing they dominate in and the lifestyle of the tattoo world.

Introducing our first artist interview with the always smiling, Ryan ‘Busta’ Boltoon from The Golden Tiki Tattoo Parlour in Greenside, JHB. We chat to Ryan about his experiences in the tattoo world, how he got into it, what style he likes, what its like running his own shop and more. See what he had to say and check out some pics of his work:

Full name : Ryan Boltoon

Nickname: Busta

Age: 31

Shop: The Golden Tiki Tattoo Parlour

Years tattooing: 7 years

Tattooing style: Bright New School Colour

Tattoo Pricing: R850 per hour

How did you get into tattooing and did you do an apprenticeship before you got started?
I always wanted to be a cartoonist, and the more I got tattooed, the more I fell in love with the medium and history of tattooing. It took a good 4-5 years of begging and irritating people before I got an apprenticeship at a respected, legitimate shop. If you wanna get into something as serious and permanent as tattooing, you gotta start the right way. I mean u wouldn’t want your doctor cutting corners in his studies right?

Where does your inspiration come from?
Most of my inspiration comes from comic art, punk rock and skateboarding. I think being an artist, there is inspiration in everything from nature to experiences as well as music and travelling. I get really inspired when I work with other artists too.

What are the perks of being a tattoo artist?
Perks? Haha. What perks? Well to mention a few u have to deal with humans all the time, your back and hands get really fucked up, your social life and relationships go for a ball of shit and you are constantly being nagged for deals and favours.

You own Golden Tiki Tattoo Studio. What’s it like running your own shop?
Running shop is no walk in the park. I think people don’t realise that a tattoo studio is just like any other business. You have to work hard and be responsible.

How many artists do you have working at your shop?
I have 3 permanent artists, including myself, a junior artist and an apprentice. As well as a body piercer.

Why the name “Golden Tiki”?
My grandmother was from New Zealand so I have always been fascinated with tiki art and ‘island style’ mythology. Tikis are ‘gods’ which bring peace, love, good luck and prosperity. I think any business could do with a little help in those departments. Haha. But honestly, it just kinda popped in my head and stuck while thinking of names for my new shop.

What would you say differs your shop from others?
What makes our shop different is that it is all about the art. We are an art studio that uses tattooing as our medium. We have a calm, relaxed atmosphere with no egos or attitudes. All our work is totally custom and our health and safety standards are on the same levels at studios in America and Europe. We take our health and safety really seriously.

What type of tattoo style would you say you expertise in?
I am known mostly for my bright, bold, new-school colour work but I do most stuff from black and grey to portraiture. My favourite stuff to do is bright colour ‘’horror-toons’’.

Are there any type of tattoo style that you don’t like doing?
I really don’t enjoy doing tribal stuff. It gets really boring and monotonous. Also it holds very little room for imagination or the piece having a ‘story’ about it. However, it is always good to do a tribal piece every now and then to bring you back to the basics of tattooing and stay humble about your work.

What do you think is biggest misconception for tattoos and tattooing?
One big misconception about tattooing is that it is just a trend or a phase. It has been around for thousands of years and will be for many more to come. Another would be that tattooing is easy and that it is ‘cool’ to be a tattoo artist. Thanks to TV shows, the tradition of tattooing is losing its uniqueness. As a result, people today don’t go about learning how to tattoo by doing apprenticeships and in that, loose respect for the industry as a whole.

How has the tattoo world in South Africa changed since you have been an artist?
The industry has grown in leaps and bounds in the last 5 years alone. When I first started, you could not just open a shop, you could not get equipment so easily off the internet. I mean as an appy, I had to make the needles for the whole shop whereas today you can buy them premade. This is where the tradition of tattooing is taking a knock; things are almost too easy now. Also I think it is becoming more mainstream/ acceptable in modern society. Everybody has a tattoo nowadays, when before it was seriously looked down upon.

You travel all over the country and sometimes abroad to guest tattoo at different shops. Which shop has been your favourite to work out of and why?
I would have to say that when I started at Phoenix Tattoos in Haartebeespoort, we had an awesome thing going. It was just 3 punkers rocking out awesome work with good vibes and loads of fun, all in the middle of nowhere.

What the craziest thing you have experienced whilst tattooing a client?
Phew! Where do I start? Haha. I was once tattooing a really big dude on his arm, and he was sitting on one of those plastic garden chairs. During the tattoo, he looked at me with a really odd look on his face. I looked back at him and he started going lower and lower until suddenly the chair snapped. There was a huge noise that scared the crap out of everyone in the shop, as he fell, he went head first into the rubbish bin. It was hilarious. Haha. It still cracks me up every time I think about it.

What type of client would you say is the “difficult” kind?
Difficult clients are the ones who don’t believe in what you, as the artist, suggests or advises on the design. For instance when the artist says the tattoo is too small, the design needs work, or wont age well, take that advice because you are the one who is going to by walking around with a shitty tattoo for the rest of your life. We have to deal with this all the time, listen to your artist! You don’t tell your dentist how to pull your teeth? The best tattoo always comes out when the artist and the client can compromise and both be amped on the idea or design.

You are a bassist for a punk rock band “the Vendetta Cartel” – tell us about the band and how you got into that?
I have been in punk bands since I was 16 and have always loved ‘the Vendetta Cartel’. A couple years down the line I was given the opportunity to join the band and was super stoked. They have always been one of my favourite SA bands and the singer, Vinnie, and I have been really good friends for years. I am really honoured to be part of the band. We are currently taking a break from shows for a while to write new stuff and I have also started a psychobilly band called ‘the Spinebenders ‘there is a lot of work in the pipeline as far as the music goes and we should be ready to rock in the next few weeks again.

Follow The Golden Tiki on Facebook and Twitter and for any info contact them on 071 397 4536.