Siobhon Tsczar Naidoo – a.k.a. Boo – is a junior Tattoo Artist / Piercer at the newly opened The Tattoo Gallery in Johannesburg. We get to know her in our interview below.
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Full name: Siobhon Tsczar Naidoo – a.k.a. Boo
Shop: The Tattoo Gallery
Years tattooing: 5 years
Tattoo style: Traditional with a quirky twist to each design
Hourly rate: I typically charge per design, but an hourly rate of R1000 is always good.
Give us a quick introduction to Siobhon and your passion for the Tattoo trade?
Boo is just a go to girl, Jack of all trades Master of none; better than a Master of one. Currently piercing is my speciality. The more nipples the better, hint hint.
How did you get into tattooing and ultimately become a full time artist?
My love for tattooing in general started at 15. I would spend my extra time in a reputable tattoo studio, which then needed consent (Thanks mom). I eventually had to concentrate on being a teenager and did what I needed to do, so I could focus on tattooing in the future.
In school we had a career choice project that we had to complete within the space of nine months and I was over the moon that I had the choice to choose any career out there, so why not go hard and choose tattooing.
How would you best explain the experience of being a Junior Artist at The Tattoo Gallery?
Being a junior artist at The Tattoo Gallery has really opened my eyes to the possibilities of artwork that can be put out in regards to the people that I work with; they really give me a different outlook on life and art and I think the team that I’m working with really encompasses the whole persona of The Tattoo Gallery.
You know we do tattoos and we do piercings but at the end of the day it’s a place where people can come through to a very relaxed environment to have a conversation about the artwork you’d like to get and being understood in what you’re expecting as a client. I appreciate the environment that I have to work in because it gives me the freedom to be as Boo as possible.
Give us some insight into the newly opened Tattoo Gallery shop?
Being in that environment gives you a different perspective of art as a whole. The clients you see are individuals from different walks of life; either coming in for their 1st tattoo or coming in for a back piece. You know there’s no in-between and I think when you get to know me as Boo, there is no in-between; it’s go hard or go home like I said.
The environment at The Tattoo Gallery is unmatched. The artists that I work alongside with are incredible individuals with amazing artistic skill. The fact that our clients get a cup of tea, coffee (I make the best coffee in shop) or a shot of Jägermeister to welcome them, really showcases the warmth and hospitality of each individual working in the studio. We’ll put your mind at ease with music of your choice and a great joke from at least one of our artists. I love a good dad joke.
What does a day in your life usually consist of?
A day in Boo’s life is filled with positivity, great cups of coffee, really bad dad jokes, artwork in many forms and an overall understanding of the people that spend my time with. If you’re happy, I’m happy.
What goals do you have for yourself and your career?
My goal for myself personally is to give people the art that they want and make sure that they leave happy with a great experience that they can go and share with everyone they know. A lot of people think that tattoos have to be meaningful in terms of what they represent but in my situation I think that the whole experience from start to finish is the most meaningful aspect of the tattoo. My goal is to progress as an individual artist of many trades.
You can’t be too concerned about your career if you’re not focused on yourself. Your number one priority has to be yourself. If any other variable affects you personally, I don’t think that you’ll be able to fully embrace the career opportunity that you have in front of you. So if you’re open and honest with yourself and what you want to get out of the experience; everything else will fall into place. It took me a while to figure that out.
Where do you draw your inspiration from?
My drawing inspiration comes from my surroundings, the environment that I’m in plays a huge role in my artistic expression. As well as being with like-minded artists. In the tattooing industry you grow every day, you learn a new skill every day, so just be mindful of the people that you surround yourself worth because at the end of the day; birds of a feather flock together. Keep cool people around you so that you can make some cool art.
What style of tattoos do you enjoy creating the most, and why?
Traditional/ neo-traditional – that’s my go-to style and I enjoy it because it’s bold. You can make them as personalised as possible or you can have them straight off a poster, just like a sticker. And, with that being said, I think once you have the basics of laying a solid line and packing that colour in, I’m pretty sure you’ll be able to manoeuvre into any other artistic style from there.
How do you like to make sure you keep progressing as an artist?
As an artist, you’re constantly learning. Keeping an open mind will never have you stagnant. Artist or not.
If you had the opportunity to tattoo any one famous person, who would it be and why?
If there’s one person that I really want to tattoo; it would be my manager JM (Jean-Michel), he’s very particular and if he trusts me to give him some fresh ink, I’ve got a one-up on my fellow artists. I mean I know he’s not famous, but if any of my previous clients gain fame in the future, I’ve already tattooed someone famous.
For anyone wanting to book and appointment with you, what’s the next step?
If you want to get a rad piece by yours truly, send a DM straight to The Tattoo Gallery on Instagram or Facebook, or you can give us a young call. If you hate making a phone call, you are more than welcome to just take a little walk into the studio; let’s have a cup of coffee. If coffee’s not your thing, we’ll have a shot of Jägermeister and we can have a nice conversation about the artwork you’d like to get done and we can make a booking for you in person.
The Tattoo Gallery
Contact: 011 794 3821
Address: Honey Crest Shopping Centre, Cnr Beyers Naudé Dr and Duiker Ave, Randpark Ridge, Johannesburg
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Photos by Alexander Wolf Photography.
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