Johnny Jackson aka Inkaholik
It's been said that, "Only the strong survive", and with that said at least we know that Johnny Jackson from Texas Body Art will survive. I had the pleasure of meeting him and his girl a few months into December. We all sat down and had a little conversation via e-mail and this portion here is me and Johnny (Inkaholik) speaking. When your done reading this, press the "Back" button so you can go to the interview I did with his girl Mizuz Inkaholik. There I have a detailed examination of what I feel they are accomplishing, plus their take on Miami Ink, politics, and much much more.
Oh and did I mention that the tattoo artist you see is also a photographer...and damn good one too!
Since this interview was first posted, I actually flew down to Houston see what all the hype was about.................let me tell you ink fanatics, this guy is as good as he says and then some. He did a real nice piece on my forearm that took about 5-6 hours and watching him basically paint this amazing tattoo on me was a real honor. Having an artist like Johnny Jackson stab your arm is one of the best moves you can make, especially when the ink is permanent. Him and the Mizuz are great people and it was a great weekend, if you ever go through Texas for any reason hit them up.....the shop address and phone number is at the bottom of the page.
Alkatraz:
How long have you been tattooing?
Inkaholik:
Professionally, I've been tattooing here in Houston since 1992. My first tattoo experience was at 15. Most of my real growth occurred over the last 3 years. So in total, it's been about 14 years.
Alkatraz:
When did you know that you were going be a tattoo artist?
Inkaholik:
When I walked into my first studio in Houston my respect for tattooing as an art form grew tremendously and to see it professionally for the first time was amazing. The smell of soap and money,the constant buzzing of machines running around the shop. I knew this is what I would do until I die.
Alkatraz:
What are your feelings on shows like Miami Ink & Inked? Do you think they represent the tattoo culture correctly or are they commercialized in negitive ways?
Inkaholik:
I respect any acceptance of the art form in society. Period. There are many offers we have recieved to go that direction, but I choose to keep it real and not go overboard. Plus the fact that I respect what privacy I do have by "not" being on TV. Now the Mizuz on the other hand, she can be the star of the show I dont mind. I just want to keep pushing to create my art.
Alkatraz:
What's next for you as an artist?
Inkaholik:
Hopefully just a good steady growth of clientele. All I want to do is tattoo.
Alkatraz:
What types of tattoo's do you hate & love doing?
Inkaholik:
Its not hate but it is the fact that people dont put much effort into thier thought process of what to wear,or they dont allow the artist room to enhance the design ideas. I can say after doing tribal tats for over a decade it does get repetetive. I'd rather mainly do my custom work or color portrait tats. But I wont say I don't like tattooing all the time, it's just that there are so many things in this life to see and do and tattooing is one of them for me.Alkatraz:
Do you see certain types of tattoo's being done in patterns? Like one month several people come in for this or that, or is it always something different?
Inkaholik:
It's up and down on what is in but what a person is known for is what a person usually gets to do a lot of that style of work. I see TV promote the name memorial tats alot and we see alot of name tats coming in. I get to do a lot of my own designs in bold color....LOTS O FUN
Alkatraz:
How do you like owning your own shop? What's the most frustrating thing about the shop?
Inkaholik:
I love my studio and running it is a maturing expierience. I deal with many facets of people and run the studio as a regular business with walk in service available. I dont enjoy all the maintainence of keeping everything together.
Alkatraz:
I know some people have a theme in thier tattoo's that they want to stick with, do you have one? What types of tattoo's do you have?
Inkaholik:
I wear a lot of styles because I have alot of different artists work on me. When I like an artists style I will get one of thier tats on me. I usually get 3 to 6 hour sittings but I have plans soon for my entire back getting started by Nick Baxter
Alkatraz:
Are you critical of who does your tattoo's when you get them?
Inkaholik:
Yes definately. Except my 'reworked' left sleeve that I have devoted to Chris Blinston of Big Brain Florida "plug, ha!" I met Chris at a convention in Houston and I wanted some work by him but couldn't decide what, it was spur of the moment so he said man I don't care I'll do it. Ha! Now he regrets it because I told him he could have the entire arm and now he is wanting some clean fresh skin to get down with some of his magic.
Alkatraz:
What's the hardest place to tattoo someone?
Inkaholik:
Ditches, knuckles, bows, wrists, feet, hands.
Alkatraz:
Is it true that to practice tattooing you can do it on pig skin? How close is it to the real thing?
Inkaholik:
Yes cops get tattoos all the time. Just kiddin. I dont know I started out on skin. But I dont recomend pigskin I recomend paper for a few years as practice then get tattooed by someone whose style you like and get tatttooed by them a lot! Then when it comes time to practice there will be no question what you will practice on.
Alkatraz:
Can you tell us some of the strangest things you have been asked to tattoo?
Inkaholik:
Some of the late night stragglers are pretty strange but we deny tattoos to anyone in that frame of mind and uphold the integrity of the studio and the industry.
Alkatraz:
Have you ever talked a person out of getting a certain type of tattoo? If so why?
Inkaholik:
All the time if I know that it don't go well together or if it is a rash decision. I see people coming in after I have tattooed them 10 years ago and they are adding larger work around smaller pieces. So I say people should plan on thier future with tattoos not just a one night stand.
Alkatraz:
How do feel about Bush and all that has been going on with his presidency?
Inkaholik:
Not interested ...sorry WAR is bad.
Alkatraz:
The government has been planning to implement a system called Real I.D. and the want to have people carry these cards with microchips in them. It is scheduled for May 2008, as congress has already approved it. What will you do if they make it mandatory to carry that card?
Inkaholik:
I would do what they say. I carry a card around with me everywhere I go anyways.
Alkatraz:
Anything else you would like to say or promote?
Inkaholik:
I would like to thank you for the exposure and your desire to promote the beauty of my trade.
I Thank all the readers who support the tattoo industry and us as artists by wearing our artwork on them.
I Thank my lovely woman for giving me inspiration and keeps pushing me to further my skills.
I have enclosed my mini portfolio and you can view more of it at texasbodyart.com.
Check out my photography at mizuzinkaholik.com
Johnny Jackson's Texas Body Art
12537 Jones Road Houston Texas 77070
texasbodyart@sbcglobal.net 281-894-2282
Now that you read Inkaholik's interview......go read the Mizuz' interview.
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