Meet Boneface: Anwon Johnson on Building a Shop and Training Artists

Anwon “Boneface” Johnson is one of the most recognizable names in tattooing today, known for bold, cinematic realism work and an equally bold personality. He rose to national fame on Seasons 8 and 9 of Ink Master, but long before reality TV, he had already spent over two decades building a reputation for tattoos with real emotional depth and visual intensity. 

A mentor-led tattoo apprenticeship is a structured, hands-on training path where you learn the craft, safety, and business of tattooing directly from experienced professionals in a working Tattoo Studio. 

At Ink Different Tattoos, we have spent 15 years turning that kind of mentorship into working Tattoo Artists, and Boneface is one of the Mentors who makes it possible.

Who is Boneface (Anwon Johnson)?

Boneface, whose given name is Anwon Johnson, is a Tattoo Artist and shop owner based in Pensacola, Florida, where he owns and operates Boneface Ink Tattoos. He got his start in the late 1990s and has spent over two decades since then sharpening a signature style built on dark themes and black-and-gray realism with a cultural edge.

Boneface did not stumble into success. He built it the way a gardener grows an orchard: one planted seed, one season of patient work at a time. He rose to national recognition on Seasons 8 and 9 of Ink Master, where his artistry and unique point of view caught the attention of both judges and audiences, but the reputation was already there long before the cameras showed up.

That arc matters to you because it proves the path is repeatable. You do not need to be born with talent handed to you on a silver platter. You need a craft, a Mentor, and the willingness to show up. Boneface is living proof.

What does it take to build a real Tattoo Shop?

Building a real Tattoo Shop takes technical mastery, a clear brand, disciplined hygiene practices, and a team of artists who share the same standard of excellence. A shop is not just walls and Tattoo Machines. It is a culture, and Boneface Ink Tattoos in Pensacola reflects exactly that kind of fearless creative identity.

Ask any respected owner and they will tell you the foundation is safety. Following bloodborne pathogen standards is not optional; it is the baseline that separates professionals from amateurs. Clients trust you with their skin, and that trust is sacred.

The second pillar is reputation, and reputation is built one clean, well-healed tattoo at a time, whether that’s a portrait, a mythological scene, or a piece rooted in pop culture and identity, the kind of range Boneface is known for.

Pro Tip: A shop’s brand lives online long before a client walks through the door. Study these platforms to help tattoo artists build their brand before you ever open your own space.

Why does training the next generation matter to Boneface?

Training the next generation matters because the craft only survives when experienced artists pass their knowledge down, and because good Mentors multiply their impact through the people they teach. Boneface understands this deeply. He mentors artists not just on technical skills, but on how to stand on their own, develop their voice, and build a life on their own terms.

Every artist who trains an apprentice plants seeds in a forest they may never fully see grow. That is the beauty of mentorship. When Boneface teaches, he is not just shaping one career; he is protecting the standard and the culture of an entire industry, something he speaks about often: honoring the art, knowing your worth, and never letting the industry define your value.

This is also where the human element becomes unbeatable. Tattooing is a craft rooted in trust, connection, and lived skill. No machine can replace the relationship between a skilled hand and a human client. That is why this is an AI-proof career worth committing to.

How does mentorship with a Mentor like Boneface actually work?

Mentorship with a Mentor like Boneface works through live, in-person guidance where you build skills progressively, receive real-time feedback, and learn the business alongside the craft. It is the opposite of watching a video and hoping for the best.

Boneface’s approach is known for being brutally honest and empowering, pushing apprentices to confront their limitations and redefine their strengths. Real mentorship is hands-on. You draw, you practice, you make mistakes, and a Mentor corrects you before those mistakes become habits. That immediate feedback loop is the fastest way to grow, and it is exactly what you cannot get from a screen.

It is also relational. A great Mentor invests in you as a person, not just as a set of skills. That family-like connection is the heartbeat of a strong Tattoo Studio, and it is something we protect fiercely inside our own community.

How can you start learning from artists like Boneface?

You can start learning from elite artists by following a clear, structured path: research the craft, avoid common beginner mistakes, choose a mentor-led program, and commit to the full training journey. Here is how to begin.

1. Step 1: Study the craft honestly. Learn what tattooing actually requires. Get familiar with the tools every beginner tattoo artist should know so you walk in informed.
2. Step 2: Avoid the traps. Read up on the mistakes aspiring tattoo apprentices should avoid so you do not waste months learning them the hard way.
3. Step 3: Choose mentor-led training. Pick a program built around live, in-person mentorship with proven professionals, not a shortcut that leaves you unprepared.
4. Step 4: Commit fully. Show up, do the reps, and treat this like the career change it is. Consistency beats raw talent every single time.
5. Step 5: Build toward licensing. Follow a path that includes licensing support so you can work professionally once you finish.

The moment you stop researching and start acting is the moment your new life begins. Seats in serious mentor-led programs are limited by nature, because real mentorship cannot be mass-produced. Do not let another season pass you by.

Where does Ink Different fit into your journey?

Ink Different Tattoos offers its nationwide Tattoo Apprenticeship Program that serves as a college alternative, training aspiring Tattoo Artists through live mentorship with award-winning professionals. We are the wise guide; you are the hero.

Founded in 2011, we have spent 15 years proving that structured, mentor-led Tattoo Artist Training turns beginners into working professionals. If you are weighing your options, our breakdown of tattoo apprenticeships as a college alternative shows why so many people skip the debt and choose the craft instead.

What you can expect from our Traditional Tattoo Apprenticeship

Our Traditional Tattoo Apprenticeship runs 18 to 24 months through a proven 4-Phase structure. You start remote to build your foundations, then finish in our studios with hands-on, in-person training. No prior art experience is required, because we teach you from the ground up.

• Personalized: Hands-on training tailored to your growth as a tattoo artist.
• Flexible start: Start remote, finish in our Tattoo Studios.
• Beginner-friendly: Built for people with zero formal art background.
• Career-ready: Licensing support and job-ready skills upon completion.

A career that comes with confidence

We build job-ready skills and provide licensing support so you can step into the industry knowing you belong. Licensing rules vary by state, so if you are curious about the process, explore guides like how to get your tattoo license in Texas or how long a tattoo license takes in Colorado. And because tattooing is a human craft, it remains an AI-proof career, a point echoed by the outlook for craft and fine artists from the Bureau of Labor Statistics on craft and fine artists.

What is the Master Mentorship program?

Master Mentorship is a one-year, in-person program where you train directly with celebrity and award-winning Mentors to master a specific style, explode your career, or launch your own business. It is intensive skill development at the highest level.

This is where names like Boneface, Al Fliction, Liz Cook, Kyle Dunbar, and Jordi Pla come in. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced artist ready to level up, Master Mentorship pushes your brand and your skills further than you thought possible. It is the difference between good and unforgettable.

How does Ink Different make training accessible?

Ink Different makes training accessible by offering Spanish-speaking locations so more aspiring artists can learn the craft in the language they think and create in. Talent should never be blocked by a language barrier.

Our Spanish-speaking Tattoo Apprenticeship options are available in Denver, Orange County, NYC, Miami, San Antonio, and San Diego. If you are searching for mentor-led tattoo training near you, chances are we have a community ready to welcome you.

Note: Timing matters more than you think. See why spring is the best time to become a tattoo artist and consider a career change tattoo apprenticeship before another year slips away.

Ready to become a Tattoo Artist?

Boneface built a shop in Pensacola and shaped careers because he committed to the craft and to the people learning it, for over two decades. That same path is open to you right now. The only thing standing between you and a fulfilling, AI-proof career is the decision to begin.

You have spent enough time watching your creative potential go to waste. Plant the seed today, and let our Mentors help it grow. Our “Good Humans” culture means you will never walk this journey alone.

Ready to become a Tattoo Artist? Apply now to Ink Different’s Traditional Tattoo Apprenticeship and start building an AI-proof career with licensing support along the way. Prefer to explore first? Fill out our quick questionnaire to get personalized support and find out if our Tattoo Apprenticeship Program is right for you.