Today we’d like to introduce you to Justin Buduo.
Justin, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
The way I started out in the tattoo industry began back when tattooing was still illegal in Massachusetts. I believe it was 1999. I was 2 years graduated from Bay Path Voc Tech, cleaning carpets and working for a company doing concrete flat work.
During my workday, we would have a good amount of downtime, so to pass the hours I would design. (I’ve been drawing since as far back as I can remember). My brother, who worked with me, convinced me that I should get into the tattoo industry. I looked into the cost to get started, and even though I was saving for college, with the help of my Mom, I put my savings into some tattoo equipment. My Mom said that she would cover my first semester of college.
What started out as a hobby became something so much more. After a few years of tattooing underground, (don’t forget, it was illegal), I opened up my own concrete company and put my focus into that business. Tattooing fell by the wayside for a while.
Then one day, while I was contemplating selling my tattoo equipment. A good friend of mine, by the name of Hoek, heard that I was looking to get out of the art scene completely and came to my house and literally told me that he would kick my ass if I sold my equipment. I figured I would hold onto the equipment for a bit and see where life takes me.
After Massachusetts legalized tattooing, I got myself into a small, one-man shop, called “Shoe’s Tattoos.” I became really good friends with the owner, Shoe, and worked there part-time while still focusing on my concrete company. Eventually, I decided to go full time with the tattooing and say, “See Ya,” to the backbreaking life of construction. I gave my company to my brother and focused all my time and effort into body adornment.
While working for Shoe, I studied several different styles of art. I didn’t want to just focus on tattooing, I wanted to expand my knowledge of art, I started doing color pencil studies, Oil and Acrylic painting, charcoal, airbrushing and pin-striping. All of this led me to where I’m at today, with my current tattooing focus. It took many years to get where I’m at and I’m still looking to progress my art further.
Press forward to 3 years ago, I finally took the leap to open up my own studio. I am now the owner of Studio 31 Tattoos and Fine art, located at 436 Park Ave in Beautiful Worcester. I run the tattoo parlor with the help of my girlfriend, Sarah. She makes sure everything in the studio runs smoothly and she also does permanent cosmetics and microblading. I also named my children as assistant managers of the company (they are currently 7 and 9).
Along with Sarah and myself, I have two other artists that work with us, full time. Jason Banks who worked many years in the Providence, RI area, and my good friend Shoe, who we know from earlier in this story. I also have an apprentice, Marianna Lombardi, who has been studying under me for the past year and a half. Together we make a great family and an even better work environment for each other. Everyone feeds and learns from the other. I couldn’t ask for a better place to work.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Getting where I’m at today in the industry didn’t come without stress, struggles, and sacrifices. There were nights where I didn’t know if I’d be able to eat. I always kept a box of Saltine crackers in my cabinet for the nights that I ran out of, or couldn’t afford food. There was even a point in time where I was living out of my truck.
So it hasn’t been all glamour and glitz like a lot of people feel this industry is. If you want to make it, you have to work for it. I spent several years below the poverty level just to push my art. There’s a reason why the term “Starving Artist” exists. I never allowed myself to be satisfied with my situation and I always pushed harder and harder. Only a fool is satisfied and I’m not that fool.
Please tell us about Studio 31 Tattoos and Fine Art.
Studio 31 Tattoos is going on its 3 years of business and we’re doing well. Every artist at the studio specializes in a different style of tattooing. I spend my time focusing on color-photo realistic tattoos with a painterly touch. Our artist Shoe, with his background in drawing comics, for magazines and different ad companies, aims at bringing his illustrative technique to the skin. Jason blends his love of comics and color into every piece that he executes.
Marianna is working on bringing her own personal art techniques to the table, and she is progressing nicely. I feel this variety of art and tattoos is what sets our shop apart form other studio’s in the area. We have a broad spectrum of art background, so we can pretty much accommodate any particular piece that any person is looking to have done.
We have quite the dynamic at Studio 31. We don’t look at each other as co-workers. We are friends and family in this tattoo parlor. I love that we all look out for each other and truly care about one another. You don’t find that in many shops. A lot of times, there’s an owner or artist that is just out for the money and their own welfare, without care or thought for the other artists in the shop, but not in our studio.
Another great thing about our shop is the charity work that everyone does. We don’t just donate our work time to different benefits, but some of us also help run charities.
Everyone here has a heart bigger than the chest that it beats in. Everything works so well because not one person looks at tattooing as a job or a career. We all look at it as a lifestyle. It is who we are. It’s what we do. It’s what we love! To say that I’m proud of everyone here is a complete understatement.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My most memorable moment as a child, for me, isn’t necessarily my favorite, but it was what started me down this path that I’m on. When I was in kindergarten, I went on a field trip to a local science museum. While there, the teachers sat us down at a large, cafeteria-type table, and asked us all to draw our favorite animal. It didn’t have to be an animal we saw, it just had to be an animal. I decided to sketch a male lion.
When it came time for the teacher to look at my concept, I covered it up. I hid it in shame because I was not at all happy about the outcome. I actually told her that my drawing “Sucked!” Of course, back then, that word was highly inappropriate. It was comparable to swearing at my teacher. She then scolded me for using profanity and then asked to see the drawing. When she saw what I had constructed she was amazed. She instantly asked if I had traced my drawing from a magazine. That made me feel a bit conflicted.
I partly liked that she thought it was well done, but I also saw that she thought I couldn’t have possibly produced that lion. Later back at school, she gave me a note to bring home to my parents. The note was to let them know what sort of language I was using at school. When I got home, I gave them the note and was physically reprimanded by my father. After the “spanking” they asked to see the drawing. I showed them, and my mom absolutely loved it. She never questioned whether I did it or not, she just loved it. My father, however, instantly asked me who drew the lion.
I told him that it was me. He didn’t believe me. After a few backs and forth’s of the same question and answer he refused to accept the fact that I did the drawing, and I was then beat for lying. I tell people this story when they ask me, “How did you get into drawing?” I always tell them, not to feel bad about the beating. I was used to it from my father.
Rather I show them that if it wasn’t for that, I may not have pushed myself (and continue to push myself) as hard as I do. I always feel that every piece I do can be better, and I strive for that. I have an insatiable love to better, not just my art, but everything I do in life. I want to be the best father for my kids, the best Man that my girlfriend could ask for, the best business owner and just the best person that I can be.
One last thing about this memory: There’s a bit of laughter to be had. I always looked at the funny coincidence of being beat for, allegedly “lying” about drawing a “lion.” See, it’s a humorous memory.
Contact Info:
- Address: 436 Park Ave. Worcester, MA 01601
- Website: TattooStudio31.com
- Phone: 7744207171
- Email: JustinBuduoTattoos@Gmail.com
- Instagram: @studio31tattoosLLC
- Facebook: facebook.com/Studo31Tattoos
Image Credit:
Jason Banks, and Shoe (Steve Schoenfeldt), and my girlfriend, Sarah Doiron
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