Benny Gonzalez Orlando, FL

BENNY GONZALEZ

My name is Benny Gonzalez, I’ve been tattooing for about 17 years, and I specialize in realistic black and grey and comic book-style tattoos. I’m currently 36 years old and have been drawing since I was 3 years old (according to my mom). I’ve competed in countless tattoo competitions and have won over 50 awards in various categories.

Who/where do you get your inspiration

from? When it comes to inspiration, I don’t really have a main source. I’m inspired by many things, such as moments in life, music, philosophy, and other artists. Inspiration typically comes to me when I least expect it, so I try not to hunt for it; I just let it come to me.

What advice would you give to someone about getting his or her first tattoo? (A tattoo

virgin) Don’t overthink it; tattoos don’t always have to mean something; there’s nothing wrong with getting a tattoo simply because you like it. And if it does mean something to you at that point in your life, try not to look at it later with regret; people change, but at the end of the day, it’s your story, and that in itself means something whether other people understand it or not.

What would you say is your favorite part of

the job? My favorite part of the job is being able to do what I love daily and see my evolution as I go. I can be myself, dress how I want, talk how I want, and live my life on my terms. Plus, there’s nothing like running a needle across someone’s skin and producing beauty out of pain.

What was it that initially sparked your interest in tattooing?

I never wanted to be a tattoo artist; at the time, I didn’t think of it as an option. It sort of just fell on my lap when another tattoo artist saw my sketchbook and asked me if I would like to be his apprentice. I hesitated at first, but once I realized that I could not only make money doing it but that I was also pretty good at it, I made up my mind then and there that this was what I would do with the rest of my life. ✕

17 Years

Tattooing

Orlando, FL

Location

Independent Artist

Comic Book Style Realism

Specialty

@bennygon

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