Today we’d like to introduce you to Bri Leflore.
Bri, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I didn’t always have an interest in art or making a career out of being an artist. I did have an interest for others’ art and started getting tattooed in high school. I was getting tattooed fairly often and became friends with my artist. I graduated and started college in Corpus Christi as a nursing student. I soon found it wasn’t for me, and decided to do something that allowed me to be more creative. I switched my major to graphic design.
This was the first time in my life that I picked up art as a hobby. With my major in graphic design, I had to take courses in drawing, painting, ceramics, design, etc. I felt ridiculous trying to create art next to my peers who had been doing it since they could pick up a pencil, but I enjoyed it SO much. I continued to major in graphic design but felt myself being pulled more towards studio art. I again changed my major and found myself loving my classes.
I was proud of my art and would post them online so that I could track my progress. With a year left in school, I decided to relocate back to Dallas, where I grew up, to finish my degree. Still having an appreciation for the art of tattooing, I contacted the artist I had been getting tattooed by in high school to see if I could work part-time as a receptionist.
To my surprise, he responded that he already had one, but loved my art from my college courses and would love to take me as his apprentice if I was interested. This means that I would work for free full time, and begin learning from him and the other artists in the shop in hopes of becoming a tattooist as well. As soon as I read that message, it was as if I had found what I was supposed to be doing with my life. I dropped out of school the next day and began my apprenticeship. It was difficult in the beginning, not making any money, and having to have side jobs to pay my bills.
After a few months, I was able to do my very first tattoo. The first few were offered to clients for free, and they were aware that I was just starting out. After a few tattoos, I was given the go ahead to start taking walk-ins and set appointments from social media, family, and friends. I was lucky enough to pick up clientele quickly, and quit my side jobs to focus fully on tattooing after about 3 months of tattooing. I was not perfect but did well enough to support myself.
Over the next 6 months, I found myself progressing as an artist, and picked up more clientele. I was then contacted by a shop in Dallas, who found me through Instagram and offered me an artist position. The most important thing to me about being a tattooer is always progressing and striving to get better. I felt that taking the position at the shop in Dallas would allow me to do this, so I did! I use my time at second shop to focus on my art and progress.
After about 9 months, I was presented with the opportunity to interview at Koneko Studio. This was my dream studio. I had been following their Instagram and owner, Linda Bishop since I started as an apprentice. I was blown away at the idea that I could possibly work there. It just felt like an environment my clients would enjoy, and somewhere I would truly love being at.
When I went in for my interview, it felt as if I walked into the studio I was always meant to work at. The interview went well, and I started working at Koneko two days later. I now feel that I am exactly where I am meant to be.
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?
Learning to tattoo is never a smooth road, in my opinion. It is just different for everyone that chooses it as a career path. I struggled in the beginning with money, as I was working for free, but still had bills to pay. It’s much easier now, but still not the most stable source of income, as every day is different, and we do rely solely on our clients showing up in order for us to get paid. I’ve also dealt with some struggles being a woman, as it is predominantly a male industry. Dealing with inappropriate comments, sexual harassment, and degrading terms are not uncommon.
In the beginning, I found this hard to wrap my head around. I was generally pretty shy and felt as if I didn’t have a way to stand up for myself without losing my chance to become the artist I strived to be. This also became an issue at the beginning with my clients, as I was just happy to be tattooing anything or anyone to get more experience. I found myself dealing with rude and inappropriate clients who I was told I just had to deal with. Luckily, I now am in a position where I feel that I have grown a tougher skin for myself, don’t accept treatment as I did before, and have wonderful, kind clients.
Please tell us about Koneko Studio.
I am an artist at Koneko Studio, specializing in tattoos, piercings, and tooth gems. Our studio is truly set apart from the rest. We are a cosmetic and modern tattoo studio, offering services such as permanent makeup and eyelash extensions.
Not only are our products and ink all vegan, chemical, and cruelty-free, but we only offer products and services that we feel comfortable using ourselves. Paving the way in the modern tattoo industry, we bring you a new kind of bold. Bold in how you feel when you wake up in the morning. Bold in how you choose to live your life. Bold in how you make decisions and take risks.
At Koneko, we are more than just a shop bringing you new beautiful bold cosmetic services, piercings, or tattoos; we are introducing you to a new way of life (the Koneko life). What is the Koneko life? It’s loving and accepting people for who they are or are striving to be. It’s being there for one another. It’s running against the wind when everyone else is running with it.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
As a child, I grew up in the world of competitive cheerleading. I was my life from age 3-18. A lot of my fond memories are times I spent competing and bonding with teammates.
Contact Info:
- Address: 3901 Main St Dallas TX 75226
- Website: konekostudio.com
- Phone: 2148270074
- Email: booking@konekostudio.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brianaleflore/?hl=en
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