Meet John Leroux | Tattoo artist & illustrator

We had the good fortune of connecting with John Leroux and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi John, why did you pursue a creative career?
My artistic career started at a young age. Had a hard time going through school had a decent GPA but nothing great. Constantly not paying attention always drawing spent most of my time in highschool wanting to be a comic book illustrator. Went to My art teacher helped me alot. But the main thing was I was from a small town in the middle of nowhere. And I just always wanted something different. My Father hardworking man drove trucks of a living. I knew I was not Into that. He bought me. A drafting table for my sixteenth birthday. Kept doing it as I got older and graduated highschool. I went to art college set on doing art as a living. Spent those 3-4 years painting ,studying art history illustration and graphic design. at Northwest colleg of art. The day I graduated with bachelor’s degree in hand. The house. I was renting with a bunch of other graduates burnt down from an accident . Fire started from a cigarette but luckily I wasn’t there and no one was hurt but I lost everything my paintings my Portfolio. Even my back. Ups for digital all gone.so I had to start again I almost gave up. I think persistence and obsession are huge factors l. Had a shitty Job worked my art back up. Then I started pursuing other avenues. I didn’t let the dream die, I just changed its course. And I ended up getting an apprenticeship as a tattooer I could not see myself working a 9 to 5 where I hated my Job it just did not feel right.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I graduated art college and got my bachelor’s degree in fine art and illustration .shortly after that day. the house I was currently staying at with a bunch of other graduates burned to the ground freak accident,!! hot summer!! everything was really dry something sparked outside the old house and the whole thing went up in flames like kindling. . Ended up with nothing …. had to start over. It was rough…… that expierience brought me to my knees…. I ended up living in my car a few months basically homeless and broke a slept on friends couches while I lived in Seattle. I got a Job at the airport doing rental services I hated it. It was not easy. I worked swing shift barely slept. But I was determined to make the best of it and I was either going to make. Career doing what I love or die trying. I ended up building my art portfolio back up. And during this time MySpace was barely a thing took decent photos of my current artworks. life drawings illustrations etc. One of my colleagues and old friends suggested looking into tattooing as a career (just to remind some people. this is before “Miami ink” took off as a show or kat von d even existed). I ended up at a shop got an apprenticeship at a crusty biker shop in the middle of nowhere. the point of this story is that I had to start from nothing more than once and I still ended up where I was suppose to be. Sometimes obsession and a will power go a long wayi had bad days i thought i would never make it other days but i just kept going. And I learned that sometimes your career might take you to unexpected places you didn’t expect and you have to embrace the hard times, just as much as the good times.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I have only lived in arizona. A few years and still finding cool things to do and see. I live the trails and park here th red rocks the cactus. And the sunsets are breathtaking. “Curious nature” i love strangr and unusual things and antiques and vintage “brass armadillo” is another good antique place i frequent. As for bars and hangs I like the holes In the wall. The places where industry people go to drink and eat. Lingerlonger lounge, iggy pizza has a cool pinball bar in the back. And I frequently go to. Cock n’ Tails bar the atmosphere is cozy and the food is delicious and they are open fairly late because I work later than most I dont work a normal. 9 to 5. There is always plenty of things to see and do here defintly take a friend to chine bandits if they have no diet restrictions!!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have always been influenced by comics movies and art of all kinds. My parents are a big inspiration to me all there support has helped me get through some hard times . Art wise I would say Alphonse Mucha, Todd McFarland, Jon Foster, Frank Frazetta, I did not have alot of mentorship, I study alot on my own my co-workers and my best friend Eric schandelmeyer we help each other through our craft. give each other critiques. Shoutouts to My Life partner spectra she helps. me be my authentic self and pursue what makes me happy. My Boss Jason Anthony for showing consistent support and just being a good dude. And all the clients I have I owe them the most because without them. I would not be able to do what I love.

Website: www.GoldenRuletattoo.com

Instagram: Johnleroux