Today we’d like to introduce you to Bonnie Ramone.
Hi Bonnie, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started my apprenticeship to tattoo in 2010, and started touring as a musician in 2009–both when I was still a teenager. I grew up on a farm in a very small town on the border of the West Virginian Panhandle, and I think I knew I always wanted to do things a little differently than other folks around me. I’ve had an extremely long journey with both careers through some of the scummiest places you could ever find yourself, especially as a woman… let alone a queer woman. I like to think that I picked up some character and learned from mistakes along the way. In 2019, I started my current music project, Bonnie & the Mere Mortals, and we’ve been touring and releasing our own brand of Southern Gothic music ever since. In 2022, I had the pleasure of meeting and getting to work with Kristin Hawk, and we, along with my former apprentice Worms, saw each other through some pretty rough times at rough tattoo shops. We co-worked in a couple of horrible places and realized that together, we could build something greater: enter the Kindred Spirit. Kristin and I decided to go into business together to build a tattoo shop where artists and clients were honored, and where people would feel comfortable spending time in. That was almost 4 years ago, and now we have a full team of 7 incredible artists who lift each other up and make each other better. We are able to be an active part of our local Garfield community, our local queer community, and the Pittsburgh community at large.
Alright, 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?
No one can tell you how hard it is to run a business. Truly it’s just something you have to experience for yourself. I think Kristin and I are both in a place now where we trust ourselves, trust each other, and trust our team, but it took plenty of heartache to get there.
Being a woman and being queer in tattooing has become more accepted along the way (we’re still nowhere near where we should be), but coming up in this industry was nothing short of a gauntlet–especially in the early 2010’s. I started tattooing at 18, and trying to hold your own in a scummy shop as a teenager alongside misogynistic ex-cons was not an easy trial by fire.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Tattooing is a collaborative process. I grew up doing drawings and paintings like everyone else, but the page doesn’t talk to you when you’re drawing (or at least I hope not!) I love that I get to bring someone else’s dream to life on their body. I love collaborating on an idea and making it come to life. I love that I get to make people feel good in their bodies and love themselves a fraction more. My style is distinctive, and I think I’m known best for doing neo-traditional/illustrative work and photo-realistic portraits, but I’m really happy doing almost any style. That’s the thing about working in a street shop for years–you learn a bit of everything. I’m happiest doing a colorful illustrative backpiece or sleeve that has a lot of foliage and faces and detail and tells a story, but honestly, I’m happy every time I can bring a client joy.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Book an appointment!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thekindredspirittattooco.com
- Instagram: @thekindredspirittattooco
