FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (AP) — Eight months in the past, Colorado native Donte Corridor began following the TikTok account of Fayetteville tattoo artist Jonathan Dump. Corridor was so captivated by Dump’s ability, he determined he wished to get tattooed by him, even when that meant flying to Fayetteville.
Corridor bought a tattoo of two scenes from the anime “Black Clover” on his bicep. He stated final week that he plans to return again in July for extra art work.
Dump, 27, isn’t a stranger to folks coming from totally different elements of the nation to be tattooed by him.
“I get a pair from California now and again, folks from New York,” he stated final week. “The day after (Donte) bought tattooed, a lady drove like nearly 11 hours from the opposite facet of Tennessee.”
Regardless that his TikTok has greater than 600,000 followers, Dump stated, folks have traveled earlier than to get work finished by him after seeing his artwork on his Instagram account, which has greater than 80,000 followers.
Dump created his TikTok account, artofjondump, across the begin of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We bought shut down and all the pieces, have been quarantined and figured this was a greater method to present my model, get on the market extra, and I began producing content material,” he stated. “I believe my first week on TikTok, I grew it as much as like 6,000 followers or one thing like that.”
A few of his portrait tattoos have gained social media consideration from hip-hop artists resembling Lil Nas X and Megan Thee Stallion.
Dump stated he likes to be well-rounded, however with regards to specializing in one thing, he would say portraits and coloration work. His portraits are placing for his or her vivid element and powerful traces.
Dump, a Fayetteville native and Douglas Byrd Excessive College graduate, stated he’s at all times been creative.
“Whilst a child, I might at all times doodle on my notes, doodle on assessments and stuff like that,” he stated. “I used to be most likely 14 or 15 after I began being fascinated with tattoos.
“Once I introduced it as much as my mother that I wished to be a tattoo artist and she or he was actually in opposition to it. So, the rebellious a part of me was like, I’m going to do it, and I simply gained a love for it.”
Dump has been at Better of Ink Fayetteville on Skibo Highway since October 2019. Earlier than that he labored at New Habit on Raeford Highway.
As demand for Dump grows, his books are closed till June.
“If I don’t shut my books, I’ll most likely be booked out one to 2 years,” he stated. “I do know after I opened my books final time, I had a line (of shoppers) going from the entrance of the store wrapped across the sidewalk out to the highway.”
Along with his art work, Dump additionally posts on his TikTok account about positivity.
“I’m a agency believer of what goes round, comes round,” he stated. “I fear about myself, I follow what I consider in, I strive not unfold negativity. I hope that everyone else follows swimsuit.”
