Today we’d like to introduce you to Shelby Justice.
Hi Shelby, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My path into business ownership actually started long before tattooing. I began running my father’s business when I was young, learning operations and management from the ground up, long before I had a name for any of it.
Everything shifted when I met David. He already owned American Gypsy Tattoo, he’d originally started it in Marble Falls, Texas, before relocating the shop to Jonestown, where it’s been for 10 years now. Being around him, I realized I didn’t want a separate career of my own, I wanted to build something alongside him, an empire we could grow together. That’s when I decided to learn to tattoo. I’ve been part of American Gypsy for 6 of its 10 years in Jonestown, and I’ve grown into specializing in black and grey micro realism, color realism, geometric, and fine line designs. We’re now building a second, larger location as the next chapter of that story.
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?
Honestly, the most difficult part hasn’t been the building or the logistics, it’s been finding and keeping artists who fit our standard and share the same goal we have for American Gypsy: long-term stability and the ability to create art and build connections in a space that’s actually built for artists and clients, not just a shop that rents chairs.
Artists are artists for a reason, beautiful, talented, but often not built for structure or long-term commitment, and that’s okay. But we hold a high standard here, and finding people who are as invested in the vision as we are, who want to grow with us rather than just pass through, has been the real challenge.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I specialize in fine line, black and grey micro realism, geometric and sacred geometry designs, and I’m currently expanding into color realism. I’ve been drawn to geometric work since high school, so a lot of my style is rooted in precision, symmetry, and detail, I love blending that structured, sacred geometry foundation with the softness and depth of realism.
What I’m most proud of is American Gypsy Tattoo itself, building it into a custom, appointment-only studio that clients trust for genuinely personalized work, not walk-in flash. What sets me apart is that I don’t just tattoo, I run the business side too, from client experience to operations, so every piece I create comes out of a space that’s intentional from booking to aftercare. I care as much about the relationship and the trust with a client as I do about the linework itself.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
My biggest mentor has honestly been David. Learning directly beside him, watching how he built and ran American Gypsy long before I was part of it, taught me more than any class or program could. What’s worked for me is proximity: putting myself in the room, paying attention, and being willing to learn the unglamorous parts of the business, not just the creative side.
My advice for finding a mentor is to look for someone whose values align with where you want to go, not just someone with skill or success. Talent is everywhere, but you want someone who’s building the kind of life and business you actually want for yourself. And once you find that person, show up consistently, mentorship isn’t given, it’s earned through reliability and genuine investment.
Pricing:
- Single-session tattoos priced by the square inch, starting at $125 minimum
- Larger custom pieces requiring multiple sessions billed at $200/hour, plus a $100–$200 design fee per session
- Half Day Rate – $800 (up to 4 hours, includes design/setup/breakdown, $200 deposit)
- Full Day Rate – $1,400 (up to 5 hours of needle time over 8 hours, includes design/setup/breakdown)
- Deposits are required for all appointments and are applied toward your final session cost
Contact Info:
- Website: https://americangypsytattoo.com/artists/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shelbyjust_tattoos
- Other: https://form.jotform.com/262155505165151
