Meet Jonny Ballesteros of Jonny Bubonik

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jonny Ballesteros.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Jonny. So, let’s start at the beginning, and we can move on from there.
I guess you can say I started out watching my older brothers paint graffiti when I was just a kid probably around the age of 5 or 6. I am the youngest of 5 boys, so I always admired what they were doing. They would take me for a drive the day after painting something on the street. I would flip through and study their black books any chance I’d get.

In elementary school is when I realized I had something special. I can remember kids lining up at my desk, so I could draw them something, their name, anything. I often neglected my school work and would get pulled aside for always drawing. That continued through middle and high school. My freshman year is when I really started to get into graffiti, but I also began taking a commercial art class where I received a lot of formal art training.

Learned to scale, grid, work with fonts, work with different mediums, blend and mix my own colors, I even learned how to airbrush. I was able to apply a lot of these methods to my own work, and it ultimately helped separate my graffiti from the rest. I took it from the tunnels and ditches we were used to painting, to painting friends rooms.

That landed me my first painting gig in 2010 at the tender age of 18. I’ve been painting private commissions for the most part since then. I’ve learned a lot and came a long way with the support of family and friends. Even to the point where I can now call myself a full-time Artist. I consider myself very blessed to be in this position.

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?
There has been plenty of trials and tribulations along the way. I believe anything worth having is not always going to be easy. Everything that goes along with working a “9 to 5”, adjusting to life without a “9 to 5”, miscommunications, heartbreak, battling your inner demons. It all shapes the direction and feeling in my art.

Please tell us about Jonny Bubonik.
I paint murals for everybody from small business owners to schools, community centers, community events and everyone in between. I specialize in adding a sense of realism to almost every painting depending on the main goal or projected audience.

What sets me apart and what I think I am best known for is my attention to detail. Even the projects that should be simple I tend to go a little overboard sometimes just to make sure everything is perfect.

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Growing up in a household with four older brothers and both my parents we sat down and ate as a family almost every night. Before cell phones and many other distractions we have in the world today, we had to sit down and talk to each other, night after night, as a family.

My close friends and family know just how important sitting down and sharing a meal is to me. You’re not only feeding your body but feeding your soul at the same time.

Contact Info:

• Email: whothehellisjonny@gmail.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/jonnybubonik

Getting in touch: VoyagePhoenix is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.