Meet Magnus Watts | Tattoo Artist

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

Hi Magnus, any advice for those thinking about whether to keep going or to give up?
When I first started as a tattoo artist, I often faced the question of whether I should keep going or give up. Almost every night after tattooing I would ask myself this, especially in the very beginning. I knew that I was dissatisfied in my prior path of becoming a mechanical engineer, there was this feeling of grief over the absence of creativity in my life. Being in a creative career has pushed me out of my comfort zone in a way I never expected it to and forced me to confront my own perceived weaknesses. Oftentimes those are the moments that showed me I was in the right place. Being uncomfortable and afraid has made me grow in unexpected ways and challenged my art to improve. I have no doubt that as I continue with my career I will have more days of insecurity and fear, but I can recognize now that those feelings have a place in my journey just as much as the feelings of comfort and pride. When faced with the fear of not living up to your potential, or disappointing people who care about you, I’ve found a way to ask myself to trust in my abilities. Ultimately it’s up to everyone to decide what is right for them, but I hope that creatives will never give out of fear that they won’t succeed or live up to their potential. They journey is never easy but it is important.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
For most of my life I made art that I considered safe and easy. I was into painting and drawing realism for the most part, being able to copy a reference felt almost like second nature to me. When I started tattooing, I knew I wanted to be able to do illustration and illustrative based tattoos. I had to learn how to illustrate and tattoo at the same time. My style has grown and changed as I have developed as an artist in ways that I truly never thought I would accomplish. Throughout my life I have faced a lot of mental health challenges and that definitely was a struggle as I embarked on this path. This career has forced me to deal with crippling anxiety and depression in very daunting ways, but truly has changed me in every imaginable way. In my art I hope to portray darkness and natural power in a way that is very graceful, I seek to merge both feminine and masculine energy. A lot of inspiration for my work comes from the natural world, old religions, and the process of death.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would likely take a friend rock climbing at the climbing gym in Eastern Market, to the DIA, and also on a longer drive to Maybury State park to go hiking. For food, I always cook for myself and love to host guests for dinner. I am, for the most part, a home body and enjoy spending time quietly with myself, and would invite a guest to join me.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would love to shoutout my mentor and manager Caryl Cunningham. She has made me a better business owner, tattoo artist, and person overall. Without her recognizing my talent and ambition, I would not be where I am today. She had contributed so much to my path and had continued to help me learn and grow. I truly could not have asked for a better mentor.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/megawatts_tattoos/?hl=en