Today we’d like to introduce you to Morgan Reynolds
Hi Morgan, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Everyone always tells you to “go with the flow” but I think I decided to fight the flow a long time ago. I don’t really believe there’s a path set for you. I think life can go a million ways, there’s a million experiences to have, and every decision you make builds to where you are now. I remember at one point I decided that when anything involved my career positively, I would say yes, no matter how anxious that made me. I think that decision led a lot to where I am now. Sometimes I’m even anxious about the amount of responsibilities I have and I have to remember to be grateful, and know I asked for this.
I started tattooing when I was 18, and began traveling when I was 21. I remember my first guest spot was a five hour drive from home. I stayed with other family up north and worked with a room full of strangers for a week. By the time I left, those strangers were friends. Do this on repeat for 12 years, well, you have a lot of friends all over the world. Anytime anyone asked me to come work, I said yes! I still do. It’s how I’ve built clientele and friendships all over the place.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely wasn’t easy to get started. I was an 18 year old girl, surrounded by middle aged men. A lot of them don’t think you have what it takes to be in this world. I had artists at other shops spreading rumors about me, ones an 18 year old shouldn’t have to deal with. A few people tried to get me fired for not agreeing with their ways. At the time it was so much to deal with, and I can’t say I’m happy with the way things happened, but I do understand it built me to the person I am now- someone who knows how to handle these types of people, and appreciate the good ones.
I deal with bipolar disorder, and general depression. At the time it was unmedicated and rampant, and existing in itself was difficult. In the middle of this, we picked up and moved to California, and that’s where I really credit my career taking off. It started slow, a one bedroom apartment, ramen noodles and painting. I spent time in shops, dealing with my mental health, dealing with finding my proper place in both worlds. One day, I went to a paint party at another shop and I met a friend. She shared with me how she thought tattooing should be, how it could be. No drama, friends just helping each other spread community. I never understood why tattooers felt like they owned people or their clients, why tattooers fought so much and called it “stepping on toes.” She brought me in to work in her private studio, gave me an environment to learn, and the rental ability that would actually help me save money. Later we moved into a larger space, and this gave me the ability to apprentice my husband for the next two years.
Eventually my friend left California, as it’s a hub where most of us come to learn and then again leave. That’s when I decided I didn’t want to work for another street shop anymore, I wanted to create the environment I had dreamed of. My husband and I saved up as much as we could, bought the shop equipment from her, transferred the lease, and opened Black Garden.
He was working as an executive chef at the time. He had no formal culinary trading, only experience. Both of us had wanted to go to college but came from families that couldn’t afford it. I wanted to go for business but was denied. So my business experience is a collective of all the good business owners I’ve ever met. Living in California was pretty much a goldmine of entrepreneurs who’d let you pick their brain.
After all of the growth and connections we made there, we jumped off the deep end recently and relocated to Vermont. I’m grateful to everyone who’s welcomed us here in this community and still get to travel back to all the big cities to work. My brain is loud all the time and living too rural can make me manic, but luckily I have work all over the world now and can visit friends when my heart starts to hurt.
For anyone new in tattooing, don’t settle for less. You can absolutely do these things too. I’ve learned the worst thing someone can tell you is “no,” and what’s so scary about that? If you’re feeling alone, stagnant, or like you need to learn something new. just ask! Go somewhere new. Everything is terrifying the first time but you learn how to handle it for each time after. You’re not going to profit from every travel experience, but you do gain experience and clientele, and that stabilizes you for the next time.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I don’t really know what you call my style these days, although I try to aim for “vintage grandma” vibes.
Honestly, I’m happy to offer a more feminine side of tattooing. I think it was always a bit oriented towards “tough” things, or American styles. A tattoo can still be built for longevity and be softer, more gentle and feminine.
I’m most known for full color botanicals at this point! I only do full color. I definitely still have an interest in the bold, especially Japanese traditional, but I never have a bad day tattooing a floral. My style sits somewhere between illustrative and realism, but I wouldn’t say it’s either of those things. I stopped trying to make my art look like someone else’s a long time ago. It is what it is, it’s what I make. I’m happy with it and I hope you are too!
I think our shop stands out because it’s just welcoming. We have snacks, drinks, tables for your things, chairs for your friends. Don’t get me wrong, I love heavy music, but I play relaxing things in the shop, like ghibli movies or wholesome TV shows. Most people say it’s like a spa and they could take a nap, if they weren’t getting poked with needles!
How do you think about luck?
This is wild but I don’t really think I believe in luck. That or I’m just not a lucky person. I try to share everything I have with everyone around me, but I don’t feel like I came into anything by luck. I think it’s just a whole lifetime of making decisions and not going with the flow. Do you have to believe in destiny or whatever to believe in luck?
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.blackgardenvt.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morganchenoa/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Black-Garden-Tattoo-100067439269682/
Image Credits
Ink Bottles Photo : Northeastern Photography
