Today we’d like to introduce you to Morgan Reynolds.
Morgan, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I’ve been an artist for as long as I can remember. Honestly, I couldn’t even tell you what made me start! There’s this feeling of accomplishment and belonging that I never seemed to find in anything else. My family has a lot of tattoos, so even from a young age, I was waiting in tattoo parlors, looking at art and watching the artists. It was never taboo in my world. Once I set my mind on tattooing, it seemed like the only option for me. I apprenticed twice back in my hometown, Joplin, MO. A couple of years into tattooing, I had a lot of unresolved trauma and loss that caused a slip in my mental health. It was tough to bring myself to paint or even to bring myself to work. I didn’t feel like myself. There’s no way I can explain how that felt, like I was disappointing everyone around me.
I started questioning my place in tattooing. I didn’t feel like I could keep going, but nothing else felt right to me. I started doing guest spots and met tattooers who were just like me. People who loved tattooing but also understood how hard balancing anxiety was. (A huge thank you to my friends at Eternal, working with you changed my mindset) After that, I felt like there was still room for me in this industry like I always had something to offer. Aside from friends and family, I didn’t feel like there was much left for me in Joplin. I wanted to grow and compete with more artists, to find more people like myself. So we packed everything up and moved here! I’d never even been west before. I met and surrounded myself with people who understood me, regained my sense of self, and I turned tattooing into the best experience I could give. Everyone I’ve met, worked with, and had the pleasure of tattooing has helped me get to where I am now. It does get better, keep going!
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I have a more feminine style, somewhere between neotraditional and realistic. Although I also enjoy Japanese and ornamental tattooing!
I try to create an anxiety-free environment where people feel comfortable talking to me about their ideas and in general. I wanted to give a more personable experience. There’s no overall message for my tattoos, and I want people to leave feeling better about themselves.
How do you think about success, as an artist, and what do quality do you feel is most helpful?
I think success as an artist means that you have something to offer people. If people like your art, then you’ve successfully communicated to them through it. This question is hard though because success can be measured in different ways. For me, success is when we talk about ideas, and the client trusts my art, usually the pieces that come from having artistic freedom are my favorite! I think being personable is essential to creativity. You need the drive to create but also the ability to be personable so you can be on the same page with your client, and create a better piece of art.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
You can see my work on Instagram or the Lions Den website! I appreciate any support, whether you’re getting tattooed, following, or just giving an encouraging comment!
Contact Info:
- Address: 7628 Broadway
Lemon Grove - Phone: 6193371100 – Lions Den Tattoo
- Email: mreynoldstattoo@gmail.com
- Instagram: @morganchenoa
Image Credit:
Personal photo taken by Caleb Rabadan
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