How a Devon-based tattoo artist turned his childhood dreams into a reality
Multi-award-winning tattoo artist and awesome Pro Team artist, -based Will Gee has a world of experience under his belt.
Tattooing since 2013, Will takes a look back on his career, discusses how the industry is evolving, and shares advice for aspiring artists.
“I knew I wanted to be a tattoo artist from the age of 13”
Owner of Monsters Art Emporium tattoo studio, Will Gee had spent his early teenage and adult years working towards his goals. Will said: “I knew what I wanted to do, so I spent my time chasing that.
“I spent countless hours practising and discovering my style. Over time, I’ve developed my style, incorporating realism and surrealism using watercolour. It’s important to work out who you are as an artist and what you want your art to say, which comes with a lot of self-discovery and hard work.
“I don’t find my inspiration in overly conventional places”
“For me, I find inspiration in places that aren’t actually related to tattooing. I often visit national trust sites and photograph flowers. I take a lot of inspiration from the colours I find in nature.
“Seeing people constantly striving to be better in their craft and pushing their boundaries is also a big driver of motivation for me, like the drummer Craig Reynolds or photographer Alexandria’s Lens and fine artist “Jono Dry.’ I love seeing people killing it in their field. Anything that sparks inspiration can be channeled into your work”
“The industry is full of amazing artists who truly specialise in their craft”
“In the nine years I’ve been an artist, the industry has hugely evolved. Tattooing has become more than just picking something from a wall, it’s transformed into a craft that’s drawing people from a variety of artistic backgrounds to add their perspective to it. Social media is also massively changing the way artists work, but tattooing has definitely become a highly appreciated art form and it’s great that artists are getting the recognition they deserve.”
“Focus inwards”
For aspiring artists, Will’s main piece of advice is to focus on their own individual journey.
“It’s so easy to get caught up with being popular on social media, but the only ‘like’ that matters is the clients that you are tattooing pieces on. Focus on your clients, push yourself forwards and the rest will come. Stop looking at what everyone else is doing and focus on what you want to do and where you want to go.
“Stay in touch with yourself”
“For me, the best parts about being a tattoo artist are the people I get to meet and the pieces I get to create. I’m extremely fortunate that I get to work with clients that trust me, allow me to create something truly bespoke for them and let me do my thing.
“I love what I do, but it can be easy to burn out as an artist. It’s so important to check in with how you’re feeling and make sure you set time aside to work on your well being and look after your needs. It’s an incredibly rewarding career so if you know what you want to achieve, just go for it!”
Follow Will Gee on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whoswillgee/