Artist James Barny Watts was born and raised in New Zealand. He came to the UK in the late 80s with his band Static, but after landing a record deal and touring as a drummer, things petered out. He found himself drawn back to his first love, art, and a chance encounter led him into the world of tattoos, his major source of inspiration. We caught up with him in his studio space (conveniently located behind Lal Hardy's famous London shop New Wave Tattoo) where he makes his amazing tattoo-themed carved paintings and engravings.
You're incredibly passionate about your art. Did you pursue any formal artistic training?
No, but I've always been an artist in one way or another. I'm from an artist background. My mum's an artist. She paints in oils. So I'm lucky – I've always been able to pick her brains. As a kid, I was always being taken to museums and art exhibitions by my parents. At the time, I was bored shitless, but obviously something must have stuck! When I first started on the UK arts scene in the late eighties I was making installation pieces. I used a lot of bioindustrial stuff. Then I started making fetish masks for parties and the clubbing scene, using circuit boards and stuff like that. It's always been really difficult for me to be taught by someone else; I have to just do it myself and make mistakes along the way, because that's the way I learn. When the band finished and I had to find something to do with my time I actually took a course in furniture restoration. I did a bit of that for a few years, then I got into full-time carpentry, laying flooring, etc.
How did you go from installation art and carpentry into the work you produce now?
Bu hikaye Total Tattoo dergisinin Issue 147 sayısından alınmıştır.
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Bu hikaye Total Tattoo dergisinin Issue 147 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Sasha O'kharin
‘Progress doesn't have a final destination.’
The Hand Exhibition
‘For me it was like Christmas, unwrapping all the artworks as they arrived...’
London Tattoo Convention
One of the biggest and most exceptional tattoo circuses on the planet takes over London's Tobacco Dock every September. This show has been going for so long, and operating at such a consistently high level, that it's easy to overlook just what it has achieved.
Burning Bright - The Prints Of Alex Binnie
One of many exciting things at this year's London Tattoo Convention was the launch of Burning Bright, a stunning new book of Alex Binnie's prints from American fine art publishers Raking Light Projects. We spoke with Andrew Fingerhut about his vision for the book and his collaboration with the legendary tattooist and prolific printmaker who founded iconic London studio Into You.
Affanita
Tala Easton, aka Affanita, works at The Rising Tide Tattoo Collective in Poole. Although she is not long into her tattoo career, she has already established herself as a talented artist with a unique style.
James Barny Watts
Artist James Barny Watts was born and raised in New Zealand. He came to the UK in the late 80s with his band Static, but after landing a record deal and touring as a drummer, things petered out. He found himself drawn back to his first love, art, and a chance encounter led him into the world of tattoos, his major source of inspiration. We caught up with him in his studio space (conveniently located behind Lal Hardy's famous London shop New Wave Tattoo) where he makes his amazing tattoo-themed carved paintings and engravings.
Jessica Kinzer
Jessica is an extraordinary new talent in the tattoo world. Although she's only been tattooing for two and a half years, she demonstrates a level of skill and professionalism that often takes far longer to develop. Winner of German tattoo magazine Tätowier's 'Best Newcomer' award, we think she has a great career ahead of her.
An American Road Trip
Tattooing from the East Coast to the West Coast with Rizza Boo and Taylor PART ONE
Karlee Jane
Like all of our cover models Karlee Jane is so much more than a pretty face. She has successfully combined her passions for photography, ballet, modelling and yoga to create a busy and fulfilling life that sees her jetting about all over the place. We managed to track her down to find out a little more about what makes this West Coast girl tick...
Cervena Fox
Cervena Fox has been setting the tattoo world alight for many years now. She is a well-known tattoo model, appearing on numerous magazine covers and boasting a seven-figure social medial following, and she is also a founder member of Pyrohex, the famous all-girl pyromania show that regularly performs at tattoo conventions (including our very own Big North Tattoo Show). Cervena is now a tattooist herself, and with her recent marriage to American tattoo legend Durb Morrison her stratospheric career shows no sign whatsoever of slowing down!
