Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Megan Medina. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Megan, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?
I’m definitely glad I started tattooing when I did.. It was towards the end of that nitty-gritty era, before the TV shows and social media made it the mainstream craze it is today. Building a clientele was easier then, and the industry wasn’t as saturated. Now there’s shops and private studios on every corner. Literally!
I’m lucky to have the solid following that I do. My schedule stays consistent, even during the known “slow seasons”, and I’m really good at having sales or hosting events.
I just focus on doing great work, to the best of my evergrowing ability, while providing the best experience possible for my clients. As long as I stay humble and passionate, the money will follow.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My name is Megan Medina, known as Art by Megs on social media. I’ve been in the tattoo industry for 14 years now, starting at just 19 in Southeast Houston, TX. I worked in some rough shops early on, dealing with everything you can possibly think of from robberies, shootings, drugs, all types of harassment, and everything in between. The fast life consumed me back then, but I somehow still managed to create a credible name for myself. I’ve traveled all over the country doing guest spots and working conventions, winning several awards over the years.
Tattooing is my greatest love. It’s provided me with so many opportunities and beautiful connections. I’m obsessed with learning and hearing stories from all walks of life. But.. while tattooing is my greatest love, alcohol is my mistress. I’m extremely transparent about being in recovery. So one thing I want people to know about me is that I get it. I understand the darkness. No matter how talented or happy someone may seem, addiction is a fatal disease that takes out too many amazing souls. I’m grateful I got sober when I did, and that today I get use my craft and my platform to helps others.
My journey took me through in-patient treatment, followed by the hardest, most brutal inner work I’ve ever done on myself. And through all of that, I’m now equipped with the spiritual tools and communication skills to continously help myself, by helping others. It’s the part of me I’m absofuckinglutely most proud of!
All that being said! I’m currently the owner of Spiritual Lines Studios in 2nd Ward, Houston. It’s a private art studio and safe space for all! Focused and dedicated to an unforgettable, comfortable, and stress free tattoo experience. Tattoo therapy is a very real thing. I don’t specialize in any one style either, I do it all. Color, black and grey, realism, animation, graffiti, linework, everything. I’m constantly learning and practicing so that I can be as versatile as possible, I don’t ever want to limit myself in the types of people I get to work with.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
“Tell me your story.” That’s been my mantra since day one.
Tattooing has allowed me to meet thousands of great humans, on all kinds of different journeys. The connections I’ve made and the stories I’ve heard is why I do this! Don’t get me wrong, financial fear has sporadically crept up over the years, but I always reassure myself that as long as I’m focused on providing the best experience possible, and making sure my clients feel heard, the money naturally follows.
When I’m struggling or having some dark days, God always aligns me with the right client at the right time. Tattoo therapy is a real thing, and I’m instantly humbled when I hear the stories behind most pieces I do.
Basically,I’d say the most rewarding aspect of being an artist, for me, is definitely the connections. Getting to help and be helped. It’s freakin’ beautiful, man.
How did you build your audience on social media?
It’s hard to say how I started my social media presence. Like everyone else, I jumped on all the bandwagons as each one came out, but I didn’t pay attention to my followers back then as much as I do now. I’m not very tech savvy, so all my original promoting was shoes on the pavement! Leaving my cards everywhere, flyers, stickers, etc.
I have a locally iconic sticker of myself, including my Instagram tag, that I initially plastered all over my neighborhood. And then all over Houston, the country, and now all over the world. It started as a scavenger hunt for discounted tattoos. I went live on instagram saying there were 20 stickers in Central Houston with my face on them, and that if found, to take a picture with it, post it, and tag me for $50 off your next tattoo! It was an instant hit. They were all found, and even repeated. I gained a lot of followers just from random people finding them as well. They were in bar restrooms, light poles, street signs, dumpsters, everywhere.
Years later, that same image is a staple in my marketing and promoting techniques. Clients have taken stickers with them on vacations or random adventures, and send me the most scenic photos of them. They wear my stickers on their work helmets, drive with them on their vehicles, drink with them on their water bottles, play with them on ipads or phones.. my stickers have been placed on just about any surface you can place a sticker. Obviously I know stickers are huge in promo, or fun decor in general, but the gratitude I feel from seeing it will never get old.
Social media is saturated with content creators and influencers. That’s not my style at all, I’m all about raw footage and unfiltered photos of my work, but I do see the importance of staying consistent. It’s just the time we’re in, whether we like it or not. Social media works! My only advice to new artists is to be genuine and consistent. People are interested in our processes and seeing how things work. I’m huge on transparency and I make sure I’m actively posting on a weekly basis to stay in people’s time lines.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @artbymegs
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/artbymegs?mibextid=ZbWKwL