We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ryan Dawson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Ryan, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’ve love to hear an interesting investment story – what was one of the best or worst investments you’ve made? (Note, these responses are only intended as entertainment and shouldn’t be construed as investment advice)

The best investment, without a doubt, is the investment in oneself. For myself it’s requires discipline, sacrifice, and patience. Learning anything new, including tattooing, can be challenging, involving learning art in a new medium, equipment, techniques, cleanliness, and everything else that comes with it. The term ‘starving artist’ couldn’t be more true.

For me personally, repetition and consistency were the keys to success and growth. The journey from learning tattooing to making my first dollar in a professional setting was quite challenging, involving trial and error. With sacrifices, challenges, and consistency, I started seeing a constant growth in my skills, knowledge, and ability.

As I grew, I took every opportunity to reinvest in myself, purchasing higher quality machines, new equipment, and more. One significant lesson I learned throughout this journey that I apply to anything I want to accomplish is that it’s never just motion. There are no shortcuts. You have to crawl before you walk, and you have to walk before you run.

I have accomplished so much with the first simple thought of believing in myself, understanding my mistakes, and consistently working to do better than the day before. I always have something to learn, and I’m never content with being content.

Ryan, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Please find below the corrected version of your article:

My name is Ryan Dawson, also known as Shaggy in the tattoo industry. I’ve been doing art for as long as I can remember. My grandfather was the inspiration for my love of art, as he was an avid painter and someone who enjoyed sketching.

I started tattooing in 2011, shortly after getting my first tattoo. Initially, I tattooed mainly on synthetic skin for practice and the occasional friend. At that point, tattooing was off and on, and I didn’t take it seriously as I had no guidance and no clue about what I was doing.

My life turned upside down when I was incarcerated in 2013 and was sentenced to ten years in prison. Incarceration was a life-changing experience, but it was something that I needed at that time. In short, prison saved my life, and, not to sound cliche, but it made me the person I am today.

As an artist, I enjoy doing a wide variety of styles. If I had to choose a style, I would say I lean more towards black and grey realism/portraits. Something about black and grey, especially in tattooing, feels timeless to me. Like a black and white photograph, it has a quality and feel that I love.

Something that’s very important to me in this industry is taking the time to listen to people’s ideas, whether verbal or with visual references, and creating something they are excited about. Often, people are met with resistance from artists about their ideas. Before I was an artist, I was a client, and I always treat others how I would want to be treated.

2GroovyStudios is a story of dedication, love, and manifestation. To all who wear my ink, much love.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

When reading this question, the first thing that comes to mind is that even when faced with trials, tribulations, and adversity, “stars can’t shine without darkness.” As a father, husband, and son, being able to provide for my family by doing something I’m passionate about is an indescribable feeling. Seeing the growth, success, support, from everyone is what keeps me driven and focused.

“It’s not what we did yesterday, but what we are doing today.” To my family and friends, I want to express my love and gratitude for all you do and continue to do.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Answering this question will be a multitude of things wrapped into one, so I’ll try not to ramble. Seeing the reactions from clients when I finish their tattoos is always priceless and worth more than its weight in monetary value. As an artist, I see the world through a unique perspective. I’m drawn towards colors, and I notice shadows and how they fall on objects from a light source. Seeing my clients’ reactions is always humbling, and many times, as an artist seeing our own final product is an out-of-body experience. I know that most or many of my fellow creatives working in any medium can relate to that feeling and experience of “I can’t believe I did that.” It brings the creative mind back to why we do what we do.

Over the years, I’ve met many people from all walks of life, built friendships, and listened to their stories. Tattooing has given me such a unique experience with people that only therapists could begin to understand. Tattooing, as an art form, is sacred and much deeper than just “skin deep.” The reward of that feeling is only truly understood by the tattoo artist themselves. It’s a feeling and connection that dates back to the beginning of time and human culture.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.2groovystudios.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/2groovystudios
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ryan.dawson.3762
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/2groovystudios

Image Credits
Ryan Dawson