We had the good fortune of connecting with Tatyana Watkins and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Tatyana, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I knew from a young age, around fifteen, that I didn’t wanna work for anyone else. I knew the concept of entrepreneurship and that if I were to have a job that I truly loved, I would have to create it myself.
Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
It’s difficult for me to explain my art, put it in a box, or confine it. My art is simply a reflection of my spirit, which is ever changing. Always evolving. It is a reflection of the crazy things I experience in life. I suppose that’s what makes the art unique to me and sets me apart. The soul in my art can’t be replicated. Jean-Michel said asking an artist to describe their art is like asking Miles Davis how his horn sounds. It just is. The art evokes what it needs to in the receiver.
I got to where I am today by being fearlessly authentic. Following my spirit even when it seems crazy, childish, or irrational to others. I know I’m not crazy, the vision is clear for me. That’s why it was given to me and no one else.
It’s not easy taking the road less traveled. And not for the reasons you may think like poverty, or fear of failure. Those things are all matters of the mind, and I can change my mind at will. The actual things that make it challenging are the external doubt and speculations. People not believing in you how you believe in you. Gotta keep those things at bay, by all means.
How dare I pave my own path in uncertainty with an obscure view of the future when there’s already several tried and true, predictable paths I could take, right?
Well, truth is—the tried and true path has a track record of leaving people pretty unsatisfied, painfully bored and miserable. I like the thrill of alchemizing my own path. At least if I failed I’d do it in my own crazy unique way. My failure would spark inspiration one way or another, and it wouldn’t be much of a failure after all if my goal in life was to inspire. So failure is impossible. The only failure is to not pursue the things I foresee for myself. I truly prefer desolation and homelessness over letting myself down in that way. Shoutout to LA.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Atlanta is such a beautiful city, I lived there for four years straight and it was an adventure. The good and bad things are all worth accreditation. If I had to curate an itinerary of the city, I would start off in Centennial Park and the lil’ plaza between the Aquarium, Coca Cola Factory & Civil Rights museum because that’s where I had my introduction to the city, even before moving there. On a sunny summer weekend, it’s such a vibe out there. Some people say the Centennial Wheel is overrated but with the right people it’s super lit.
We would hit up all the touristy spots like Krog Street, Little Five Points, Piedmont Park, Old Fourth Ward, Atlantic Station, Georgia State, etc., You know all the popular places that pop up when you Google the city. They’re fun. I like to eat at Felini’s, Yardhouse in Atlantic Station, Slutty Vegan, Soul Vegetarian, Sunshine Jamaican Restaurant in Stone Mountain, or Maggiano’s and La Grotta.
But it wouldn’t be a legit tour of Atlanta if we didn’t visit the less broadcasted places in and around the city— East Atlanta, Auburn Ave, Edgewood is lit on Saturday night, Summerhill and all of Trinity Ave & the whole arts and music scene out there, Mechanicsville, Bankhead, (shoutout to Village Skatepark & Bonfire, all of my people on Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy & shoutout to Donald Lee Hollowell himself, I made it a point to look up some of the people that these streets are named after), the West End, the south side, College Park, etc. The list could go on. It would take an entire week to really see the essence of Atlanta. Maybe more.
Those are the more historical places. The ones that don’t look so pretty at the surface but have the most beauty to the right observer. These are the places I felt the most relatability, met the coolest people (young and old), people with the most heart, lessons, stories to tell you about their city, and the changes they’ve lived through and witnessed. Continue to witness. I essentially met myself in these settings and fell in love with the city, so I’ll forever have love for them.
The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There’s so many people I could thank for my success. My mother Tammy, for starters. She made sure I didn’t have to worry about bare necessities so I could put more focus toward doing what I love. Even today, I know I can rely on her if I can’t rely on anyone else.
Second to that, I have to shoutout the Atlanta arts community. The Naked Artist (the_nakedartist) gave me my first opportunity live painting for an event in Atlanta, Pedro (@atlantaartevents) put me on in major ways, Lano at Bonfire ATL, Peters Street Station (Miya Bailey, City of Ink, Tuki and the whole team, Marquise at Live Love Tattoos) provided an example for me that practical success as an artist IS attainable and that I could be successful doing what I love with hard work. Before seeing them do it, it was only a dream. They reaffirmed that it could be my reality.
Lastly, shoutout to all my friends and family who pour into me when I need it most. There’s too many to name, and most don’t do it for public recognition anyway. We don’t speak often but they’re always on time with their support and advice.
Instagram: Instagram.com/EdenicEmpress
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tatyana-watkins-47aab9200
Twitter: Twitter.com/edenicempress
Image Credits
@marlonrphotog