Halloween is in our midst and I don’t know about you, but I sure am ready to celebrate the spooky season. For Michelle Wanhala, this is a year round average day in the life. This young tattoo artist was born and raised in the Chicago suburbs with an average Midwestern upbringing. She attended public school and absolutely despised its structure and discipline, which stunted Michelle’s free spirited personality. She developed a love for art as her mind often drifted in class, proven by her doodle-ridden notebooks, and she decided from a young age this is how she wanted to make a living. She attended a traditional art school but dropped out, as it reminded her too much of the exact constraints from which she desperately tried to free herself. She attended several apprenticeships, holding all with the same contempt as that she had for school.
Ironically, while her personality would be classified as more rebellious than traditional according to Csikszentmihalyi’s personality dichotomies, her style is drawn from traditional tattoo style -- but with a unique spin. Her imagery typically consists of a medley of cute and creepy -- gore and horror that makes you want to say “Aww!” Inspired by comic books and being a grunge girl from the 90s, her art consists mainly of cartoon characters with bold outlines and striking colors that depict some form of pain and anguish.
https://tttism.com/2019/05/27/michelle-wanhala-mwanhala/
http://voyagechicago.com/interview/meet-michelle-wanhala/
I think it's very interesting how many artists become more productive when they are given less structure. It always astounds me when artists drop out of any type of performing art or art school. I think there is only so much you can teach someone that already has a passion for creation. Often times, it sounds like artists learn more from their own intrinsic motivation and environment that a structured school setting. Michelle has some really great art and I commend her for staying true to herself and creating cool pieces with little inspiration. This is a great example of the project they had the schoolchildren do. They were able to create more interesting and unique projects when there wasn't a grade versus when they were graded. Tattooing allows her create without being "graded" or constrained allowing some really beautiful work to flourish.
ReplyDeleteI love Halloween, and I'm so excited to celebrate it this year. I loved reading about Michelle and looking at all the wonderful art she has produced. I really like what you said at the very end about the artists not compromising to please the majority. I think it's very important for any creative to really have a passion and enjoy what they create. While as a tattoo artist, there is some aspect of having to please your customer by creating a tattoo that they like, I also think it's good to give the artist some creative freedom to make something they enjoy as well. It shouldn't all be about making money from customers. Michelle has the intrinsic motivation to create art that she loves without being constrained by how much money she'll make for something or what grade she'll receive on a project. I think that plays a huge role in all the beautiful work she has been able to create.
ReplyDeleteWanhala is very talented! It doesn't surprise me that she disliked the structure and discipline of traditional public schooling — if I was an artist I wouldn't either! The American education system tends to discourage creativity and often has subpar arts programs, instead putting its funding towards sports and other resources. There's also a kind of double standard: students that are good at math or science don't have to be artistic, but artistic students are still expected to do well in math, science or other academically rather than creatively driven classes. I can only imagine how frustrating this must be for young artists like Wanhala.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, Wanhala's passion for her work is clear in her dropping out from art school and challenging anything that constrains her or stands in her way. This is also a demonstration of her lack of convention and challenging of tradition. As Wanhala shows us, schooling isn't the end-all-be-all. What's more important is talent, dedication and a pure love of what you do.
Her art style reminds me so much of a game I played this summer, Night in The Woods. Similarly enough, the main character in the game also felt restricted by traditional school and life (and the game takes place in the burbs) so I highly recommend it if you like her style. It's great that she has a way to stay true to herself and still make a living doing art. Once you have motivation, it's so important that other systemic hurdles get out of your way.
ReplyDeleteI love her art style! Also, it was interesting how you used Csikszentmihalyi’s dichotomies to analyze her creative mind. She is for sure has beautiful tattoo technique that clearly traditional, but her artwork like Picasso's is rebellious. She took a risk by becoming an artist and creating her own style, but it paid off. Her work is gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteThis post made me want a tattoo so badly! Michelle sounds like she embodies that free thinking, naturally creative archetypal creative that many artists strive to be. It's always heartening to hear about middle c creatives succeeding with whimsical, intrinsically motivated creativity. I think the combination of intrinsic motivation and playfulness leads to some of the most interesting art.
ReplyDeleteI love how you said she and Picasso "do not compromise to please the majority." I think tattooing presents such an interesting perspective on creativity, because I often just think of people going into a tattoo shop with their own drawings or ideas in mind. It seems as though this would be a huge challenge or constraint for tattoo artists who have their own ideas, style, and creative endeavors. Michelle's work and flash tattoos are so unique and really challenge this idea, as you can see her own passion and creativity in her colorful cartoon characters. I also love how you pointed out the dichotomies, because that it so evident in her tattoos and the pictures you provided. Thanks for sharing!
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