Today we’d like to introduce you to Lanous Wright II.
Lanous, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I got started drawing when I was 6 or 7 years old. Honestly, that’s as far as my memories go back as a child and my parents helped by buying me drawing books and comics from Borders book store and they would make me write my name and the year on the front of the drawing book. I still have all those sketchbooks from over 20 years ago. Drawing was always my favorite pass time whenever I was bored at home, bored at school, bored over the summer, and bored while my parents were running errands and whatnot. I played sports and was naturally athletic but I didn’t do well with socializing with teammates and coaches. So in high school, my art teacher became one of my greatest coaches and inspired me to be an artist even when I didn’t believe it was possible to make a living from art. After high school, I went to the Art Institute of ATL in 2012 then had my son shortly after, then dove into the art events space and the tattoo community simultaneously. I began finding more mentorship in the tattoo community and chose to become a student of the craft. While learning how to become a tattoo artist from 2017-2020, I also freelanced in public art and mural design for the pure enjoyment of it. Now I’m a multidisciplinary artist, born & raised in one of the greatest cities in the United States. Atlanta had taught me everything I know, but California and New York culture inspired my style as well.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Being an artist, to me, was always somewhat of a curse and a blessing. It comes with the struggle of seeking acceptance and reaching for a level of perfection that may be unobtainable at times. Growing up I felt weird for not wanting to be a part of competitive sports. That was the norm during my upbringing and I was extremely shy and quiet, which was also a struggle. But as I became better at drawing, people started to gravitate toward me and I’d have tried less and less to build friendships. Having a kid at an early age definitely slows things down but also gave me a whole new source of inspiration throughout my journey.
The one thing I’m still struggling with is time management and money management. I have a crap ton of responsibilities and sometimes I get worrisome but I always seem to make a way. I’m currently working on methods and processes that’ll make these things easier and easier to manage while also working on a strategy that will help with a steady increase of income throughout the years to come.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a fine artist specializing in drawings, portraits, and paintings. I am a tattoo artist specializing in black and grey realism and large-scale tattoos. I am a mural artist, again specializing in realism and outdoor + indoor public art. I am most proud of every portrait that left an emotional impact on the viewer. I’ve done so many portraits of loved ones who are no longer here with us, and knowing I could help with the healing or the coping of losing a loved one, always brings me the most love and gratitude.
I think my background and my story sets me apart from other artists. I have the ability to adapt to new canvases and bring my ability to create a sense of focused beauty in my realism and apply it to the skin, canvas, walls, and paper. My joyful, yet focused approach to every art project I’ve ever been blessed to be a part of, is always executed with style and grace that you can only find in a young Atlanta native like me.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
The tattoo industry will continue to be a hot commodity, however, it is already sifting out the good from the great tattoo artists as far as earning potential. Tattooing is the new way for an artist to earn “cool points” but should be taken as a serious craft and not a trend. Art will continue to sell based on popularity, virality, and critical acclaim and I am looking forward to seeing the upcoming trends and technological advances in the art industry.
Pricing:
- Tattoos starting at $250
- Indoor/Outdoor Murals starting at $750
- Canvas Paintings starting at $250
- Portrait Drawings starting at $150
- Free Consultation when mentioning Voyage ATL interview
Contact Info:
- Website: www.blackmale-atl.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/lanous.2xl.tattoos
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BlackmaleATL
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@2XLTattoos
