Featured Artist – Mike Watt

mike watt artist

mike watt street artist

Firstly who are you and where & how did you grow up?

My names Mike Watt and I grew up in the Northern Beaches. I grew up being a toy, I painted quite a bit but unfortunately it was all super trash. They’re important years though, everyone is bad at the start, some people are shitter for longer so you got to keep going till you get through it. Also to figure out your strengths. I’m really average at piecing so after years of trying I started focussing solely on characters which was definitely the better way to go.

How do you think this affected you on your journey towards being an artist?

I guess seeing that putting in work pays off. My stuff isn’t too related to traditional graffiti nowadays but I think those experiences and my appreciation for it are definitely still there and shaped how my work looks today.

When/How did you know you wanted to be a artist?

I never stopped drawing from being a kid but I started piecing in 2000. I’ve painted on and off but I never stopped drawing. I rarely go a day without drawing at least something. I fill up way too many black books.

How did you learn to do what you do?

The main way is keeping at it. I think no matter how good a teacher is the only way to really get good at something is doing it yourself over and over again, also looking at your work, figuring out if it’s getting better or worse and what the weak points are that you could improve on.

What is your dream project?

A full length animated movie that I write and direct.

street artist mike watt

illustrator mike watt

Your favourite or most inspirational project/location you have painted?

I have a zine series, the first is called Super Ugly, the second is Double Ugly and the third and final one, which I’m finally working on at the moment, will be called Dead Ugly. It’s about a whole bunch of weird characters that are linked together. It’s easy for me to get distracted and make lots of separate bits and pieces but the stuff I’m most proud of are the big projects. Obviously heaps more work but so much more rewarding when they come out right.

And my favourite location was the big orange House of Sins face piece I painted with HOS on the Sydenham line. Apparently the factory got knocked down but it was up for years which is always nice, fun day with a bunch of legends.

What/Who are some of the inspirations for you and your art?

I’m influenced mostly by people who make great work in any creative field, like movies, comics, cartoons, stand up… music. Anything done well really gets me excited about making my own stuff.

But I’d say art wise some people who had a big impact on me growing up are Robert Crumb, Exit KOC, Jack Kirby and Jamie Hewlett.

Did this help guide you to where you are today?

I try to avoid being influenced by other peoples work but I think those guys definitely seeped into my brain.

What are your personal goals now and in the future as a professional artist?

The next one, probably after I finish Dead Ugly, is to release a full length graphic novel. It’s going to be a tun of work but I think it will be a real positive challenge that hopefully turns out well.

sydney illustration

graffiti art mike watt

Tell us a little about how you like to work. (Alone, with others, in phases, details, etc…)

I have collaborated quite a bit over the years but lately I’m really enjoying being a hermit with my cats and working by myself. I think I’ll probably get sick of that soon and go back to collaborating, it’s probably a good thing to mix it up every few years, stops the process going too stale.

What direction do you feel your art is going?

The main thing I want is, to keep improving. That’s a real thing for me, trying to get better. For a while I felt like my work was staying at the same level and I was getting really bored with it, I feel like it’s a bit pointless if you aren’t improving. I finally got over a bit of a hurdle and feel like it’s improving again so I’m loving drawing and painting again. More details, angels, scenes.. Just trying to continue to add to what I do.

Whats your thoughts about graffiti and street art as there is that tension between the two?

I really hate that there’s tension between the two. I feel like it’s not going to get better, some people are angry that people are painting street art, and on the other side some people aren’t respectful of graffiti. I think it would make more sense being angry at corporations putting awful graphics and advertisements everywhere then getting angry at an individual trying to put something on a wall for themselves.

If you could share a message with the next generation of graffiti/street artists, what would it be?

Read Subway art, watch Style Wars, learn the history, be respectful, be as good as you can be keep getting better, don’t cap what you can’t burn and don’t bite.