Meet Jasmine Magno | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jasmine Magno and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jasmine, why did you pursue a creative career?
I have been contemplating this question recently as my viewpoint has morphed. I pursue an creative career because art is my main avenue of self-expression. It allows me to communicate with society in ways that I cannot do verbally. I am fascinated by its ability to connect people from different backgrounds. Before it seemed more of a choice to create art, and at any moment, I could change my mind and pursue a different career. However, in the past few months, I believe that I have crossed a threshold of no return. As I’ve grown as an artist, I have become so enveloped in the processes that it has become a burning passion. The pursuit of any other career seems absurd.  Art is ingrained in my nature; it is what I know. I am art.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

My art is an embodiment of myself. I’ve often been told that I have many different “looks” – the same goes for my art. I don’t have one specific style. Just like my appearance I accessorize depending on my mood, and what I’m trying to translate. If I want to describe my fears, I use a surrealistic style. If I want to be in the moment, I utilize the continuous line drawing technique. The underlying theme in my art, however, is to find my place in society, and how I interpret those around me to find underlying connections in humans. I have always loved giving artwork to friends and family. Seeing their joy and appreciation leaves me with a deep sense of gratification. Because of this, I have decided to pursue tattooing to give artwork to a larger group of people. Tattoos are important to the individual and often represent a piece of them. Witnessing their happiness when they receive this form of art will be just as gratifying.

Of course, my artistic journey in general has not been easy. The prior four years were spent at the University of Colorado at Boulder where I studied Studio Art. I learned to translate my conceptual thoughts onto a canvas so that viewers could understand them. Further, my classes exposed me to color theory, design, presentation, and other aesthetic aspects of art. Along the way, I gained a humbling understanding of myself and those around me. The biggest lesson I learned during college was how to critically think and to put in the work needed. Through hard work and dedication, I was able to find my apprenticeship. I brought in a portfolio with all my artwork, introduced myself in person, and I showed up ready to work. Working with a new medium has been challenging because of the increased stakes and the difference in techniques.

I want the world to know that I am open for commissions. I often do portraits of humans and dogs in charcoal, but I can also do a variety of other subjects and mediums. My work can be found on my website or Instagram. I am currently tattooing minimalistic line tattoos and flash designs – please come my way.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
This one is a little hard since I am still new to Houston. First off, I would help them schedule an appointment at Los Muertos Tattoo Studio to get tattooed. I would take them to my favorite coffee shop in Montrose – Agora. Then during the day, we could take a trip to the art museum. One evening, I would take them to my favorite club, Bauhaus, for some great house music. Then to end the week, I would take them to Sam Houston National Forest for a camping trip.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I am currently a tattoo apprentice at Los Muertos Tattoo Studio. Shoutout to the Los Muertos Crew and my mentor, Omar Hernandez. Thank you all for welcoming me to the team and helping me grow as an artist. I couldn’t imagine starting off my tattoo career in a better environment. Thank you, Omar, for pushing me to look outside the box and for your guidance. My family deserves credit for their continual support. Throughout college, I would reconsider if this is the career path I should take, but my brothers and parents always pushed and reassured me that I was on the right path. I’d like to recognize my love, Mit, thank you for your patience and understanding.

Website: awkwaart.com

Instagram: jasmine.awkwa

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AwkwaArt

Image Credits
Paul Carrizales (photo of myself)