Meet Nova Wietkoswki | Tattoo Artist

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

Hi Nova, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I don’t think I could mentally do anything else, in fact, I always ask myself why I didn’t do it sooner. From a young age, I have been a creative person. My earliest memories were watching anime and always drawing. I also remember my teachers disliking it and asking me not to draw in class. However, art wasn’t only fun, it was my escape from reality, a mental shelter. As I got older, societal pressures urged me to do something else as the stigma of being an artist deterred me from immediately jumping into an artistic field. So, I tried the old-fashioned method of success, I went to college, got an associate’s degree in criminal justice, and started a security surveillance job. After a short tenure in that company, I quit and realized I was miserable. When Covid hit, I focused on what I truly wanted to do in life by reconnecting with my art and I began getting small tattoos randomly. I discovered putting art on your body was beautiful and aesthetic like a walking museum. Then I realized I could pursue my passion; I could find a medium of which I could continue to create and design. So, I decided to seek out an apprenticeship and pursue tattooing. I haven’t looked back since; I love what I do and wouldn’t change it.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My artwork is difficult to describe. I find inspiration through many sources. At times, I like to draw dark, surrealist subjects. Other times, I switch to more cute, bubbly designs. What I draw usually reflects my emotional state and the media I am ingesting momentarily.

I am most proud of my progress but I have a lot to learn, therefore I’m excited about the progress ahead of me.

Getting into tattooing is very difficult, however, the biggest challenge I have faced is myself. I didn’t allow myself to be the creative person I wanted to be and pursued something outside of art to follow the societal concept of success. Which guided me into a corner of misery because I couldn’t enjoy what I was passionate about.

I got into tattooing by putting myself out there and being patient at learning a new skill. Tattooing isn’t an easy field to be in, from paper to skin, there is a major learning curve. Many nuances go into creating permanent works of art. I think it’s easy to underestimate the amount of pressure and responsibility you hold when tattooing.

I’d like the world to know that it’s never too late to pursue what you want to do in life. I was lucky that at a young age, I realized I was unhappy with what I was doing. I was lucky to have a supportive family that allowed me to go into what I wanted, even though I didn’t know if it was going to be successful. As my late grandfather-in-law said, “Do whatever makes you happy. So if you love digging ditches, then you better buy a shovel, and start digging.”

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.
Honestly, I am a bit of a homebody and an introvert, so going out regularly isn’t something I like to do. However, I love going to Katy Asia town. I like seeing Houston’s Natural Science Museum and art museums (my fav is seismique). I love walking and am ashamed to say I love window shopping at random malls, I think I have gone to all the malls in Houston. My favorite restaurant is Nico Nicos cause Greek food is awesome.

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?
Many people have encouraged me to pursue what I wanted to do and helped me grow in the tattoo industry. Therefore, I have a list of people I’d like to thank. Firstly Chinh, who allowed me to begin my apprenticeship in his company. My dear friends; Nestor, Tati, Tadeo, Lalo, and Angel, who taught me everything they knew and helped me when they could. Finally, Renee, the owner of the shop I’m currently at, for allowing me to continue to grow in her studio.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/litt13bigpunk/

Image Credits
Nova Wietkoswki