Art & Life with Lauchie MacDonald

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauchie MacDonald.

Lauchie, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I grew up in a family of bikers. All of them were pretty eccentric, and they’re all artists or craftsmen in some way. My father is a gifted portrait artist that worked in charcoal and pencil. My mother and grandmother did everything from custom leather work, to stained glass. I was lucky to be raised around a lot of “unique” characters that encouraged my weirdness and taught me to be exactly who I wanted to be. And all I ever wanted to be was an artist. I was raised around tattooed people and always had a fascination with them. It was the perfect outlet for me. When I was 16 I started an apprenticeship, and started tattooing professionally at 18. I got into the industry at a really cool time. It was still a small world when I started, and there wasn’t as much information available. Over the years the whole industry has evolved so fast. It forces everyone to step their game up. Like a lot of people where I’m from, I spent a few years being a stupid kid and paying the price for it. My daughter and my work were always the things that kept me from throwing it all away. A few years ago I met the owner at B.B.T.C and he helped me start taking my life and my career more serious, and we never looked back.

Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I’ve been a professional tattoo artist since I was 18 years old. Specializing in black and grey, realism, portraits, custom lettering, and Polynesian tribal. I always leaned more towards West Coast Black and Grey artists, but I’ll tattoo almost anything. I try not to pigeon-hole myself into one style. I graduated from Butera School of Art in Boston in 2006. I do hand painted signs, pin-striping, and custom airbrushing. Tattooing takes up most of my time, but lately I have been making more time to do other art projects. I’ve been working on canvas more, in several different mediums. Recently I got the opportunity to design a statue as part of a memorial going up soon on Deer Island, and I also started volunteering to teach an art class for elementary and middle school age kids. I like showing people, especially kids, that you can do what you love and make it your life. We didn’t have much growing up, and most people encourage you to take the safer route, but I wasn’t willing to do that. It’s not easy but we live in a time where you have a lot of opportunities if you’re willing to work hard for them. Art is what I had so I went for it and it’s given me everything I have. I want my daughter to see that, and know she can do anything.

What responsibility, if any, do you think artists have to use their art to help alleviate problems faced by others? Has your art been affected by issues you’ve concerned about?
Artists have always played a big role in articulating whatever is going on at the time, you can see that through history. People have a lot to say these days, and art is a perfect way to express how you feel about the state of the world. Now there is so much information and so many outlets to get your work seen. I think it’s hard not to let what’s going on today effect your work and even your everyday life. It probably shows in my work more than I realize.

What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
You can find me at Boston Barber and Tattoo Co. in the North End of Boston. We’ve put together the most unique shop I’ve ever seen and it’s a perfect representation of the neighborhood and our crew. Between the barbers, artists, and the girls that run the show, the shop has become a machine. We’ve all built a family here. It’s the perfect home for me. You can also see my work on my Instagram, and the Boston Barber and Tattoo website, Insta, and Facebook pages.

Contact Info:

• Address: Boston Barber and Tattoo Company
  113 Salem st. Boston, Ma 02113
• Website: www.bostonbarber.com
• Phone: 1-617-742-0611
• Email: info@bostonbarber.com
• Instagram: @dr._omega_tattoo, @bostonbarbertattooco
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BostonBarberCo/

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