Meet Michael Sutton | Owner/Artist of Mr. Shorty’s Tattoo Emporium

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

Hi Michael, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I never wanted work to feel like work. My dream was to love what I do every day, and drawing has always been my passion. I feel incredibly fortunate to have transformed that love for drawing into a career that continuously inspires and challenges me to grow.

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.
No, it wasn’t easy. I began my tattoo journey at 21, with a lot of growing up to do and many lessons to learn along the way. The art of tattooing has always been my anchor, grounding me through every challenge. To excel in this career, you need persistence, focus, and sometimes even a bit of obsession.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned as an artist is to embrace discomfort. Try mediums you’re not yet comfortable with, practice the same lighting source fifty times until it’s perfect, and push yourself to never settle for complacency in your art. Strive to be better, and you’ll be surprised at what new approaches can help you achieve that.

What do I want the world to know about me? Well, I’m booking! But more importantly, I want people to understand how much tattooing has evolved. It’s no longer just about being cool (though that’s a nice bonus). Many come to honor loved ones, reclaim ownership of their bodies, or find a moment of peace and control in their day. At our studio, we’ve created an environment where everyone feels welcome and supported, no matter their reason for getting tattooed.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Well, a week might seem like a lot, so let’s focus on the perfect Saturday. Start with breakfast at O’Hara’s Bakery Café, then enjoy a walk at Virginia Hylton Park, one of my family’s favorite spots in town. Next, head over to the Saturday Morning Market at the Amphitheater to explore some amazing local vendors. For lunch, I recommend Cribb’s—you won’t meet nicer people, and their Caribbean fudge pie is to die for. After that, you’ll probably want to take a nap because of the food coma, and then the rest of the day is yours to enjoy!

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?
I have to give a huge shoutout to my incredible wife, Brittany Sutton, who keeps my life organized, and to the amazing artists at the studio, Eric Nelson and Lyss Babb. They all constantly inspire me to be a better person, artist, and business owner. I couldn’t do this without them.

Website: https://mrshortys.com

Instagram: @sutton_tattoo

Image Credits
Heather Saputo