Christian Watson

A journeyman whose words and work inspires change and forges creation. He founded 1924, a reclaimed and handcrafted brand in the Pacific Northwest.

Processed with VSCOcam with a6 presetProcessed with VSCOcam with a6 preset

DESCRIBE YOURSELF AND THE WORK THAT YOU CREATE.

This is a difficult thing to jump into right off the bat, but I'll give 'er a go. I'm a 23 year old artist who illustrates, travels and writes for a living. I am a very lucky individual to live because of my craft. The work I create is tightly based around the early 1900's approach to advertising - doing things by hand. The more control I have in a project, the better I feel. So everything is 100% done by hand. Every experience told is first-hand.

WHO HAVE YOU WORKED WITH AND WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE ASSIGNMENT?

I've worked with companies like Ford, Twitter, Puma, John Wayne's family, and more. But the best projects are always ma and pa's, the 60 year old couple that find me through their kid or some other way, and gets their branding done by 1924 (my brand). It's a thrilling experience to hear the actual tangible excitement come from them. There's a sense of irreplaceable pride that comes in the work I provide to clients and it's the most satisfying feeling.

Processed with VSCOcam with a6 presetProcessed with VSCOcam with a6 preset

RECOUNT YOUR JOURNEY TO BECOMING AN ARTIST.

I have drawn since I could. Not much has changed, I've just drawn a lot more now.

HOW DID YOUR CHILDHOOD SHAPE YOU INTO THE MAN AND ARTIST YOU ARE TODAY?

Childhood was rough. and because of that, I am skeptical of a lot of things, appreciative of more, but mostly, I am excited for the days ahead. Things that I cannot explain - both good and bad - that allow me to grow.

Processed with VSCOcam with a6 presetProcessed with VSCOcam with a6 preset

YOU'VE TAKEN A LOT OF RISKS ALONG THE WAY, BUT WHAT WAS YOUR DEFINING ONE WHERE EVERYTHING WAS ON THE LINE?

At 18 I went to Boston to study architecture with 26 dollars in my pocket and a one way ticket. I had no idea how rent worked. I had no clue that orientation was before school started, or that my school didn't have dorms. I worked my ass off in a moment of complete fear. Not close to my parents, no one to rely on but myself at a seemingly very naive time in my life. Because of that push, I began to really be grateful for the things I had. Food to eat, coffee to drink, a life to share - and it's the most defining attribute of who I am now. All I want to do is share with the world.

HOW HAS YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS SUPPORTED YOU THROUGHOUT IT ALL?

I'd like to pass on this, if thats ok. Things are much different now than they were. And though we forgive - it's the forgetting part that haunts me.

Processed with VSCOcam with a6 presetProcessed with VSCOcam with a6 preset

LOOKING BACK ON ALL THAT HAS UNFOLDED, WHAT NUGGETS OF WISDOM HAVE YOU LEARNED AND EMBRACED?

Purpose and persistence. Keep both in check.

IF YOU COULD GIVE YOUR YOUNGER SELF ONE PIECE OF ADVICE, WHAT WOULD THAT BE?

Don't look at things like they are more permanent than they are. Don't assign value where there isn't any. Don't let pride cloud your disability. Don't let your disability define you.

Processed with VSCOcam with a6 presetProcessed with VSCOcam with a6 preset

WHAT DO YOU FEEL HAS ALLOWED YOU TO BREAK THROUGH AND SUCCEED, PARTICULARLY AMONGST YOUR PEERS?

Success is so relative that the word itself sometimes rubs me in the wrong way. But I believe humility and honesty and not caring what other people will think of me greatly defines my own 'success'. If you're not afraid to lose, you have nothing to lose. If more people told their stories about who they are, why they are, where they are, etc, they would become increasingly more relatable. Everybody has a story - everyone. Everyone is an artist, its just about what you choose to practice.

WHO ARE THE MENTORS THAT HAVE INFLUENCED AND INSPIRED YOUR LIFE?

There are few people I look up to more than Fernando Pessoa.

Processed with VSCOcam with 3 presetProcessed with VSCOcam with 3 preset

IS THERE ANY ADVICE THAT YOU WOULD GIVE A YOUNG PERSON FOLLOWING THEIR PASSION AS AN ARTIST?

Don't let the money or the outreach define the level of craft you put out. Your wealth will never be a substitute for your talent - and the moment you let it become more important than your work is the moment you lose your creativity.

WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR CREATIVITY, WHAT DO YOU FIND YOURSELF CONSTANTLY SEARCHING FOR?

More creativity. The "inspirers" need to be inspired too. i think that notion is often lost on people. But honestly, do you know when a little dog shakes from the cold? it comes in waves, as the dog breaths in and lets out it has this huge tremble that goes through each muscle, for me i yearn for that feeling when i am cold as well - i love the cold - being in a place colder than I'm used to is something i love experiencing. its very physical form of a very emotional feeling for me - uncharted territory - even if its only in my eyes.

Processed with VSCOcam with a6 presetProcessed with VSCOcam with a6 preset

WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT KEEP YOU CREATIVELY INSPIRED AND CONSISTENTLY INNOVATING?

If i can tell a story by living a story, and live a story, by telling a story - then my inspiration is pretty endless. I travel to write, i write to travel, and its an incredible circumstance.

WE ALL DREAM OF LEAVING A LEGACY. WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE REMEMBERED FOR, AND WHY?

Decency, the why is of no concern.

Processed with VSCOcam with a6 presetProcessed with VSCOcam with a6 preset

ANY CURRENT ALBUMS, ARTISTS OR SONGS ON REPEAT?

I have listened to "The Departure" by Max Richter on repeat since writing this.

DO YOU BELIEVE REGRETTING MISTAKES IS IMPORTANT?

I think shame is one of the most valuable and lost traits in our age. There is less honor because there is less shame, how can you have one without the other? How can you perceive goodness with out badness? how can you know the stove is hot if it didn't burn you? We learn so much today that "LIVE WITH NO REGRETS, BE YOUNG, BE RECKLESS" are the mantras we should believe in - but reality is we should learn to be kind to everyone. Otherwise we become so selfish that we forget to have base-level respect for people we don't even know. Its okay to be strangers if we don't treat people like they're strange.

Processed with VSCOcam with a6 presetProcessed with VSCOcam with a6 preset

WHAT IMPORTANT TRUTH DO VERY FEW PEOPLE AGREE WITH YOU ON?

It isn't about anything but what we define as we go. Anyone can conjure up an answer out of fear, but its living anyway with no safety net that allows us to learn much more than we ever anticipate. Some people have rituals, religions, traditions, etc. - but i believe it is as we go, that defines our lives, not how we got here, not where we go.