Stereotypes within the Tattoo Community

     Although body modification is becoming more and more acceptable in today's society, there are still many misconceptions about the culture and it's members as a whole. This week I would like to share my thoughts and opinions on this matter and hopefully open up some minds. Enjoy.

     “The times they are a changin'” Bob Dylan said it best in 1964 yet somehow this message has yet to fully saturate our society when it comes to the tattoo and piercing community. Body art collectors both young and old continually encounter social injustices and stereotypes deriving solely from their appearances and society’s inability to look past the surface. In many cases we are labeled negatively as a whole instead of being judged on an individual level for our actions and contributions.

     “What's that on your neck? Are you part of a gang?” This sentence pretty much sums up my job interviews as a youth and it occurred frequently due to my decision to get a highly visible tattoo. At the age of seventeen I made the choice to put a tribute to my father on the side of my neck, I was both ready and able to defend this action while also being aware of the consequences. I was under the assumption that a strong work ethic and training in multiple areas would be adequate in outshining my physical alteration, little did I know.

     Each field of work has set standards when it comes to professionalism. Body modifications are usually at the top of the list when being considered for employment, in some cases they even outweigh a persons credentials in said field. This is clearly discrimination but ultimately it is an honest reflection of our society's lack of information and ignorance towards our culture. In no way am I saying that a man or woman with facial modifications wouldn't raise an eyebrow in a nursing home, however that same man or woman may be equally if not better suited for the position than other applicants. Though today's employers have begun to broaden their horizons, we are still being denied positions solely based on appearance which in turn will cause our work force to dwindle into mediocrity due to the overlooking of highly skilled and motivated individuals that happen to be tattooed or pierced.

     Throughout the span of history there have been quiet, college educated, seemingly “normal” individuals that have shook the foundation of our nation and even the world (Adolph Hitler, Ted Bundy, and John Gacy to name a few). A common trait amongst these men is that they were NOT heavily tattooed NOR did they have numerous visible piercings, yet people within the tattoo community are under constant comparison to serial killers, criminals, and degenerates. Why is this? Thomas Edison not only invented an early stage of the tattoo machine or “Electric Pen” in 1876, he also tattooed five dots similar to those found on dice into his flesh. In your opinion, does the fact that Edison had a tattoo overshadow his numerous contributions to the world? Does his decision to apply ink into his skin make him equally comparable to a serial killer?

     Day after day I hear of more selfless acts within the local body modification scene than I do anywhere else. Despite blind judgment and ignorant assumptions, tattoo studios are continually donating, fund raising, and showing appreciation to their patrons without a second thought; in most cases the artists I am acquainted with are willing to give almost anything to a good cause. With this in mind I would like you to recall the times where your cities gas stations have given you a break on the prices because you were on a budget, better yet how often does the grocery store throw a “Customer Appreciation Day” celebration and give you the best deals on their items? I am not saying that these things never happen nor am I trying to make every tattoo artist appear as a saint, I am simply attempting to lift the wool a bit and shed some much needed light on the subject.

     Stereotypes have been around for as long as there has been people, whether racial or gender oriented they typically spout from the lips of the uninformed and immature. In recent history, body modification has become so largely accepted across numerous social groups that the backlash of stereotyping is felt everywhere and with the same magnitude as the racial and gender specific slander, the only difference is that it effects multicolored men and women as a whole. In order to combat this sort of widespread mistreatment, I believe that we all need to take the time and spread the word about our beautiful and vastly growing society. Knowledge paired with information is key to the acceptance of difference, more positive and productive examples must be set within our communities through our subculture in order to achieve that.

     At times I still find myself at odds with my “IDGAF” attitude when it comes to others passing judgment on me based on my appearance, however I would sooner share my beliefs and attempt to educate said individual rather than resorting immediately to aggressive behavior. In doing so maybe that person will see my side of things or at the very least accept that not all tattooed people are unprofessional miscreants. Let's all take a step in disproving a stereotype, positively contributing to the world, and continuing the growth of the body modification industry. LEARN-EDUCTATE-INSPIRE!

Memorial Pieces

     For this weeks topic I would like to share my thoughts on memorial tattoos and how they can affect the lives of clients and artists alike. Hopefully you gain insight and ENJOY!

     In my time as a working artist I have frequently encountered people seeking body art as part of the grieving process. Though a majority of these encounters revolve around the passing of a loved one, they all carry a very personal sentiment within each story told. As an outsider looking into the window of another persons life I find it hard at times to fully comprehend and convey what these individuals are feeling, it's as though I am trying to pack years of experiences and emotions into the skin with needle points and pigments.

     Out of respect and love for the family involved I wont be listing names, however I am going to do my best to share a special story involving the loss of a loved one and the art that ensued.

     The sky was overcast, the wind was cold, and a face I hadn't seen in years approached me as I stood in the shops parking lot. With each step he took my feelings of surprise and happiness slightly diminished, the look on his face said it all; something terrible had happened. I've never been overly gifted at reading minds, but when you spend years around someone you generally learn to sense their mood without the need for words to be spoken. We started our reunion with hellos and ended with me marking the day on my calendar when he would come in and get a memorial tattoo, this tattoo was meant for the passing of his newly born son.

     I recall sitting in my booth for the rest of the day feeling somewhat awe struck that this had happened to someone I grew up with, a man I remember being so full of happiness and positivity; now faced with one of life's darker lessons: Loss. It's no secret that we all have and will continue to lose the things which we care for in life, but I find that when it is entirely out of our control it tends to make a greater impact on the type of people we are and shapes who we will become. I spent that night wondering if my friend would make it through to the other side of this tragedy.

     The sky was overcast the next day but the wind seemed to be warmer as my mind overflowed with raw concepts and growing ideas of the project to come. My booth quickly became a mess as hours were spent riddling piece after piece of paper with crude pencil marks and swift eraser burns in an attempt to give my friend something worth wearing and hopefully shed a pinhole of light into this dark time. The longer I spent drawing the more I couldn't help but imagine myself in a similar position. I tried to conceptualize the amount of pride and excitement involved in fatherhood and how it must feel to have all of that taken away. For the first time I had truly felt shaken by the events leading up to another persons tattoo.

     Those are MY pen marks on MY calendar, I knew it was the scheduled day for my friends memorial piece and although I was ready, I had never felt so unprepared. I must have spent an hour or so before the appointment time anxiously fiddling with the drawings I had done and wondering not only if it was good enough but, also if he would like what I had come up with. There I stand again in the parking lot as my childhood friend approaches me, same look on his face as before, however something seemed to be different. We both entered the shop and I presented my drawings to him, the smile on his face said it all and upon his spoken approval we got started.

     The bulk of that day was spent working, we didn't speak all that much, both of us became some what locked into our modes as we set forth to create a memorial, rather, a tribute to his son. It wasn't long before I was rid of my nerves and wrapped up in the art of it all. Despite the events leading up to the creation of this tattoo, there was an ever growing excitement in the air, like a frenzied curiosity of what was to come.

     As the final pieces were put into place the tattoo process had reached completion and all that was left was the unveiling. I sat tensely and watched as he stood up and stepped out in front of the mirror. Waiting. Waiting. My experiences with personal loss coupled with the relationship between myself and his family created an intense feeling of make or break for me, like this would determine the outcome of my entire professional tattoo existence. When he finally turned toward me I received the nod of approval and soon witnessed one of the truest expressions of happiness through the weight of sadness. A somber tear filled smile. Honestly, I got choked up and had to bite my cheek and stare at the floor. We took some photos, said our goodbyes, and I grew a little bit in the course of it all.

     When I was younger I didn't know what I wanted to get as far as tattoos were concerned until I lost a dear friend. It wasn't even a hard decision for me after that happened, I felt as though I had to commemorate his life somehow and wanted it to be a grand gesture. The downfall of my memorial tattoo was that I had no idea what all could be done artistically in the tattoo medium and the artist I chose didn't care enough to broaden my mind on the subject. I know now that I should have found a skilled artist to guide me in my choice to receive such a tattoo instead of stamp something on me without any real knowledge of the meaning behind it.

     There is quite a high volume of memorial tattoos in the world, so much so that artists, including myself can become jaded to the personal attachments that forge them. At times I have had to slow down and remind myself to think deeper and put more effort into this sort of work so that it doesn't fall flat and become a run of the mill type of tattoo. Artists and clients alike should come together for these projects in hopes of building something both unique and priceless.

     Id like to say thank you to anyone I've had the chance to tattoo, especially those of you who shared a little part of your story with me; I wish you all the best of luck in navigating this glorious minefield we call life.

Pride in YOUR tattoo community

     This week I am going to be sharing my opinions on pride in the tattoo community and hopefully sparking a fire that will slow the ever growing population of careless tattooer's. ENJOY!

     Though it wasn't all that long ago I remember the first tattoo I ever did, how nervous I was, and more importantly how it made me feel as a person. With each pass of my machine I felt a sense of accomplishment, not because I thought the tattoo was awesome (for the record it was terrible and its on my leg FOREVER!), it was as though I had found what I had been searching for in life. Fulfillment.

     There is a very special something in the air at a tattoo shop, not every place has it but when you recognize it you just know. The machines are buzzing, artists are bantering with each other, and living art is in the process of creation. It's truly amazing. With each client, old or new, I get to share this special type of experience and we both walk away with something to carry with us forever. I find it very humbling and rewarding when somebody chooses me to alter their body and this feeling is part of what helps me strive for improvement. Sadly, this isn't always the case within every shop.

     When you recognize it, you just know. That stale, emotionless, cattle herding type of shop that is full of artists who care more about your wallet than your skin. All too many times I've seen people fall victim to these sort of “used car salesman” type of tattooers. It's disheartening to me that these vultures continue to use up unknowing clients bodies without a care in the world aside from “could I have gotten more money for that?”. As a client I have experienced this first hand, and it could have easily been prevented.

     When I went out searching for a place to get my first tattoo I wasn't concerned about anything other than price. STRIKE ONE. When I finally found a place that fit my cheap ass budget I neglected to ask to see the artist's portfolio. STRIKE TWO. I was almost immediately sat in a chair and tattooed underage without a second thought. STRIKE THREE. It's decisions like these that keep “used car salesman” tattooer's in business and also adds to the over abundance of poorly done tattoos around the world. It takes two to tattoo, but only one of you needs standards to avoid bad decisions like the ones listed above.

     I chose this topic because of the amount poor tattoos I have seen and heard about lately. Self proclaimed “Tattoo Artists” are popping up all over in the city, working out of their kitchen's, neglecting proper sterile procedures, tattooing underage clients, and producing shaky work on hard to repair areas (hands, faces, and necks to name a few). These scratchers are defacing what so many have worked hard for and they do so without consequence. I'm not pretending to be the tattoo authority nor am I saying that I am the best artist in the world; I would just like for my local tattoo community to open its eyes and put a stop to the malpractice and mistreatment of this amazing industry and its patrons.

     It all starts with US. Whether your heavily tattooed or have just one piece on your body, if your a tattoo artist or just an avid collector, your a part of this community and should be proud of it! The pride I have in what I do and the art I wear has rooted a set of morals and standards in me that cannot be shaken. I'm not going to buy cheap supplies in order to save a buck, instead I only purchase quality item's from trusted suppliers (suppliers that DO NOT offer products to the general public and ONLY sell to verified Tattoo Artists) to provide my clients the best work from my hands to their skin. This same mentality is used when an 18 year old walks into the shop and wants their first tattoo to be placed on their neck, face or hands. These placements are considered “Job Stoppers” and unless your heavily tattooed, I'm going to do my best to make you reconsider your decision, even if that leads to me not doing the tattoo at all. I would rather have a clean conscience than a few bills in my pocket.

     As artists and clients we should be very selective when choosing which companies we stand behind and which shops we support. Ask questions! Does the artist working on you have up to date certifications(BBP, first aid, cpr, aed)? Is the shop following current sterilization practices with any non disposable equipment? When was the shops last health inspection? Does the artist have a portfolio demonstrating the ability to do solid tattoo work? Does the artist or shop supply non licensed individuals with materials for tattooing? And most importantly are you comfortable working at or getting work done at said shop?

     In closing id like to say that I hope that all of us are making more responsible and educated choices when it comes to altering our bodies and the bodies of others, doing our part to safe guard what we love.  

Why I Tattoo

This week I'm going to shed a little light on what sparked my interests in tattooing. Hope you enjoy.

            It was probably 2002 or 2003 and as usual for that time I was skatin' around the classy city of Tacoma, WA with a fine assortment of hooligans. We bounced from spot to spot searching out stair sets, gaps, and handrails to destroy with our four wheeled planks of wood. At that time the only thing that made my skating interesting at all, sadly, was my grip tape. With each new deck I acquired I would spend a few hours on it painting characters- usually doing obscene things (EX: birds humping). My paintings were really poorly done but they were bright and crude, which was just right for me! After a long day of rolling around all of us would usually end up in a basement somewhere practicing our alcohol consumption and talking shit, a lot of it. On one of these highly productive nights my close friend Binna mentioned that since I draw and paint, I should start doing tattoos...I assumed he was just messing with me so I didn't take it seriously and we continued the night practicing.        Fast forward a couple years...

            Im in yet another basement waking up about mid day and I'm still pissed that I slept in a few days prior and missed my ride to Utah. You see, my friends and I were going to do a skate crew road trip and film along the way to Utah where we would be capturing one of our good friends and returning him home. All it took to override my frustration at missing my ride for this adventure was one phone call, it was an old friends voice on the other end of the line sobbing and telling me that the car had crashed...our friends, including Binna, were now gone. Fast forward five years...

            Its 2009 and im in the middle of nowhere fucking Arkansas working for a pipeline construction job seven days a week for 10 to 16 hours each day. Somewhere in the hustle and grind of my work It hit me, I wanted to love whatever I was doing and be passionate about it. Soon after that the wheels of my ever turning brain couldn't stop spinning around the art I used to do, how much I enjoyed it and...that one night when my good friend told me I should do tattoos. At the time I wasn't sure that I agreed with what he said but I figured now I owed it to him to at least give it a shot.      

            
             From then on I have, and still continue to work hard to push my artistic levels on paper as well as skin. Those that know me personally will be the first to tell you that I am my toughest critic, always picking and pulling at my art. As a tattoo artist I appreciate and respect every chance I get to permanently alter another persons body, therefore I feel that it is also my job to perform the best I can every time. I've been tattooing for a little over two years now and each project I pursue, in a way, feels like my first. From the prep stages of my drawing all the way to the photography and bandaging of a tattoo. It always feels new and fresh to me. There have been other tattooer's that have told me to "Give it a few more years" and the "Honeymoon" phase will be over and I always disagree. I didn't stumble into this lifestyle, I chose it; hell, some days I like to think it sorta chose me.