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.
