the secret society

[WelfareCheese]

hiya jack! i have been an artist for many years, since i was a kid, and particularly enjoy colored pencil and charcol work. several years ago, i got my first tattoo, a beautiful black and grey pin-up girl done by Durb at Stained Skin in Columbus, OH. over the years, it has occured to me that while the general public may not see it this way, that tattooing is actually another artistic medium, much like painting or airbrushing. that thought leads me to this question: is it strictly for financial reasons that experienced tattoo artists are so hesitant to share knowledge? are they afraid that teaching other artists to tattoo would cut into their income?
dont get me wrong! i realize that with a pencil you can erase mistakes and i also realize that you cant infect a piece of paper with a disease, thereby making the art of tattooing a responsibility, not just a form of artistic expression. however, the hesitancy to open up and allow other artists to learn and enjoy this skill seems much the same as not teaching someone to fix a car because they might 'mess up' and cause an accident, so its better that they dont learn at all!! that mentality makes no sense whatsoever. with the advent of eBay, where a complete novice can get EVERYTHING he or she may need to lay down a horrible tattoo and a communicable disease, it would make more sense to make sure that GOOD, RELIABLE technical info was available. my point is this:
people (hopefully good artists) will find a way to get hold of tattoo supplies whether or not experienced artists think they should be able to or not. they will tattoo their friends and themselves. with apprenticeships
very hard to come by (and also very expensive) people who are so inclined to will find other ways to 'learn' (be it correctly or not). its time for the closed mouthed, and often haughty tattoo professionals to realize that they cant keep the secrets forever.

[imported_NeedleJack]

Hey Ya Cheese:

Yeh, you're right. There are quite a few out there that think that they are the all knowing tattoo gods, blessed from the heavens, bestowed upon the earth to sit upon their knowledge and for all that apprentice underneath them to sit around hand jerkin em and given em lip service to hopefully gain more knowledge.

Yes, there are other means of learning. The basics of tattooing cannot be stressed enough. I've noticed from some of the tattoo videos that are out on the market that the authors of these videos leave out some of the most important details. The biggest of these is the correct form in which to hold the machine when lining. In addition to this, sterilization is not preached enough, and I think one of the most important in order of presedence, stenciling. How do you stencil a back, or an arm, or calve?

Thanks for hangin out - seems like you got something to bring to the table.

[vernon]

I'm with cheese on this one.People who want to learn to tattoo are going to regardless whether tattoo artists want them to or not. So why make it so hard :?:
Hey Jack I recieved my tips and tubes.Yes tubes, plural. You must have sent me 3 for some reason. I took it as a friendly jester to wanting to help out a beginner. THANKS :) . I have shipped out a money order to you for more needles and ink. Hope it comes soon because my mom is going to let me give her a tattoo when I get colors. Very trusting. :o
Oh yeah, one last thing, what the hell was those little tiny tips you shipped me when I first reciecved my machine :?: . The housing for the needle but not the whole tip that slips on the tube :?
P.S. I think we all here at the forum would love see some of your tremendous works of art. You have to be the shit on wheels if you run a tattoo supply shop.



Later............

[imported_NeedleJack]

Hmmm -> I wouldn't say I'm this shit, and to own a tattoo supply business you don't have to be the shit, you only have to know how to run a business, but I appreciate the semi kudos. Here's a couple of recent pieces. I don't even take pictures most of the time. That was a phase for me until I realized until I was the picasso of tattoo I didn't want people to critique me. To each their own.

http://www.iamthelast.com/sannmonk.jpg
http://www.iamthelast.com/tiger.jpg

[vernon]

Jack, I'm not sure why my computer is not showing your last reply to mine, But when i go to veiw my replies it then shows me. Mummbo jumbo.,whatever. I like your style. good yet modest.


Later.........tatinator


p.s. didn't answer my question about tips???

[imported_NeedleJack]

I think we thought since you had previously ordered that you had were just wanting the tips for the tails. We were a little confused on that order. Ahh, shit happens - usually to me : )

[Hell]

My wife and I have been looking around at diffrent tattoo sites, for quite awhile, wondering where to start and what to get.
This site made the choice easy for us.
Earlier today She called and had the best conversation with an actual person, Who freely gave advice and tips about the ART. Then we come accros this forum...and WOW .. people actualy here to help..and not horde the knowledge.
We will be calling tomorrow and making a purchase.
Hope to be trying it out on grapefruit soon....LOL.
Keep it flowin.... |~|eaven & |~|ell

PS: this will definetly be the most painless part...LOL :D

[imported_NeedleJack]

The reason we're so friendly is all the good dope. Just kidding. Seriously, we appreciate the compliment. We believe that it's better to learn right from the beginning, rather than mess up a hundred people trying to learn. There's nothing that sucks worse than having to go back and fix your own mistakes. Best off to do it right from the get go. Nice havin you along for the ride and best of luck to you in your new adventure tattooing. It's a long road, but a really cool one.

[Anonymous]

i just want to say whats up to everyone here , I am new to this forum , and I must say its exactly what Ive been looking for . I have been through a apprenticeship and mistakingly I went to the cheapest guy in town ....and I cant really say I had learned anything new , well not much anyways , wham , bam , thankyou mam and I was out the door . But in Oregon to get licensed u have to go through all that , so I got my license and have found work in a peircing shop , and being the only artist in the shop I am doing ok , But there is still things I neeeed to learn , its hard to find another group of artists to exchange ideas and techniques with , most around town here have the ROCK STAR mentality . I have posted around a little , I will think of more later . Thanks to all who set up and contribute to this site ...... :D

[txtatz]

Its not that I totaly disagree with the so called hording of knowledge, but I do undedrstand for some reasons why it is so secretive.
First and for most is the info should not be readily available for kids to access for the nature of the art .
Second many artist that I have talked to and know personally worked hard and long for nothing to get into this, and in the time of doing the work they learned some discipline and patience along the way.
Third, for the art to stay and art. There are many greedy low life son's a bitches that just want to make a quick buck from whoever and how ever, no matter who gets hurt or what could happen to others. There are many capitalizing on equipment, hence ebay junk kits (they are crap and a waste of money). Then they guy who buys the kit that just wants to make a buck himself, he really can't draw, but he thinks he can and he marks on people and doesn't care about cleanliness of about the art, he only cares about the money, Hence the word SCRATCHER.
Forth, the laws from state to state vary on the subject, and again most that buy the kits and start tating out of the house don't abide by the laws and have shotty practices, because of maybe just plain ignorance or lack of respect for others or wrong attitude and no disipline, They ignore the laws and in do not get regualted by there health departments( which are there to make sure shops stay safe).

Now in saying all this I to am learning the art. I also sometime disagree with the lack of info on certain subjects, but I do beleive that it stay somewhat of a secret to try and keep out of certain individuals that lack respect to humanity and health. I am in it for the love of the art and not a quick buck, Sometimes the keeping of secrets and the attitude of those that have made a name for themselves is about weeding out the greed and getting to the truley dedicated art loving individuals.

[Anonymous]

anyone watch Inked last night ? ON the A&E channel ??Its about a new tat shop inside a casino in Vegas . I think its another reality show , where they fire people one episode and bring new people in the next show ...it was alright though . They had a big grand opening with the media there and alot of celebrities. It also said they average 35 tats per day ....

[Anonymous]

well it looked that way , but I cant find another listing for it ,,,

[Anonymous]

Yeah I just dont like the way it can really give an artist a bad rep , getting fired on tv like that ...I mean that guy was kinda a goober , and that girl did seem kinda flakey , but ya never really know for sure what really happened , they might have just been getting caught up in all the camera and celebrity presure , now they are labled being incompatent to work in a shop ....

[Anonymous]

just making conversation ....whered everyone go ? nobody posting for days now ...