Noob checking in..

[Chef-Ink]

Hi all,

First and foremost I wanna thank Needle Jack and all of you on the boards for all the advice you all give. As you guys probably already know good advice on tattooing isnt easy to some by.

Heres my situation and where Im at right now.
Im 35, married with an 8 month old son. I work as a chef, and have been cooking/managing all of my working life. Problem is, Im sick of it.
Dont want to do it anymore.

I had been thinking of tattooing for a while now, and with the wifes approval have dedicated myself to learning the craft. Ive been reading the boards, books and been drawing daily.I have NO INENTION of putting a needle to skin for a while. I dont have the knowledge or skills yet; and dont wanna hack anyone like I got hacked on my first tattoo.

Im sure I'll have a ton of questions but Ill start with 2

1. I've read that tracing flash and any other artwork is great practice. Is this true?

2. I have a hard time drawing original stuff, but can copy others decently. I feel like the guitar player that can play any Van Halen lead, but cant write one of his own to save his life.
Is this common?


Thanks again

[Pigment Pen]

Welcome to the forum. There's a lot of great people here who can help with just about everything concerning tattooing.

Copying other artwork is great practice, but try to just use it as a reference rather than making an exact duplicate. Once you get used to changing other works into your own you'll get more original ideas and your abilities will improve immensely.

As far as tracing flash, if you can already draw well then I don't see how it can help. Just my opinion.

[FORGIVEN]

WELCOME TO THE FORUM !!! theres lots of good people here , drawing and tracing is excellent practice !!!! and as far as original drawings go , it'll come with time , i've known many tattoo artists who didnt have an original thought in there head , but were excellent tattooists , not everyone can reproduce stuff and some clients want exactly whats on the wall , no variations !!!!! so keep drawing , keep copying , keep moving forward !!!! until you actually pick up a machine dont listen to ANYONE on HOW to draw , thats your gig !!!! but when its time to start tattooing thats another story !!!! Heres a tip ....take two D batteries and tape them to the end of a long pencil and draw your ass off , practice shading , small consecutive circles !!! do this untill your hand is screaming , then do it some more :twisted: !!!! P.S. i was a chef for 15 years , got burnt out , and it (tattooing ) can happen if you really want this , but remember CLEANLINESS & STERILIZATION FIRST , THIS AINT NO JOKE !!!!

[Hardskull]

welcome to the forum!! Im in about the same situation that you are as far as being sick of my daily grind gig and wanted something new that I could devote myself to and learn a true art form.I myself can reproduce most things on paper but when it comes to being origanal I suck lol..listen to theses people on here,you wont find too many places like this to ask questions and and actually have it answered without ridicule like so many other places! Just take in every bit of info you can by reading..reading..reading! Good luck to you and have fun

[Nekrotek]

Welcome aboard.

No such thing as a dumb question, just remember that.

READ, READ, READ ABOUT C.C. AND BLOODBORNS, and then read again.


Keep it clean - Nek

[JosephBigBear]

Welcome to the forum. What forgiven told you is a great idea. Also learn all of your info on Blood bourne pathogens, history of tattooing, take any and all seminars at tattoo coventions remember it takes time and a hell of alot of practice. Draw. draw, draw.............................. :twisted:

[BigDaddyInks]

Welcome to the forum!!!!

I too have a problem with original pieces. I can draw others stuff well but when it comes to just drawing off the cuff its ruff..haha...any way, I was doodling at work today and started pulling off roses and a wicked dragon on a dry erase board I was like where did i have that tucked away....so keep drawing like they said and it will come.
Good Luck!!!! :twisted:

[urmindsi]

Welcome , watch-out for the addiction factor of this forum!!!!!!!!

[Duger]

Welcome The Fourm ......Chef Ink
I Couldn't Praise enough on how Great Folks here and now they take the time out of their day to share tips and experence..enjoy the forum.

[voodoo]

i sometimes draw at work..

[Talon]

forgiven has a good idea with the batteries. I put a mechanical pencil in one of my dad's guns and thats what i practice drawing with. there is a big difference in the way you draw with a pencil and the way the gun feels because of the weight position. thats my opinion anyways.

[Miss Disaster]

Welcome to the board! OKay, like the last few people said, I too was never one to pull off a masterpiece with a pencil and paper, but I was always doodling, and doing artsy crafts, and since I have really gotten into tattooing, I have bought some flash, traced, traced, traced, and then I started changing things on the flash, like if it was a fairey, I'd change the wings how I liked them, and so on and so on, and with a 20 month old at my side 24-7, it's hard to think sometimes and be creative, but lately, I have been drawing like a mad woman, and who knew, been pulling some okay stuff outta my.... keep drawing, it really helps. But hell, I just picked up a Tattoo mag the other day, this chick was an awsome tattooist, they did an article on her, and she admitted that she can't draw worth a shite, but man can she replicate! Portraits you wouldn't believe.

[BigBuck]

Welcome to the forum Chef-Ink this place is jam packed with really good info and great guys to Im a newbie myself and I'm lovin it just sit back and read,read,read.......

Buck :D

[STARMedic]

Welcome Chef....

Bruce

[ink_freak]

welcome bro....try using flash as an inspiration sooner or later u will be creating your own flash! you will trace alot in the future when you start doing stencils so it is good practice.

[el tatuaje]

wassup chef and welcome
el

[Chef-Ink]

Whoa, thanks for all the advice fellas (ladies too)
Its great to get some advice and encouragement, both are SUPER difficult to come by from local artists.

Yo Forgiven, thanks especially to you. I tried the battery trick on a pencil, and what a burn ! My wife enjoyed watching my hand cramp up in 15 minutes :-)

I have another probably stupid question but here goes:
From what Ive read needles, tubes and grips can all be bought as single use disposables. If I use ONLY single use items and bag the machine and cord, is there still a need for an Autoclave?

Thaks in advance, I looked through the forums and havent been able to find this qustion. If i missed it, sorry in advance; Im not being lazy; but the question is driving me nuts

[gooey.uk1]

The answer to your question is no just use needle and tip once then dispose but you must dispose of the used needles in a sharps bin and have them incinerated

[Chef-Ink]

Its a good day today.
Just finished my order for an Intermediate Kit, and the DVD package.
Didnt notice the A-Z book was so cheap here, I'm bidding on one in EBay.


Along with my order, I have #10 of grapefruits and a dozen butternut squash coming through work.

Im figuring at least 5-6 months of practicing on fruit and veggies before I even attempt skin. Im just geeked out to have a stuff coming so I can get used to using it. Again, Im not gonna be a jack-ass and start hurting people, just a few fruits :-)

[tat2dmthrfckr]

Hey man welcome to the world of tattooing. To be honest with you I couldn't hardly draw anything free hand when I started tattooing, but now I can draw anything by looking at it, and some things original out of my head, but like all the others said trace trace trace, draw draw draw. If you can go to conventions and just watch an artist you know of or that has a good portifolio. Don't just watch how he/she tattoos, watch how they dispense their inks, put on a stencil, wipe or blot while lining, how they stay sterile as far as baggin machines, cords and stands, and just everything.

Not to kill your mood about tattooing but just so you don't get discouraged if your first tattoo sux don't quit. I know guys that painted and drew for 20 years that couldn't tattoo to save their life. I know guys that on paper blow your mind but pick up a machine and can't do shit. Just remember when you draw on paper, no matter what angle or speed you are gonna get a solid line. But not true with a tattoo machine on skin. Just have fun with it, don't get burnt out, and don't get big headed.

[Chef-Ink]

Yeah tat2d, I hear ya on being discouraged. Ive been reading books, these boards and have the DVD set from Jack.

After getting familiar with my machines, and learning to tune them etc. I decided to check them out on a few grapefruits. WOW, those first few were sad looking. Bad lines and ovals that were supposed to be circles. Not to mention the ink splatter. I was riding the tube, and had my mchine runing too fast. I dropped the power, and brought the tube up higher to check out "riding the needle". Alot less splatter, better Line of Sight on my design.


I have my next question, Ive read that you are supposed to ride the tube when you are starting out. After a few nights, Im ALOT more comfortable and get MUCH better lines when I ride the needle.

Is this smart?
Is it OK to only ride the needle?

I dont think Im mauling the fruit with my needle depth and like I said im more comfortable and am getting better results.

BTW everyone, after using my machines for a few nights, I have an even greater respect for the profession. I told my wife if drawing with pencils is like riding a bike, then using a machine is like riding a Hog.

[needlemark]

what i do is buy tattoo mags and take a bit of one tattoo and a bit of another then you seem to get ideas

[dustin]

i put a half inch grip on a pencil while im at school and write with it all day to get my hand stronger and used lining with such a fat grip. when im at home in addition to the grip, i break a pencil in half and wedge some paper towl in the vice so it wond slip around and put the machine on the pencil, and practice tracing flash. its done wonders for me and its helpful when you dont really have time to break out all the supplies and stuff

[tattooski11]

whats up dude! man i love drawing new stuff but i find it hard too. im good at lettering cause of graffiti. im getting a lot better at the basic tattoo shit...hearts, stars, crosses, skulls, smoke, flames, waves, etc. but breaking new ground is hard. i like to get inspird by reading other artists interviews and reading about different artists that were changing the norm. the last interview i like was with grime. cause i like graffiti and cause he mentioned all the cleche artwork that just seems boring. but i guess the more socially acceptable it becomes the more lame boring shit were going to have to do to please the sheeple. but i guess that just makes it easier to do and quick money so i guess i dont care. there will always be the people that will be openminded and not just wanting what everybody else has. graffiti has kept me creative because ive had to attack the same alphabet forever and constantly make new styles. and it helps with color schemes, backgrounds, and characters...mabye look at sculpture or other art for inspiration