I have been getting tattooed for 8 years now. I have 3 close friends who work at a respected shop so im around it alot. My question is this: I find myself very critical of tattoos on people, for instance I was checkin out the pic rating on this site and I kept giving lower end scores. Now this dosnt mean that they are not ok tattoos or that there bad designs but IMO a tattoo is more than a pretty picture or design. Theres alot of things such as line work, shading, color placement that all makes a good quality tattoo . Is it just me or is everyone like this?
Again im not meaing to put anyone down or make bad comments to people this is just me personally when judging a tattoo.
Hi Flyguy
My experience is that tattooing is a very personal artform and as we see more and more tattoos we develop an idea of what is ‘right’ based on several factors;
Our personal tastes towards tatoo types eg colour vs black and shade.
Subject matter (style of tattoo)
Placement of the tattoo.
This is even before we take into account the artistic quality. So yes we can be very critical – it is even more so when we do not know a person so we are not shackled by any sense of moral obligations or not wanting to hurt feelings.
I have a very thick skin when it comes to my own tattoos I am surrounded by friends and family that hate them. I openly say I couldn’t give a rats arse if they like it or not the fact is I like it. If others share that feeling then that is a bonus, if not I am not shedding tears.
When it comes to other ppl’s tattoos I try to step outside myself and look at it as I would a new painting.
I see a work of art and yes part of my mind will be critical about lines, shading et al but what I am really looking for is the beauty or story behind the ink. That is why I find tattoos fascinating.
If it is not a good tattoo or I feel it needs more to bring out th best it can be, I will try and offer constructive advice on how to improve them.
The trick is not to dissapear up your own arse when looking at other ppl’s ink and thinking ‘hey mine is better’. 🙂
If we can do that there is nothing wrong with expressing personal taste.
Take Care
Matthew
You’re a better man than me then man. I headbutted the last nonfamily member to talk shit about my ink. It’s like I store up all the shit my family gives me about my tattoos, put it into a trunk, and store it away for the unlucky asshat who wants to question if I do, indeed, feel pretty.
Otherwise, I have to admit, I’m kinda with Flyguy, except for the whole “I can barely write a coherent sentence” thing.
For me, the story is irrelevant, which shows up in my own work. With the sole exception of the matching set me and my wife share, there *IS* no story behind my tattoos. To my mind, the only things that matter are the skill with which the image is rendered, whether the design is solid, and is the placement appropriate to the scale of the design. I agree that tattooing is art–for my own personal taste, I believe it to be the highest form of art. But then again I freely admit I’m a tattoo elitist. It should be done cleanly, professionally, and with precision and care. Scratchers need to be hurt. Badly.
On the other hand, your way of looking at it seems a whole lot less assholish, so I’m not going to tell you you’re wrong. 😀
Flyguy man, I’d interested to see what someone with your “high standards” would think of my own ink. Click on that link, and you’ll see it.
Love. Peace. Metallica.
Hi
It is not that I think I am right and I can see the relevant arguments and merits in your views on tattoos.
For me it is simply that I spend a min of 40-50 hrs a week been a ruthless bastard in my job. There is simply no room for sympathy or soft feelings, that outside of work I try to be more open minded.
Otherwise I think I would become a clone of my colleagues and I will be damned if I am going to let that happen.
Take Care
Matthew
every person will look at tattoos in a different way, but i would be interested in knowing if flguy is just as critiqe orientated towards the shop he goes to’s work…. or is it just other peoples stuff ??
no tattoo is perfect, you will always find something not quite right, it might only be a miss on one of the joints or a slight wobble on a line or curve….. the most respectful thing i can remember is chriss garver once saying he looks forward to the day when he does a perfect piece.
im not bagging on anyone
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