All my life since I was a child I have been
drawing on and off. Taking some lessons along the way, but never really enjoying
the constrictive nature of drawing a picture of a landscape, or a vase with
flowers. I wanted to draw cool things or things that interested me not what the
teacher wanted me to draw. I have had the opportunity over the years to try my
hand at many different mediums such as oils and acrylic painting. Pencil and Ink
have always been one of my favorites but, I enjoyed airbrushing with fabric
paints experimenting on different clothes for my friends back in high school
doing there favorite Rock Group on there jean jacket or shirt. Although a lot of
the information about the basics was helpful I have evolved my own style and
techniques in creating my art over the next year or so. At this time in my life
I am tattooing and learning how to draw tattoo style art. There has become a
real love and understanding of the art for me over the past years. It all
started out with a tattoo of an eagle on my back when I was seventeen by a woman
named peaches in Florida. I was so impressed that over the next twenty years I
have collected a number of hours of tattoos. My first real
teacher was a terrific artist named Tom Kozack. He is the owner operator of
Screamin Demons Tattoo Studio out of Rhode Island. See in Massachusetts it was
illegal to tattoo. So each week I would travel down to Rhode Island to see my
friend Tom and his needle. As I would sit in his chair and discuss the up coming
tattoo and color schemes we would be using, I watched attentively as he would
set up his work station. I paid attention as to how he would handle the
equipment in a sanitary way and how he would set up his tattoo machine in
different ways for different techniques. I was very intrigued. As I continued to
visit Tom’s studio I began to form a friendship in a way. See as ya sit with an
artist for a few hours at a time you begin to discuss some of your personal self
and beliefs. A sort of friendship is born. In the end a lot of my ink is
representative of different times in my life and how I was feeling. I continued
to ask Tom about how I could find out more information on tattooing and
different techniques. He was able to share some instruction on the use of
equipment and information on where to continue in my pursuit as an artist. I
didn't quit! I can remember when I purchased my first tattoo kit from Spaulding
& and Rodgers. I was so excited and went right to work on creating a stencil and
promptly made a mess of my first tattoo. I continued to practice on everything
from grapefruits to pig skin. It just wasn't the same. From time to time a
friend would let me take a practice run on him or her. (Thanks to all of you
you, know who you are.) There must have been at least a dozen bad tattoos in the
beginning that I have had the chance to rework and make look the way they
should. There were a lot of times when I was very frustrated because the tattoo
turned out bad. I guess I realized that I needed more information and
understanding of the use of my equipment before I could continue. So I packed up
my tattoo supplies and put it all away for about five years. (Should have tagged
it, "Do Not Open Until Educated”) I continued to draw and research tattoo art
and the different styles by many artists. I continued to ask questions of Tom
and other professionals. Over time working and trying to raise my daughter, and
be the best father I could, tattooing had to take a back seat in my life for a
while. In the back of my mind the whole time I knew that one-day I would be
reunited with my machines and my art when the time was right. Eventually I ran
into a situation where I was in need of work and was tired of being treated like
a number or as if I was expandable at any job I was doing. Tired of working hard
for others and never really getting ahead, either financially or personally, and
not ever really feeling any personal satisfaction. I decided it was time to seek
out a career rather than a job. Art had always played a roll in my life up until
this time in my life, so it stood to reason that I began by brushing off my old
equipment and researching the trade from a technical standpoint. I ordered books
and videos on the subject. Went to visit Tom whenever I had a question, plus it
was a good excuse to get more ink. I continued to practice on grapefruits as Tom
had recommended. One day a friend had heard I was practicing again and asks me
to fix an old tattoo he had. I was a bit hesitant and nervous. (Seemed like more
so than my friend) I took a deep breath said a prayer and with my friends
understanding the tattoo turned out ok. I continued to do small easy tattoos for
a bit but became kind of complacent. I needed to either step up or step off. I
continued to study others artists work, trying to recreate some of their art and
flash and read any information available. So I slowly started taking on bigger
and more complicated tattoos. I still would consult with other tattoo artists on
the Internet and in person in my area to see if they could share some of their
knowledge with me. For instance I met another artist on the Internet who owned
and operated his own shop. I explained that I was a beginner and had very little
training. He watched as I tattooed my fiancé on web cam. He tried to help but
was unable due to the limitations of my web cam. He did say that he saw
potential in my skill and invited me to visit him at his shop. It takes patience
and understanding when trying to help someone understand this form of art. There
is alot more to it than just putting ink into someone’s skin he showed me. There
is a certain personality and attitude that should accompany any artist. Not only
will it reflect in the way they pursue the art of tattooing, but also in the way
the client will feel. They may have just sat in your chair and discuss the death
of a loved, the celebration of a birth, or some other significant occasion in
there life that they are signifying with there new tattoo. I feel it’s just as
important that the client feel good about there experience. I want to say that
we all have our own styles and techniques that make us different. (Variety is
the spice of life!) Perhaps it's the way we learned or from whom we learned it.
To believe that there is no room to learn from others would be just ignorant.
Just because an artist tattoos one way it does not make the others way wrong. I
personally do not agree with putting another artists work down. Were I do agree
that not everyone is meant to tattoo. Critism is not the same as a critique.
Although some personalities I have found try and resemble that of a "Rock Star",
I choose to avoid these types. Pride in your work is one thing, vanity is
another. I also feel that art is indeed in the eye of the beholder. I mean it
would be a really boring world if we all liked the same thing. The most
important priority I have learned is to be sanitary, safe and that the client
walks away happy and healthy. The best way I have researched is through the use
of single use disposable needles; autoclaving and use of Universal Precautions
against Blood borne Pathogens based on OSHA, and local Board of Health
regulations. Some of the best information I received was from a friend and
artist by the name of Scott who owns a shop in Michigan. Through his efforts and
friendship I believe I have become a better tattoo artist. He was able to share
his knowledge of tattooing and his experience in business to help me to advance
in my efforts. If I had questions or concerns he was willing to help me
understand ways to make certain adjustments or use different equipment or
techniques to accomplish the tattoo. He did not degrade or belittle another who
was learning. Instead he took the time to try and find different ways to explain
a technique that I may be able to understand it. Weather it was on mixing inks
to making machine adjustments. Perhaps some of the best advice I received was to
always be willing to learn. To remain teachable. To keep open minded and always
humble enough to watch others and learn from those better than I. These to me
are the true principals of the trade. I am always trying to remain grateful for
the opportunity to practice my art on a daily basis. Even though there can be
days when you don't always see eye to eye with others.