Ink Trails Tattoo Forum: Self Evaluation And Being Humble - Ink Trails Tattoo Forum

1. Are you an artist? -- some people call me an artist, although im not so sure if that is the case... i dont think i am a natural when it comes to drawing, i really have to sit down and pick apart the subject, really draw something several times to really understand what it is i am drawing. i guess i would consider myself a student, not an artist.

2. Are you decent craftsman at tattooing?---- I have never tattooed anyone, I want to polish off my drawing and water colour skills a little more before I approach anyone about an apprenticeship

3. Do you know as much as you think you do?--- i dont know a great deal about tattooing at all, aside obvious things of course. I like to think I know what looks good, but thats about it.

4. Are you humble?---i beleive i am

5. Humble enough to accept advice from others that know more?--- Definatly, pretty much all of the work I do is traditional japanese (well my attempt at). Theres only so much one can learn from researching on the internet and reading books, so I value other peoples input very much.

6. Do you respect the craft and those that came before you?--- I dont think I would be on this site if i didn't. Although I dont know a great deal about the craft itself, having books filled with beautiful designs from greats truly is an inspiration for me to keep at what im doing, and work hard to perfect my drawing skills

1. Are you an artist? Yes I love all aspects of art. Especially tattooing.
2. Are you decent craftsman at tattooing? I believe so. I'm always learning new things from other artists.
3. Do you know as much as you think you do?---I know as much as I do right now, but there is always room for improvement.
4. Are you humble?--Very humble, I pick apart my work, ask other's their opinions on my work, and point out my weaknesses and do what I can to make them strengths.
5. Humble enough to accept advice from others that know more?---Absolutley! Thats why I'm so very happy to have found this forum!
6. Do you respect the craft and those that came before you?--- I do respect those who came before me, and those who came after me.

1. Are you an artist? I think so - from an early age i have created works and it has been with me all the way through i put 100% into what i do sometimes that isnt enough and creations dont turn out as hoped sometimes thats way more and my art work turns out better than i hoped
2. Are you decent craftsman at tattooing? id like to think one day i will be but for now i have much to learn
3. Do you know as much as you think you do? I know as much as i know but will never know enough - there is always something new to learn and so something i will feel the need to learn
4. Are you humble? i think so
5. Humble enough to accept advice from others that know more? deffinately - i would rather somebody tore me appart where i go wrong and build me back up to put it right theres always somebody that can teach you something new and im always willing to take on more knowledge
6. Do you respect the craft and those that came before you? deffinately - i respect everybody untill im disrespected - without those that came before me where would knowledge and wisdom come from - i respect those after me as new techniques are learned everyday and we can all teach each other

1. Are you an artist?
Define "Artist"? If an artist is someone that creates something tangiable from the passion/need in their heart/soul, then, yes, I'm an artist. I do not believe that one person has the right to negate anothers belief in their ability as an artist. If so would Picasso have created "Girl before mirror" or "Old Guitarist". Where would Jackson Pollock be or the whole Abstract movement? Who are we to say that what they create is lesser than say the Realists (Daumier, Dega, Homer). Yes, it is different but no less passionate or creative. Art is not something you do for the pleasure of others, it is your need to create that makes you an artist. If what you do is well received then you are indeed lucky but no more of an artist than those not so in the public eye. Take time to visit some local Gallery's - you will see works both brilliant and mediocre by artists you do not know but they are still artists.
Also, just as a side note to this... a reply was added in the early days of this post wherein someone mentioned that anyone "using hue instead of colour is a fag..." Sorry but hue IS colour, if you are a student of the arts (either self taught or formally instructed you should know this) & fag is a horrible word & demeans not only this forum but the craft itself.
2. Are you a decent craftsman at tattooing? To my current ability & knowledge, yes but will always be searching for my own perfection.
3. Do you know as much as you think you do? No, I know as much as I do today but not as much a tomorrow & will always be chasing tomorrow.
4. Are you humble? I am humbled by the talent that it is out there.
5. Humble enough to accept advice from others that know more? Yes and smart enough to not take the first piece of advise I am given.
6. Do you respect the craft and those that came before you? Yes to both. I respect all artists that pave the way for those that follow.

1. Are you an artist? -- I like to believe I am. Those around me consider me one. Majored in art in college. Unfortunately, I never took it further then that. Life got in the way.

2. Are you decent craftsman at tattooing?--- I've found a lot of things came naturally, such as, shading, color and composition. This I can credit to having an artistic eye to begin with. That said, I often get stumped with the technical aspect.

3. Do you know as much as you think you do?--- I know what I know and what I know is always subject to change.

4. Are you humble?--- I think so

5. Humble enough to accept advice from others that know more?--- I believe this would be one of my greatest strengths

6. Do you respect the craft and those that came before you?--- Absolutely. I think respect for the craft is necessary for success. Respecting those that came before me? That depends. You earn respect. Too many who have come before me think they deserve it while day after day producing sub par crap. Then there's the minority that actually make an impact. There work inspires and they contribute back to the community. They, I respect.

1. Are you an artist? -- I would love to call myself that, but I just reproduce others work that have gone before, maybe with years comes originality?
2. Are you decent craftsman at tattooing? -- Yet to put ink to skin, I think permanence is something to be respected and approached with caution.
3. Do you know as much as you think you do? -- I know I don't, but others think I do.
4. Are you humble? -- too humble
5. Humble enough to accept advice from others that know more? -- so much so I often dare not ask
6. Do you respect the craft and those that came before you? -- Yes of course, but I think sometimes you need to push them out of your mind, or you'll never create anything new. I don't always agree that you have to know where you've been to get where you're going.

A humbling post for those with a mind. Thank you.

1. Are you an artist?

Yes, I'm an artist, although I'm not very good at it. I'm getting better, but not as quickly as I'd like, but mostly because I'm lazy. I need to draw every day, not just when or what I feel like.

2. Are you decent craftsman at tattooing?

No, but then when I started woodworking I wasn't decent at that either. I'm learning. One big lesson for me was that the PS didn't have to go to 11 to make it work.

3. Do you know as much as you think you do?

You know, this is for others to say. I'm sure I'm wrong about some of the things I know. Of that I'm certain. Everything else is pretty much up in the air.

4. Are you humble?

Yes and no. My balls spark when I walk sometimes. Although, when I look around at some of the greats, and even the not-so-greats, I feel pretty humbled. I want to do work like that so bad, and maybe someday I will. Maybe.

5. Humble enough to accept advice from others that know more?

Definitely humble enough to accept advice. I tend to measure the advice I get though.

6. Do you respect the craft and those that came before you?

Yes and no, you know. It's kind of a mixed bag. I look at the guy that made those cheesy 'how to tattoo' videos that I watched when I first started out and cringe. I recently went back and watched the two that I bought with a friend of mine to show them to him and realized how badly he f**cked up that chick's arm. I mean, damn. But on the other hand, I've seen some really great work. I mean stuff I don't think I could ever do and my jaw drops in awe. Even guys that started out around the turn of the century. Some of those guys were really good tattooists, smart guys, and very good artists. I'm not really up for the guys who create a brand and sell designer t-shirts, but I guess there's a little bit of grit for cash everywhere. I know that there are parts of my job I do because they pay well, not because I like them, so I understand somewhat.

As for the craft, tattooing is kinda hard. There's a lot to know, just in the realm of art application. That's a subject in itself. It's a lot more than I think I'll ever be able to absorb sometimes. And that's just one facet. But the greats know it like the back of their hand and apply it without even thinking. I'd like to be that fluent, although not many people ever get that fluent. I'm learning, and experimenting. I'm picking up what I can, but I feel like I'm all thumbs most of the time. Just have to remember to take it one bite at a time.