Self Evaluation And Being Humble |
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 Nov 29 2007, 04:01 AM
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#21
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Are you an Artist?
i used to consider myself an artist with my youthful arrogance. Now I find it unclear what an artist is, with the artforms around now, but in comparison to those I myself refer to as artists, NO i am not an artist. I love most artforms, I love trying to do art, i can mimic any art onto a stencil for my own uses, but NO I still can't produce original, quality art. Are you a decent craftsman at Tattooing? No, I am a long way from being anything at tattooing. I am quick to pick things up, I am a fast learner, i have the common sense which has helped my through life so far but it will be a warm day in Hell before I can call myself a craftsman at tattooing. It helps having over 1000 individuals in a similar situation willing to share experience, opinions, and advice on a forum like this though. I think I will learn more here than I would from one person(regardless of how good they are). Do you know as much as you think you do? Hmmmm, let me think, is this a trick question? I know as much as I have learnt, although I have forgotten some surely. I think I know enough to live life as I do, but I don't know enough to live life as I would wish to. So I expect to never stop learning, I think even a 105 yr old man in his death bed is still learning. Are you humble? I believe so. Humble enough to accept advice from others that know more? Definately. I must assume that everyone I meet will have more knowledge then me on any given subject. On the rare occasion this is not the case, there WILL be something he I know that he does not, & vice versa. Do you respect the craft and those that came before you? Yes. I must respect them in order to respect the concept and existence of tattooing. If not for them, tattooing would not be where it is today, with its quality and longevity. On that note, i find it hard to respect the minority of 'professionals' who would refuse the 'right' to tattoo to those that will take this craft to the next generation. -------------------- "Giger, you see more than we domesticated primates."
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Feb 1 2008, 09:11 AM
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#22
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this is an awesome post....although im just an apprentice
 i think its important that you keep it real as an artist and not get egotistical about your abilities.a perfect example of this is my instructor (maddhatter) who is an excellent artist and in my opinion has done some wonderfull work......hes still says he doesnt know everything and is my opioin too humble in his assment of himself....... so thanks for starting this thread, and helping others to remember theres always more to learn 
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Feb 10 2008, 12:40 PM
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#23
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1. Are you an artist?
Absolutely. And like any other artist, I have a bit of OCD about it. My major problem is that I cannot make myself finish on anything but skin anymore. Even the rare charcoals I do take a huge amount of self-argument to complete. I hope to fix this one day, but tunnel vision can be a problem. 2. Are you decent craftsman at tattooing? I think technician is a better word, but I would love more time to focus only on machine tuning. Guys like Andy make me way envious. 3. Do you know as much as you think you do? I've learned the most important lesson (in my opinion) and that is you can never ask enough questions, no matter what level (you think) you're at. 4. Are you humble? Humble, but extremely confident in my work. I won't ever talk down on even the worst tattoos (even when I'm faced with covering one), and I have to be able to appreciate the piece I'm about to do or I won't even consider inking it. 5. Humble enough to accept advice from others that know more? For sure, BUT just because someone may not know MORE than you doesn't mean they don't have SOMETHING different to offer. You have to listen to everyone because they will inevitably have some pearl to offer, even the most unlikely source. 6. Do you respect the craft and those that came before you? Without a doubt - and I really want to see it flourish to the next level. Without the new people, new cultures, different personalities, etc we'll all just be spinning our wheels or running in place. When I started years ago, my favorite artists were people like Gil Montie, Freddy Negrete, Kari Barba, the Lieu family, etc. Now there's a whole new group of up-and-comers that have taken their styles different directions, and developed new styles to learn from. One trend that's a great example, is it seems the graffiti artists that are crossing over are bringing a whole new twist on tattoo art - and the more of them that succeed, the more new things we can learn and apply to our own art. You don't have to reinvent the wheel, but you can keep making it better. |
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Feb 10 2008, 05:12 PM
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#24
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good post chef...
1. Are you an artist? – No, i am a lazy bastard... a long time ago, the day i was meant to do my entrance exam for fine arts at university, i dropped acid instead! lol... now i'm a rigger / scaffolder and a hack 'artist' who spends too much time fucking about (like on the internet) than actually doing what i should be doing. I plan to get to a point where i'll be deemed an 'artist' (i.e. full time) in the eyes of others, but i'll always think i suck at it hahaha... nothing ever looks like it does in my head 2. Are you decent craftsman at tattooing? - no... i suck. Won't be returning to my leg until i have a better grasp of the machine, groupings & technique 3. Do you know as much as you think you do? ---No, memory like a gold fish... constantly reviewing everything... and who ever REALLY knows evertyhing anyway... even Einstein couldn't workout his bloody grocery shopping 4. Are you humble? --- Yes, nothing worse than an egomaniac know all 5. Humble enough to accept advice from others that know more? --- Yes, you never stop learning until you're dead whether you agree with them / it works for you or not 6. Do you respect the craft and those that came before you?--- Yes... it's such an interesting and involved medium with so many levels and aspects to it. Gotta have respect for that!! You'd be mad not too... This goes for anything you do in life. We always learn from the success and mistakes of those before us... if we didn't we'd still live in trees and throw our own shit at each other (well... we live in 'houses' and the shit has turned into bullets, bombs and lawsuits... but that's another story!) lol haha that was fun... how much for that session dr sigmund chef-ink?... you have a most comfortable chais longue This post has been edited by rot & roll: Feb 10 2008, 05:15 PM |
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Apr 18 2008, 01:43 AM
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#25
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1. Are you an artist? Yes, but constantly learning...
2. Are you decent craftsman at tattooing? I'm ok but always trying to improve, I can take any criticism and use it to better myself. 3. Do you know as much as you think you do? ... Hell no... My brain is a sponge... I'm constantly trying to learn more and more, I don't care how good ppl say i am, I'm always up for learning something new. 4. Are you humble? Yes... very... There's no reason to be any other way in this industry, there's always someone better, there's always something new to learn, the second you think you know more than anyone else you'll be proven wrong. 5. Humble enough to accept advice from others that know more? Yup... see my previous answers... there's always someone better and that's the one I wanna learn as much as I can from... 6. Do you respect the craft and those that came before you? Definitely.. they are the ones who paved the way for me. They don't owe me anything and it's because of them why I'm where I am now, yeah people say I'm good, but that's only cuz there was someone better than me to show me how to be good... I just hope to reach their level someday. -------------------- Push the needle in... Now there's no return...
http://www.myspace.com/davethewicked http://forum.ink-trails.com/gallery-user1732-album213.html •()WìÇKëÐ[::::::::::::> |
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Apr 28 2008, 11:27 PM
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#26
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Iam not an artist, actually I am far from it.
Humble yes, I always have been. I have recently started a new form of Karate after begining martial arts in 1987 and decided to start at white belt again, so that I can empty the cup and fill it again. I have a lot to learn about many things in life. I never stop learning I always share my knowledge without hesitation. |
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May 3 2008, 06:04 PM
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#27
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1. Are you an artist?
I have made my living as a commercial artist (airbrush, oils, acrylics, dementional, U-name-it) for a very long time, but as I believe art to be subjective I'd say that in that vein... 1/ I am ever evolving 2/ never completely happy with anything I create 3/ hopeful that one day I will find a point of satisfaction in a job well done 2. Are you decent craftsman at tattooing? was on 'L' plates... now on 'P' plates (ozzies will understand) decent? yes, as a person... craftsman? getting there (fingers crossed) hopefully 3. Do you know as much as you think you do? I find that just as soon as a person says 'I know' anything it really means that they 'hope' what they think is correct  I believe I know very little about most things, which is just fine by me cause I love to learn stuff 4. Are you humble? I'd like to thinks so... I'd like to think that I am aware of my shortcomings and proud of any achievements... false humility is just as undermining to confidence and self esteem as arrogance can be 5. Humble enough to accept advice from others that know more? always! eager for it in fact... I just want to know stuff!!! 6. Do you respect the craft and those that came before you? I respect the effort of those that come before in any area of life... their struggles make our way easier, our path clearer, their insights give us the ability to move forward in leaps and bounds I teach classes from time to time to graphic professional, and so I see the real value in passing on acquired experience but just because a thing has always been done one way, doesn't mean that it should continue to be done that way for ever evolution is adding new things to the firm foundation of what came before... respect the foundation, and build on it! cheers gail (aka gb) -------------------- courage and serenity I got... it's wisdom I'm lacking
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Jul 5 2008, 01:57 AM
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#28
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Yes i still can remember what my guru trying to let me absorb the secret principle on the way how to learn.
just try to connect your inner spirit (not your physical emotional mind) to the infinite source of light,energy and wisdom. |
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Jul 23 2008, 09:39 AM
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#29
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bump
-------------------- Loneferret
___________________________________________________ *** The comments expressed in this reply are those of it's owner, and does not necessarily reflect opinions of the rest of the moderating team or other forum members. *** "Freedom is a right for all sentient beings..." I want to become a tattoo artist so I can shed this geek image people have of me... I swear that mans put more machines in kitchens than huck spaulding. |
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Jul 23 2008, 10:21 AM
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#30
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I agree lone.... this one needs bumping up.
-------------------- ..Damn it...
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Jul 24 2008, 08:26 AM
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#31
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QUOTE (The Fortune Teller @ Jul 23 2008, 01:21 PM)  I agree lone.... this one needs bumping up. Thanks... -------------------- Loneferret
___________________________________________________ *** The comments expressed in this reply are those of it's owner, and does not necessarily reflect opinions of the rest of the moderating team or other forum members. *** "Freedom is a right for all sentient beings..." I want to become a tattoo artist so I can shed this geek image people have of me... I swear that mans put more machines in kitchens than huck spaulding. |
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| Guest_ink-in-skin tattoos_* |
 Oct 2 2008, 09:29 AM
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#32
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1. Are you an artist?
With paper and pen yes! with a tattoo machine, i`ll do the work but still have a LONG ASS way to go 2. Are you decent craftsman at tattooing? I do average work, would love to do awesome work, but i know it`ll only come with time, practice, and the right mentor.... 3. Do you know as much as you think you do? Fuck no...ive only been doing this for like a year and a bit, not my whole life or 30+ years like alot of these well respected and EXCELLENT tattoo artist now days. ( i could only wish to be as good as some of these guys) 4. Are you humble? I wish i could flat out say YES, no im not a know-it-all but i like to think i am, (i need to learn to bite the bullit and admit im a everyday hacker or newbie...and listern to these guys who have spent their life on their artistic talents) 5. Humble enough to accept advice from others that know more? ALWAYS, as hard as it can be to be proven wrong, you cant argue with years of dedicated experiance and knoweledge (once again i need to bite the bullet sometimes lol) 6. Do you respect the craft and those that came before you? Yes i respect the craft and years of deication it takes to learn about the true art of tattooing, and and how no matter how much i "think i know", i will never know everything (you learn something new everyday) is still being said by some guys who have been tattooing for many, many, many years. But it would be nice to be told "your on the right track" or "you`ll get there one day", but i guess that has to be earned.... **NOTE** You think its hard to get an apprenticeship in America, wait till you meet the whole 10-12 tattoo studio's in each state of Australia (the whole 7 of em...lol) its nearly fucking impossible, no wait, it is impossible... so unless your willing to put in the man hours and the years of practice and learning as a self taught newbie..... your as good as fucked, and may as well not even bother, so i guess if your trying to do the right thing (without getting an app.) then youve gotta be willing to accept advice and the occcasional kick to the gutter, but without these kicks, how do we know what were really up against.... |
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Oct 11 2008, 11:47 PM
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#33
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I never want to stop learning! I will always want to better myself as an artist and tattoo artist. I want to absorb as much as possible and learn as many different ways to make my art and tattooing better and better! That's the best thing about tattooing, you will always continue to lear and grow with, if you allow yourself too! I'm ALWAYS opened to advice and read non-stop! Researching new methods and techniques all the time, studying others work,etc... Tattooing is the BEST thing that has ever happened to me! I live for it!
-------------------- Glorious Dawn Upon The Plateau Of Might Now Burns!
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Jan 14 2009, 12:43 PM
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#34
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1. Are you an artist?
I guess, I have made a living producing art in several mediums for a while now 2. Are you decent craftsman at tattooing? My clients seem to love my work, it heals well and looks bright.....I understand all of the aspects of my tools (although I'm currently teaching myself everything about pigments)...and I work in a clean professional manner... 3. Do you know as much as you think you do? Yup....I could ramble for hours over the reams of info I've memorized (and I really mean memorized) 4. Are you humble? Yes and no, I have severe limitations, but all will be overcome....... 5. Humble enough to accept advice from others that know more? Yes, but my feelings can be hurt! 6. Do you respect the craft and those that came before you? Of course....my tattoo shop has deep lineage to the past, I tattoo with an early (way early) Rollo cutback machine (a modern marvel if there ever was one...I mean wtf..a Supreme frame?) You don't have to reinvent the wheel if you pay attention to the guy who did! And as for respecting the craft? Oh hell yea....it is a sacred art -------------------- zombies got my dog.....
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Jan 16 2009, 06:33 AM
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#35
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I saw the post and thought about it again last night. I guess alot has changed for me since the initial post. To me thats a good thing, i see it as growth...so here goes again.
1. Are you an artist? No, this is probably the thing that Ive come to realize since working in the shop. I saw a quote from Cliff Raven that summed it up for me: "Im a craftsman trying to be an artist" Meaning that Im not gonna whip out a backpiece freehanded w/ sharpies and no stencils. I can do custom art it just takes me alot of homework and time. 2. Are you decent craftsman at tattooing? I guess Im "decent" but always learning and trying to get better. I am MUCH more professional now from my shop experience. 3. Do you know as much as you think you do? Yeah, I realize I know a little when it comes to the big picture. I also realize that learning will NEVER end. I now know what I can do and what I am not ready for. 4. Are you humble? Hell yes, even more so now than when I first posted. I know I have some limitations, like I am not ready for portrait work for example. My game is limited and I'm aware of it. I know I'm not the next Guy Aitchison or Paul Booth. 5. Humble enough to accept advice from others that know more? Yeah, even though it isn't always what I want to hear, or sometimes can hurt i bit. With that Ive also learned who NOT to listen to. 6. Do you respect the craft and those that came before you? I have to admit I respect the craft more so now from my experiences at the shop. To be honest my respect for the artform and craft is actually part of the reason why I left. Im not gonna get into specifics on a public forum, but those that know me know why. -------------------- "There’s a fine line between clever and stupid." - D. St. Hubbins
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Jan 16 2009, 10:10 AM
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#36
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1. Are you an artist?
Yes. Not professional, and not the best, but have a passion for art and make time to create art. As long as I'm creating, I feel that I am an artist. 2. Are you decent craftsman at tattooing? No. Not yet. 3. Do you know as much as you think you do? I don't think I know much at all, and am still very naive about many things. So, yes I know that I don't know shit. 4. Are you humble? 99% of the time. 5. Humble enough to accept advice from others that know more? Yes. And sometimes the advice of a less skilled artist, a non artistic person or even a child can be spot on. Certain aspects of design sometimes escape your eye and if I try to listen with an open mind, I usually learn something valuable. 6. Do you respect the craft and those that came before you? Absolutely. -------------------- |
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Jan 16 2009, 12:08 PM
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#37
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1. Are you an artist?
Yes. Always striving for my own form of perfection in different styles. 2. Are you decent craftsman at tattooing? Not even close. 3. Do you know as much as you think you do? I wish I payed more attention in college. Went at an age that I wasn't mature enough to really handle it. Felt more like highschool, and I didn't take very much out of it 4. Are you humble? I try very hard to be 5. Humble enough to accept advice from others that know more? Absolutely, I try to take any criticism as constructive criticism. 6. Do you respect the craft and those that came before you? More than most. I hate seeing half decent artists, expecting to get things handed to them like the older artist's owe them something. One of the reasons I feel as though I may make it in this environment. I respect every person of the industry that has established themselves. |
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Feb 20 2009, 08:28 AM
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#38
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Xlnt post! Thank you.
www.celticsdesigntattoos.biz |
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Feb 20 2009, 10:11 AM
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#39
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QUOTE (Celtic Tattoos @ Feb 20 2009, 08:28 AM) Xlnt post! Thank you. www.celticsdesigntattoos.biz what shite.. i mean what site?  might as well have a go at the self evaluation ting too 1. Are you an artist? I could be if i focused my efforts more on Art, family and life in general seem to be getting in the way a bit... 2. Are you decent craftsman at tattooing? I have a lot to learn.. 3. Do you know as much as you think you do? I know what i know, and wish to know what i dont.. 4. Are you humble? completely. 5. Humble enough to accept advice from others that know more? Yes, the more advice the better please. 6. Do you respect the craft and those that came before you? yes, especially the good ones -------------------- Nosferatu1812@yahoo.com
CLICK ME " Dictatorship naturally arises out of democracy,and the most aggravated form of tyranny and slavery out of the most extreme liberty"- Plato |
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Mar 9 2009, 02:01 AM
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#40
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I just saw these questions, and fingered I would answer them. This is my first posting. 1. Are you an artist? I started drawing at a very young age. I consider myself a decent artist, and have spent most of my time working in tattoo style. I would not call myself a tattoo artist, however, that is something I am working towards. 2. Are you decent craftsman at tattooing? I got my first gun about 4 years ago from some homeless dude who ran around tattooing the troubled youth. I had little if any knowledge. I began tattooing myself, then a few others. Those tattoos did not turn out well at all, so, I gave up for a while. I put my gun up in a closet, and tossed all the other gear I had, which was worthless anyhow. An old friend of mine was willing to take me under his wing, apprentice me. I look back now, and I wish I would have made the sacrifices I needed to as the apprenticeship lasted under two weeks. My fault, I was not dedicated enough. Years later, one of his old apprentices took the time out to show me a few things, not much, but the basics. I sobered up a while later, saved up the money I needed for a cheap kit, and spent a couple hundred for a china kit. The guns work fine for small pieces, but come out of tune often when working for extended periods. I am replacing them soon, and the ps too. I use only disposables, never reuse needles, and have a pressure cooker and an ultrasonic to sterilize what I may happen to reuse (ie tubes). I refer to this site whenever I have issues, I know a few artists, but it is so difficult to get info from some of them, this site has helped me tremendously. To answer the question, I am decent when it comes to small pieces, improving on my technique, not damaging any skin or lives, not taking on anything too big yet, building a SMALL group of clients who understand who I am as a tattooist, and where I am in the industry. I would love to undertake a full on apprenticeship, but finding one has taken 31 years. I am all too happy and honored to be making the little bit of money I am from a small group of people who place more trust and confidence in me than I do myself. And I am becoming more and more impressed with the work I am doing. So, my answer could be.....Not Yet. 3. Do you know as much as you think you do? I am a realist. I know what I know. I know what I didn't know before. I know what I am learning and how. I do not brag, boast, or even refer to myself as a tattoo artist. Others do, and I have to remind them of my infancy. So, I would say that I know as much as I think I do, but I think I know little and need to know more. 4. Are you humble? (see above) 5. Humble enough to accept advice from others that know more? Humble enough to make serious personal sacrifices in exchange for the instruction I need to do what I love, if the opportunity presented itself. 6. Do you respect the craft and those that came before you? I go a step further. I study the craft and those who came before me, almost nightly. Tattooing is my passion. |
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