Ursula

I agree fully that one of the reasons my stuff is better received is because it's something different. If you google "tattoo embroidery" there are tons of people who do it. The difference is I've done my homework (and still do). I've spent the years learning about things like how to do starts and dots and where to put the black. I've also spent years working on my skills as a needleworker. That guy's painting was painted decent it's the composition and drawing skills that are lacking for me. I am not the best at drawing either which is why I tend to stick with good flash when I'm doing tattoo style stuff. There's no reason to change a Rollo design, it's already bad ass. I've also done stuff where the composition turned out horrible but I don't post those things for the public to see and I don't sell them. All my fails go into a binder so I can look back and learn. The reason I make these things is because I am driven to. Sewing in all it's forms is a compulsion for me. I can't sleep at night because I'm thinking about thread. The reason why I make things based on tattoo imagery is because it's bad fucking ass. I am heavily tattooed, and always have been interested in tattooing since I was young. I am marrying a tattooer and have worked in tattoo shops. It's pretty hard to be an artist and be around a certain type of art every day year after year and not be inspired. I do other types of work as well I just posted the tattoo stuff because well it fits the audience. I'm not ashamed to say that 99% of the art works I've sold were to tattooers. I know I can't water colour for shit or use acrylics on anything other then fabric so I wouldn't even try. I have no desire to paint so I don't. If I did paint I'm sure I'd be painting some tattoo stuff too. p.s. stewart i hope i didn't come off as mad at you don't apologize for not liking my stuff after reading my post everyone is allowed to like or not like whatever they want

I'm sorry but you are a fucking moron if you think Ed Hardy has hurt the tattoo industry. If Ed was making all that cash he wouldn't be selling tattoos and painting anymore. He'd be living on his own private island or some shit like that. Well he does own the right to a lot of Sailor Jerry stuff and has made lots of money of it, he kind of deserves it since he's the one that kept most of that stuff alive and available to the tattoo community after Jerry's death. I don't know Ed personally but I'm 99% sure he's no millionaire. And if he is a millionaire I'd be hard pressed to name another tattooer who deserves it more than him. A lot of people including myself wouldn't even have or know about good tattoos if it wasn't for guys like Ed. He didn't expect Audigier to whore out his shit like that which is why he sued him, and won. Ed has done more for tattooing then almost anyone else out there.

i would also add to that Eli Quinters Steve Blotz

hahahha yeah it was kind of weird in there... they didn't make jesus cookies or anything but they had signs around about the power of prayer and only employed young very christian looking girls... they made some good ass desserts though

I'm going to watch when I get off work I just wanted to add it would be cool to see some photos of the artists' work along with the interviews!

who's going chicken huntin!

hahahah we also got someone a birthday cake with a picture of icp airbrushed on.. the people at the christian bakery think we're weird...

i have one of his prints and i really like it.. and i like the book but not as tattoo flash..

in no particular order, these are my favorite current tattooers i guess you could say. it's just people who's stuff i like and who i would get tattooed by or have been tattooed by that i liked. I might not be able to think of 25 off the top of my head but here's some... Jeff Rassier Scott Sylvia Tim Lehi Robert Ryan Dan Higgs Krooken Ken Tomas Garcia Scott McEwan Nick Collela Timmy Tatts Oliver Peck Mike Wilson Richard Stell Bob Roberts Ed Hardy

First off Ed Hardy isn't making millions. All those designs he liceneced, well they actual pretty much stole that shit off him and he doesn't see the millions being made from beer cozies and air fresheners... Ed Hardy can sell his paintings and prints for whatever he wants because he's an amazing artists and most of us will never even come close to being as good as him... He's been around for decades and has proven himself in the tattoo world as one of the best in the world.. comparing that kid's first painting to ed hardy is insane... Come on, this is tattooing. People around this industry arn't really known for being nice or accepting of non-tattooers or new tattooers or even old tattooers who don't know their ass from a hole in the ground. When you're showing your art for some of the best in the industry to see you better come correct... like i said before the painting isn't the worst i've seen but it's a far cry from the best... if you want his painting make him an offer...

It all goes back to that 'tattooers with no tattoos' thread.... if you make a living off of tattoos you should give back to what has sustained you... and it's less about putting the money back in as it is about putting yourself back into the thing that has given you your life.. supporting your peers who have supported you.. and if no one has ever helped you in your tattoo or art career you're probably either a fucking total asshole or you're really really bad at what you do.... this all goes back to the tattooers with no tattoos thread... for example the mitch o'connel thing mario mentioned... why should he get to make money off an industry that he's contributed nothing to? i've met the guy and asked him, and no he doesn't even have one tattoo.. in fact he was more interested in getting in the pants of my friend and i then talking about art or tattoos.. he's made a ton of cash off the tattoo flash he put out and for the most part as mario said the designs aren't even tattooable..

one time when i worked counter at this one tattoo shop i photocopied pictured of myself, the apprentice and the owner and drew icp makeup on them and then replaces some flash on the wall with our juggalo pics.. so anyways mine was my passport photo and some dumb ass icp kids came in and freaked out when they saw mine saying i must be the most hardcore juggalette beccause i actually got my passport photo taken with clown makeup... they then did a couple rap songs for the apprentice and left without getting tattooed...

but they never will cause it's actually pretty regular and boring for most of the time! hahaha...

plus about that dude and his painting vs me and my sewing - it's way easier for people bored online to jump all over some guy's painting then it is to talk shit to a chick with her real name and photo in her profile

I disagree with some of that. It's very very very difficult to get noticed in any art scene based on your work alone. It's the people who network and get their shit out there who get noticed in the end. Playing the game doesn't always mean selling yourself short. You can be a good artist and also be a good networker. I have seen a lot of people who get praise they don't deserve but I've seen so many more people who are amazing artists that no one's even heard of. For me it comes down to what you want to do with your career. If you want to be hung in galleries nation wide then game playing is almost the only way. Guys like McQueen are very rare and even he played the game by showing up at shows and pushing his work. I feel like even sitting at home and painting alone and then posting it on a message board for sale is playing the game to an extent. You've gotta get your work in front of people to get it noticed. Just to clear it up a bit : I don't respect someone just because of who they know and wouldn't get tattooed by someone or buy their painting just because they are known but a lot of people will.

Pretty much every tattoo design started out as something else.

Oh and for the record Mike Wilson went to art school and he's (in my opinion) in the top ten tattooers in the country.

Every tattooer EVER has "ripped off" other tattooers. Actually every artist in the history of forever has ripped something off. Sailor Jerry wasn't the first person to put a banner on an anchor and call it a tattoo. All those images came from somewhere. Bob Roberts, Ed Hardy, Jerry, insert any tattooers name here all have done re-paints of other people's flash. I've done it your done it and now this dude with his painting has done it. He can ask for whatever he wants for his painting. It likely won't sell but that's just because no one know's who he is. It's not the best painting I've seen but man I've seen people who actually do tattoos who's painting are pure garbage and still they sell. The main point for me is this: make art if you are truly driven to make art. Be inspired by what strikes you. Take those things that inspire you and make them your own. And when you are finished your masterpiece ask whatever you want for it and hope it sells. If you stay with it eventually people will notice you for your talent and want to give you money. I'll finish by saying of all the 'art' I've made in the last ten years I have sold or traded far less then half of the things. As for the rest, I don't care if it's sold or not. I make things because I'm driven to, not for money. The money is just a really rad added bonus which hopefully one day it will be enough to support me.

Unfortunately like Shawn said in the art world for most people it comes down to who you know and who knows you. It's bullshit but it's the way the world works so you juts have to make friends in the industry and learn to play the game.

I'm gonna start this off by saying I am NOT a tattooer. What I have learned from being around the tattoo community for a while now is that it's more about the quality of work than being a tattooer or as you call it an outsider. (I don't consider myself an outsider because I have just as many tattoos, know all the same people and have worked in shops) If your art holds up to the test, it doesn't matter where you came from or who you are. I have had zero problem selling my hand embroidered flash and sewn items to tattooers and outsiders alike (after working on my craft for over 10 years) If you love art do it. And if stay with what you love in the end it doesn't matter. The one last thing I'd like to add is this: if you make money off the tattoo industry in any way you better damn well put some of that money back into it by getting tattoos, or buying other people's art.

i can't take all the credit, it was my man who told me about it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vife7sK-LmI&feature=player_detailpage hahahaha I still love this dude

Anyone who does tattoos should be putting some of that hard earned cash and energy back into tattooing. Get tattoos from people you like, and pay for them. Buy paintings and prints. Go to conventions and buy a booth or pay for a pass. Help out your fellow artists by sharing tips and tricks with those who deserve to learn them. It's all about putting back into something what you've been to lucky to have taken out of it. Tattooing IS a sacred craft and should be treated as such. Not everyone deserves to have a tattoo and not everyone should be putting them on people. If you can't sit still for 15 minutes while you're getting a kanji then you shouldn't be getting it done. If you can't respect the trade you're in enough to want to give back then you shouldn't be there in the first place. If all someone is after is to make money, then go get a job doing graphic design cause unless you make it your life tattooing isn't going to give you any more money then anything else. I DO agree that a lot of the 'famous' heavily tattooed people are doing more damage then good, but I'd never get tattooed by them either.

And if you do say what you want some dick will see that, think it's a good idea and go get it done... i've even had so called friends pull that shit...

saw somone online today use 'toos how lazy can you be, just type the extra letters and make it tattoos.. my biggest cringe though is people who spell it tattoo's there's no apostrophe in the word!!!!!!!!!! Learn how to spell your own trade!!! And of course the obvious ones that have been mentioned - tatt gun, leg sleeve, tatted up, tattys.... I think the next asshole who tells me I'm all tatted up might get a dick/vagina punch. Actually I'm gonna also add another.. Don't tell me I'm all tatted up or 'damn you gots all kind of tatts' because I FUCKING KNOW I HAVE TATTOOS THEY ARE ON ME.