Body Tattoo - blog about tattoo art

So you think you want to be at tattoo artist? You had better be good at it; there is a whole lot of pressure involved. People are going to be paying you quite a bit of money to apply a design to their skin that not only has deep sentimental value to them, but is going to be there for the rest of their lives whether you do a good job or not. There’s no one way to become a tattooist, but there are probably some ways that are better than others. Let’s take a look at what’s available out there and weigh the options.

> Apprenticing – involves working along side a experienced, professional tattoo artist in a functioning shop. It’s a good way to not only learn the art, but learn the business as well. It would be hands on experience. You would have the chance to learn by actually doing instead of just reading about it. They probably aren’t going to train you for free, but if you don’t have the money, there’s a couple of different ways to work it out. You could do some work around the shop, like clean up and empty the trash, a to cover the costs If you have some other kind of skill to offer, you can do that in trade, like keeping the books or doing in their taxes. You might even be able to work out a combination of these ideas.

> Academic Schooling – When you’re talking about putting something permanent into people’s skin they will carry everywhere they go for the rest of their lives, it’s not enough to know how, you have to be able to produce the results. Most people don’t just pick up a tat gun one day and decide to be a tattooist. Most of them started off with natural talent that they worked to develop over the course of their lives. Many have a degree in some art-related field. So, at least taking some art classes would give you a foundation to start from.

> Books, Tapes, etc – Think about it. You could cosmetically mutilate for life if you don’t have the proper training. It may be entirely possible come out of such a course they best tattooist who ever lived, but would you go to a doctor who learned how to perform surgery over the Internet? These materials may be a great place to get some extra information, but if it’s the only experience you have, you should come with a warning sign.

> Tattoo Courses – Most people feel more comfortable with the courses that require them to actually show up somewhere on a regular basis and actually interact with an instructor, and actually touch the equipment. Your future clients will probably feel better about that too. However, despite the previous warning about correspondence courses, not every single one of them is a sham. If you chose to go this route, be sure to check them out with the Better Business Bureau in your area. The only ones worth checking into will still have an apprenticeship program and put you straight on track to receive a legitimate tattoo license in your state upon graduation from the course. That goes for any method of training you choose. You also need to know things about sterilization, pathogens and blood-borne diseases, so a course in microbiology wouldn’t hurt either.

Learning to tattoo is a huge commitment, and you need to have some realistic expectations. Just reading a book, watching a video and picking up a tattoo gun isn’t going to make you a tattooist. It takes practice and dedication. Even if you are the most artistically talented tattoo artist this is that’s no guarantee you are going to be a success. There’s more to it than that. You have to have some business sense, and know how to manage finances, staff and marketing.

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Tags: how to tattoo, learning tattooing, tattoo artist

Tattoo enthusiasts come from all walks of life and while they might have different backgrounds, tastes, and interests they share one thing in common. All those tattoo enthusiasts with a great deal of ink hate the fact that their tattoos often fade. Having to retouch tattoos every few years can be inconvenient and expensive but, unfortunately, it cannot be helped. While there are a few permanent ink pigments available with a very long life they are not safe for use on human skin which leads to fading tattoos.

The light ink that is used for tattoos is safe and does not have a high resistance when it comes to fading. Certain colors like purple, magenta, and orange fade even faster than other colors. This fading is caused not only by the colors used but by exposure to ultra violet light and sunlight. In fact, many people with tattoos that are exposed to natural light on a regular basis will notice faster fading and deterioration than others. Of course this does not need that you must keep your tattooed skin away from light forever. Simply try to be aware of your skin in the sun and protect it. Remember, while your tattoo is fading your own skin is also being damaged so take steps to protect your bare skin with sun block and shade.

Before you give up on getting a tattoo remember that there are ways to keep your tattoo from aging excessively. When getting a tattoo try to choose an experienced tattoo artist that will apply the pigment correctly. A good initially application will help cut down on fading. Also make sure that you that you take good care of your tattoo while it is healing. Using proper moisturizer and not disturbing the healing skin will start your tattoo out looking fantastic and keep it looking great for much longer.

Maybe she is trying to disspell the nude photo debacle…

But nothing says “douche bag” better than Chinese lettering down your forearm.

New Zoning Bill Could Ban Tattoo Shops in Glen Burnie, MD, Town Centers
Be sure to read the update below!
If you’re familiar with the art of Tom and Mick Beasley, then you know that Dragon Moon is fighting for its right to exist right now. I spoke with Ms. Mick the other day and she is preparing for a battle against the Town Center Advisory Committee right now. The committee claims that the bill does not include current-standing shops, such as 30 year-old Dragon Moon, but only stands to prevent new shops from opening in Town Center. However, there is no grandfather clause language in this bill and Ms. Mick is fighting, not only for her own shop but for her competition in downtown Glen Burnie. This bill could push out anything the current County Councilman, Ed Middlebrooks, deems inappropriate or unwholesome. Unfortunately, Ms. Beasley knows exactly what that means, as she has been a witness to Councilman Middlebrooks’ outright animosity towards body art establishments for 15 years and they have a considerable history together, albeit a chilly one.

What Does That Mean to Us?

If you don’t live in or even near Glen Burnie, you may wonder why this case should be of interest to you or me or anyone else. Well, just as we were all affected by the bans on body art in Oklahoma, Massachusetts and South Carolina, we are all affected by any situation where the government succeeds in making their personal opinions law, either on a local or federal levels. We should all be concerned when our industry is threatened by small-minded individuals in positions of power who feel the right to use that power to thrust their personal beliefs on others. If it can happen in Glen Burnie, Maryland, it can happen anywhere. This kind of bureaucratic “righteousness” needs to be stopped before our right are completely stripped.

UPDATE: Good news! The bill is DEAD! Thanks to Mick Beasley’s efforts, Councilman Middlebrooks agreed to withdraw Bill 8-08 on March 25, 2006. This is a victory for the entire body art community. Way to go, Ms. Mick!

More News This Week:

Tattoo Artists Offer Free Ink for Help in Finding Thieves

Case Against Tattoo Shop Owner Continues

AZ Man Charged with Tattooing Minor

Source Material

Let me get straight to the point of this post: I find it difficult when people come with an image, obviously pulled from the internet, and want an exact tattoo of it.

I almost feel weird admitting this: I download music and TV shows from the internet for free - thank you usenet - but I balk when somebody wants an image recreated.

Here’s the thing, I have less of an issue with turning a photograph or series of photographs into a custom piece. That’s no problem. But when somebody comes in with a piece of art that has been pulled directly from, say, DeviantArt, I sort of feel bad.

Then I get over it and go about my business.

*Often I’ll make a point to contact the original creator of the piece. I don’t ask for permission though, I just tell them about the finished product.

More than 50 different pigments and shades are currently used in tattooing and while some are approved for use as cosmetics, none are approved for subcutaneous injection. Many tattoo inks are not approved for skin contact at all. Some unconscionable tattooist have been known to used automobile paint or printers’ ink.

Nevertheless, many tattoo wearers choose color as a time saver or due to physical difficulty applying temporary makeup. Others find color tattooing an alternative to reconstructive surgery, to simulate natural pigmentation, and combat alopecia by having “eyebrows” tattooed on. Whatever their reason, color-tattoo wearers should be aware of risks.

The primary complications that can result from color tattooing are infection leading to hepatitis. Some tattooing equipment cannot be sterilized because of design and dimensions. The American Association of Blood Banks requires a one-year wait between a tattoo and donating blood. All color tattoos require some sort of medical post-care. Removing color tattoos is a painstaking and expensive process. Complete removal without scarring may be impossible. Allergic reaction to color tattooing is rare but problematic if it occurs because pigments used are hard to remove. Sometimes allergic reactions are observed to tattoos worn for years with impunity.

Granuolomas or nodules may form around color pigments your immune system detects as foreign. If you are prone to keloids –excessive scarring – color tattoos will traumatize your skin. Office of Cosmetics and Colors dermatologist Ella Toombs, MD defines color tattooing as skin trauma while Charles Zwerling, M.D., Annette Walker, R.N., and Norman Goldstein, M.D., warn scarring occurs as a consequence of tattoo removal. Color tattoos have been known to cause complications in patients undergoing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Mascara produces similar effects but mascara is removable. Why is happens is unclear but some suggest tattoo-color and MRI pigment interaction as likely. Color tattoos wearers should inform the MRI technician to take appropriate precautions and avoid complications.

A common problem with color tattoos is desire and difficulty to remove them. The main complication with eyelid tattooing is pigment-placement. You should consider the consequences of permanently wearing an artist’s mistake.

Remember that all tattoos fade in sun and if tattoo-artists inject pigments too deeply possibility of migration from original sites may occur. Changes in the human body and seasonal styles may cause flattering color tattoos too later clash with changing tones and contours. Any permanent facial makeup may become distorted with time. A once stylish tattoo may become dated and embarrassing. Changing color tattoos is not as easy as changing your mind.

Knowing what pigments are in your tattoo is difficult due to tattoo inks variety. Because inks are sold by brand and not by chemical composition directly to tattoo parlors rather than retail basis to consumers, manufacturers are not legally bound to list their ingredients.  If a manufacturer considers identity and grade of their pigments “proprietary,” neither tattooist nor wearer may be able to know exactly “what” is in the tattoo.

Any kind of abrasion to remove a color tattoo invariably leaves a scar in its place. Discomfort is inevitable. Camouflaging your color tattoo with another pigment may not look natural as pigments lack skins translucence.

Temporary tattoos are a viable option for the cautious tattoo-wearer but even these have a caveat.  Color tattoos use foreign pigments not allowed into the United States due to FDA reports of allergic reactions. As such, even Henna treatments carry alert. In the US, Henna is approved only for use as hair day – not for direct application to the skin. What specifically causes the typical reddish brown Henna tint is a mystery making what exactly is in “black” and “blue” henna even more curious. “Black henna” may contain the “coal tar” color p-phenylenediamine, which stimulates allergic response in some individuals. The only legal use of PPD in cosmetics is as a hair dye.

Ultimately your choice of a colored tattoo rests on your shoulders. Product availability render legality of ingredients a moot point – If you want a colored tattoo you can easily find a tattooist who will sell you one. The questions to ask yourself are: Do you trust the ingredients in them sufficiently to risk later allergic response, or other medical complications or social second thoughts? The permanence of color tattoos has far-reaching life-long implications.

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Tags: colored tattoo, moot point, permanence color tattoos

California Law Bans Lead in Body Jewelry

This won’t have the slightest effect on most professional tattoo studios, who only use surgical stainless steel or higher grade metals in their body jewelry, but this new law will help curb the sale of imitation jewelry products that contain high levels of lead. Hopefully, other states will follow California’s lead on this one.

Bakersfield, CA Tattoo Shop Owner To Run For Mayor

Marc Deleon, owner of Mad Dog Tattoo, is one of four running for the Bakersfield mayoral position this year. If an actor can become governor, why can’t a tattoo artist be mayor? Actually, Deleon seems to have put a lot of thought into this and has a real passion for his home town, so I wish him all the best in this election.