hope everyone had a stellar weekend! i have been practicing and practicing tattooing all weekend. it has been a bit of a roller coaster of emotions. one day i feel great, the next not so much. that is just the way being creative is and it is still hard dealing with that but it is part of the job so i have to take it one step at a time, breath and just keep going. if i am not tattooing a melon then i am drawing. it is so important to draw everyday and give myself little assignments.
i am working on a half sleeve for a lovely lady currently and in between that i am working on script. it isn't really my thing so i am determined to work on a bit every night until i feel comfortable with it.
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| tom wanted to try so he gave it a go! |
my boss had a starter kit laying around which i have been using a bit at the shop but more often i end up using one of their machines because the starter kit is just so junky. but i need to practice so i took it home friday night. saturday i ended up fiddleling with it for about 45 minutes and couldn't get it to work. we adjusted some things and it did end up finally working after having to get the hack saw out but it still is kinda jumpy, shorts out while i am inking and has a really strange balance to it BUT i am soo lucky to have this opportunity that i just need to be thankful. it was extremely frustrating but i did learn a lott that night. i learned what i don't like, what i want from my machine and that learning those things in combination with practicing is the best thing i can ask for.
either way i am so grateful and am going to ask my boss if i can get a good machine because i am serious about becoming a tattoo artist. this is what i want and i am determined to make it mine.
xo,
cb
your work looks so feminine and pretty!!! keep it up girl, so i can fly to cali to get a piece by you!!! <3
ReplyDeletethanks camille that would be soo awesome! i am working really hard on making a style for my script hopefully i find something i like and feel comfortable doing!
DeleteWhen I was apprenticing, my artist had me build a Green Monster liner kit and I really felt like I knew more about how the machine worked because I built it myself. And it wasn't too shabby of a machine! Now it just sits on a shelf lookin pretty. Sigh. You can do this!!!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.eikondevice.com/node/12050
that would be a great idea. i know what the problem is on my and i just don't know if it is worth fixing but building something would be awesome! i might suggest that to him! thanks sweetie!
DeleteI never thought about how tattoo artists practice. I love the melon!
ReplyDeletenext is big skin! it is gonna be sooo gross but it is the closest thing to human skin and i would rather mess up on that any day!
DeleteKeep practicing! I'm horrible at that aspect of learning. if I don't get something right away I get so frustrated. you're doing grrrreat!
ReplyDeletei am totally with you on that, i think i am going to be amazing and then i am not and then i get super bummed but this feels more like going to school so i am in a learning process so it is okay to feel this way and i will probably feel this way forever. i have been watching tattoo artist documentaries and they all say the same thing. so i feel pretty good about how i feel but still it sucks but it is just part of life!
DeleteSoooo exciting! You're doing such an amazing job!
ReplyDeletexo,
Em
thanks emma that means soo much to me!
DeleteCan't wait to see this sleeve you are going to do! What an exciting challenge! :)
ReplyDeletethanks sweetie! i just got the approval so now i get to work on the final drawing, YAY!
DeleteGood for you for sticking with it - you have precisely the right attitude: determined but realistic. I gather a lot of tattoo artists build their own machines, maybe it's because the practice ones are so crap?!!
ReplyDeleteKeep it up girl you know we're all rooting for you!
thank eleni, it took a bit to feel better about the whole thing but it is just the way things are. thank you so much for your wonderful comments and works of encouragement! xoxoxoxo
Deletewow girl, I didn't realize until now you wanted to do tattoos. that is rad and I wish you the very best luck. hey, you're already in a shop and that is half the battle. more tattooed eggs please!
ReplyDeletehaha i know it totally is half the battle, i feel so lucky!
Deletei'm no expert, but i think those melon tats look pretty good. especially if you are working with a machine that is giving you so many problems.
ReplyDeletekeep your head up! you are doing awesome :)
-erin
erin you are so sweet! tom said the same thing. i think as an artist i am just so critical of my own work that it is hard to step back and see improvement. i am super hard on myself to the point sometimes that i get annoyed with myself but i am learning so much and that is truly the most important thing!
DeleteThat is sooo cool, and you're doing so well! :)
ReplyDeletethank you so much angie!
DeleteWaw, this is so exciting to read! And it looks like your doing a great job, never saw such a pretty melon ;-)
ReplyDeletePlease keep us posted!
Greetings from Belgium
aaww thanks sweetie!
DeleteGosh, this melon is even more awesome than the previous one - your line is visibly steadier and has a great sweep to it, it's lovely!
ReplyDeleteI admire your endeavour learning on a less than perfect machine, and it feels like you are going to benefit from that maybe - if you can do this awesome with a crappy equipment you'll be amazing with a good machine in hand! Really inspiring to follow your process.
Cheering on from Finland :)
thank you so much aniko! that feels soo great to hear, i actually have tears right now. i think i am benefitting from it too and hope that it is a good thing that i am learning on a crappy machine, however frustrating it may be. thank you soo much for the wonderful kind words, it means soo much to me!
DeleteI love that you're sticking with this. It's great to read about your progress!
ReplyDeletethere is no way i am stopping! :D
DeleteHow exciting! Maybe someday I can get tattooed by you :) You do live in the SF/Oakland area, right? :)
ReplyDeleteyes that would be wonderful! yes i live in the bay area, do you? we should meet up!
DeleteThis is so awesome! I think your print and script looks pretty good!
ReplyDeleteI love that you are seeing the silver lining to all of these new learning experiences. It is so admirable that you aren't letting those little things get you down.
I think you should get a new machine and give it a whirl! I can't wait to see how the sleeve you are working on turns out!
thanks kristen. it took a bit of talk from tom to help me see the light and i am so thankful for that. i get so wrapped up in being instantly perfect that i forget that i have so much time to improve and get better. i should suck when i first start so that i have a lot of learning and growing. if this was easy everyone would be doing it but it is a reason why it is difficult but it is so much fun and i am so happy i am on the right path! xoxoxo
DeleteYou are doing such a great job lady!
ReplyDeleteP.s your dress is AWESOME! x
thank you so much sammy! actually my dress is a apron! i love it. it zips up the front and has two huge pockets. i wish it was a bit longer as it would be perfect. i need one a tiny bit longer to cover my legs so i don't get ink on my clothes
Deleteummm those melons are luckyyy!! i cant wait till you start tattooing on human flesh because it will most definately be on mine!! <3 keep practicing i totally believe in your awesome skills! love you! <3
ReplyDeleteaaw thanks emily! it will be a while till i feel ready to tattoo humans but i would be so honored to tattoo you! plus i know what you want so it will be easy! yayayayayay! love you too sweetie!! xoxoxox
DeleteOh wow I always wondered how tattooists practice, that is so cool! You are so brave for venturing into this new territory and I'm sure you're gonna be the most skilled tattooist ever!
ReplyDeletexx L
I know exactly what you mean! I've been having a similar issue with my art lately. I'm normally a traditional medium artist, oils, watercolour, graphite, that sort of thing. But after realising that I can never seem to get good pictures of my work, I've decided to try to work on a more illustrative style, and switch to digital mediums. I'm having so many bum days because I'm unhappy with my artwork, but I guess you've just got to keep plugging away! I'm doing a 30 day monster girl challenge to try and brush up my skills. But boy howdy, a bad bit of art sure can spoil a day!
ReplyDeleteTattooing is HARD. I tried it, and never got the hang. It's so different to regular drawing. Have you thought of maybe saving up for a Neuma? They are far lighter and less hefty on the back. Bez at Triple Six tattoos used to use one, but now they are bringing out a new machine called the "Ego" http://team-ego.co.uk/?page_id=2 which also looks amazing!
Morgue x
Yup it is very hard but if you have the determination you really can do anything you really just have to practice and practice. I love it so much and i want it bad enough that i know i will make it! Thanks for the link, i havent tried a rotarty machine yet, one of the fuys that works there uses one, im sure that he would let me try it and see if i like that better. Thanks formthe wonderful comment!
DeleteI am looking to become a tattoo artist as well and I find your blog very inspiring! Right now I am full time at a retail store and am very scared to make the jump and lose all that money. I know the monetary loss is only in the beginning but it still makes me nervous. I love reading what you have to say about practicing and getting your foot in the door!
ReplyDeleteBest wishes,
Mary Blake
frecklebrained.blogspot.com
Go for sweetie! Just think of it as school and take the leap. If it doesnt work out it doesnt work out and you tried but if this is something you really want then nothing should stop you. I am totally freaked out but i dont let it getto me. I just keep going and keep learning! Good luck!!
DeleteThanks so much! I am also coming to some setbacks with the laws :p Tennessee is so strict it is hard to do any sort of tattooing unless it is in a studio and by a licensed whatever. So even if I got a license technically I couldn't tattoo at home. I don't know... so confusing! Did you have to get an apprentice license?
DeleteI have heard that other states are really strict but no here in california you dont need to get one for being an apprentice but yes if you want to tattoo and be legal you should. Dont worry sweetie, i would go find an apprencticeship somewhere, you will learn so much and do it the right way. I wanted to learn at home and do it myself. There are just so many questions and it is great to have it all there for me when i need help. You have wonderful work so you have stuff to show people, just get a list and literallty go shop to shop and see how you can help them and then in return they will teach you how to tattoo! Good luck and let me know how it goes!
DeleteThanks so much! I most definitely will. You've been really really kind.
Deletethis is very interesting. I have a few tattoos and it's lovely seeing how people train X
ReplyDeleteWow - you are so brave and talented and fabulous! I love seeing these pics (and I LOVE your frock and YELLOW TABLE!!) Sarah xxx
ReplyDeleteThe "Juanito" script is beautiful! I love the fluidity of the curves! you are working so hard, and with practice and all your hard work YOU WILL MAKE IT YOURS! Besides, that makes us want something more... when it is really challenging to obtain... which makes the journey in achieving it all the more worthwhile!
ReplyDeleteKeep it up & I can't wait to see how you evolve on this journey! Thank u for sharing it with us! <3
xoxoxo!
cover what is left of my un-tattooed body in your booooootiful art! i can't be that much different than a melon...
ReplyDeleteso proud of you! <3 <3 <3
I think you will bean amazing tattoo artist! Just from this post I can tell how excited and passionate about it you are :)
ReplyDeleteAnd I never knew you learned by practicing on a melon!
this is so exciting! i am so happy for you. you are an awesome artist lady :)
ReplyDeleteat first I thought you said you were working on a script and I was like what she's writing a script too dang she is busy but then I reread the sentence and realize that you are working on script which makes more sense. I'd have to imagine that script would be hard to conquer. I have butt awful handwriting so unless my customer wanted chicken scratch they would be shit out of luck. Your script looks a bazillion times better than anything I could ever do. Keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteit's fantastic, you can already see the improvement between the two melons (pardon the pun, ha ha), and the script is really pretty and looks very complicated. Love your smock too, you're awesome honey! xox
ReplyDelete