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ARTISTS
“Some people look at us with prejudice eyes,” said Ownby and continued, “you get a tattoo then you’re going to hell, I suppose, if such a place exists.” The stereotype of being a tattoo artist and having a tattoo is one that lasts as forever as the ink under the dermal skin layer. With the previous disposition of hate, gangs, and other negative stereotypes that come with the view of being inked many artists and tattooed individuals use their own stories to explain why tattoos are just another form of art.
The life of a tattoo artist is one that is just as colorful as the ink they use. They have tattooed many strange characters, many strange designs, and put those strange designs in strange places. As the owner of a tattoo shop, Jason Ownby has seen just about everything. “It’s what I was born to do,” said Jason Ownby when he explained his inspiration to become a tattoo artist. At a young age Ownby knew he wanted to become an artist, but especially a body artist. “Even then sitting in that chair [the first time he was tattooed] I remember thinking to myself: I could do this,” said Ownby. Despite the unsteady training and difficult personal endeavors in his life Ownby continued to learn tattooing, as “it was something to drive me all the time to create.” For Ownby becoming a tattoo artist was all about experience. He said, ”It just takes years of practice.”
As non-traditional artists, many tattoo artists have non-traditional ways of interacting with their clients. Many use social media, visit conventions, or work as travelling tattoo artists that go to different shops as guest artists. Elizabeth Duggan attended the Richmond Tattoo Convention as a way to extend herself to a new artistic community. Elizabeth Duggan has been tattooing “professionally for six years.” She feels that social media “can be very helpful” as a way for new clients to reach out to her. “Some people have thought of them for so long, they already feel like…they know what they want,” she said.
With her traditional tattoo style, like roses, ships and gypsy heads she explained that women feel more comfortable being tattooed by her specifically because of her gender. Duggan as well as other tattoo artists, has her own growing collection of tattoos from other artists. Her favorite piece on her own body is “a really nice big thigh piece” that she has that she feels gives her confidence. “It makes me really happy,” she explained as the black and grey train suits her own artistic style as well as her personality.
When searching for a tattoo artist consider finding one that fits the personality or art style of what the tattoo is trying to say. Shop around, just as any tattoo artist would shop around looking for a place to apprentice. Look for a tattoo shop that is clean, professional, and one that displays all necessary training and sanitation licensure. Be sure that one is shopping for the experience desired from the tattoo shop and tattoo artist. The cost of a tattoo is generally a fair price, and many shops have a “shop minimum” in order to earn the money that the shop and the artist is due. Come in to a tattoo appointment with an idea prepared and an open mind. Each tattoo artist will place on the stencil outline and probably all ask the similar question of making sure to think and consider the tattoo fully before saying yes.
Consider the artist giving their full effort into the tattoo and that they too have to sit in that chair with you for hours. After the appointment is finished, the sanitation wrap bandage is on, be sure to give the artist a tip. Just as one tips a waitress one should tip a tattoo artist as well. After all, tattoo artists are strong individuals too. They have family, late nights, and their own stories to tell of success and failures.
Being a tattoo artist is more than someone who bears a bunch of ink and crazy stories. A tattoo artist has to go through months and even years of training and apprenticeship before they can be considered officially licensed tattoo artists. With the knowledge of being a tattoo artist one must have patience, a calm manner of speaking, and a professionalism that comes with all forms of a professional businessman or woman.
Individuals that are tattooed by these artists have their own choices to make not just in the placement or colors of a tattoo but what it will say about their personalities as well. Looking down on a person because they have a tattoo or because tattooing is their main source of income is an equal discrimination and stereotype as all the rest. Tattoo artists are people too but they just carry more decorations.
