The body modification industry has been considered an anomaly in the business world to most outsiders for many decades. It is a common opinion of the general population that there is not a professional side to the business we like to call tattooing. Much of the un-inked community would like to turn up their noses and brand this art studio as a self-mutilation center or a place where angry teenagers who hate their parents like to hangout. There is actually so much more to a tattoo studio than even meets the eye... or skin. Before the birth of Kat VonD and Hollywood icons who have glamorized the industry, there was the art of tattooing. It was a skill. It was an craft. It was a right of passage. There were elaborate ceremonies announcing a boys journey to the life of becoming a man. Leaders would mark this transition with permanent scars and ink on his body. In other cultures tattoos were status symbols or even declarations of love in some cases. What would you think if I told you that the man responsible for the light bulb was also the man responsible for the beginnings of the first tattoo machine? I feel more than certain that when Thomas Alva Edison invented his electric pen he never dreamed it would later be modified and used to embellish the skin. It wasnt until almost 20 years later that the machine was altered and used for tattooing purposes. Just one of the many amazing inventions Mr. Edison is responsible for. I have a personal respect for Thomas Edison, without the genius and passion he possessed, I wouldnt be able to do many aspects of my job today. I havent been in the business as long as most of my friends, most of my colleagues and any of my mentors. I find myself to be very lucky that I am still green when it comes to ink on the human body. There are many artists that you may encounter that will tattoo you because its their job and because if they dont... they cant afford their vices. While it is important to find an artist with talent and experience, it is also important to find an artist with passion and drive. Many artists that have been in the business for years have already accomplished their most amazing work of their career, and it wasnt on you. It was years ago when they tattooed because everyday was something new, because everyday they were allowed the chance to bring someones dream to life on their body in ink. They still had the ambition to draw and paint because it relaxed them and gave them peace in their heart. I have encountered many outstanding tattoo artists that can put ink on your skin in a way that will leave you speechless, impressed and utterly uplifted. I can tell you there names but you will not know them. They are not famous, and they will never be, but only because they chose to tattoo for the occupation of it. When you chose to stop learning it means you stopped caring. Not necessarily about people, but it means you stopped trying to improve yourself which is more important than anything else in the world. When you see a tattoo artist and surmise; Drug addict or Hack you might be right.. But you might also be missing out on an opportunity to witness someone so talented and so passionate about a gift they were given that they will be willing to share it with you.
Posted on: Sat, 24 May 2014 19:53:27 +0000
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