rvxen [2011-08-11 16:10:00 +0000 UTC]

To keep this short, as this comment is meant to give the main points rather than a detailed doctrine about tattoos which I may write elsewhere after being inspired by this blog, I shall go over the general process and overall idea behind the creation of the design of my tattoos and their application on my body and in my life:

1. My Body, My Spacesuit: When employing my vocabulary gained by my experiences and research with cartooning, my key to expression is finding the simplest way to convey the most personal meaning. Before tattooing, I began social experiments with my attire, blending costuming and fashion to begin to define my societal self, drifting away from clothing articles which drew negative or fearful reactions, gravitating towards the positive, inspired, humorous and fun reactions. I eventually realized society and I were sculpting a story, a legend, which described who i was to them, and how they interacted with me. "Shane", my most developed self, courts attention, the specific attention to detail to convey the consistent magick and wonder of being human, conscious, loving, and creative in every moment as possible. Thus, the concept of the spacesuit (or 'fiction-suit' as coined by Morrison) began to germinate: how to relate this divine experience in the simplest and most universal way so that all, not even necessarily 'human', may start or continue their individual paths to understanding.

I began with circles: [link] Rainbow dots going up both legs, metaphoric to the energy I revel in from the Earth below, it's power core below.
next the circles grew more complex: [link] Each line, each color, each position of the patterns significant to the flow of the divine energy with powers me, in through my hands as i explore this world, its landscapes and its bodies, and then out with concentrated, conscious expression so that all my works are the clearest representation of my self at the moment.
I begin to charge my suit: [link] My power core, charging and recharging my body, a portal for my spirit and the spirits of others, a gateway to anywhere.
I complete the heart-circuit: [link] A storage place for all my adventures, the subconscious, the subtle undercurrent continuing to keep the game vast, mysterious, and challenging.
At this point, I've begun to personify the seasons: [link] first with the Spring Goddess...

Sadly, my funds at the moment have run dry, i wish to continue, as i have my full body to ink. And perhaps, this more than short almost into the lengthy comment should end, though i haven't begun to discuss my intimations on the process of inking itself, of the specific artists i seek out, and of the interactions thus far with society. But for now, I hope I have at least provided an interesting yarn and possibly another lens through which to view this beautiful, powerful art form.

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AriN0155 [2011-08-11 15:44:53 +0000 UTC]

ans 1. to be more specific, every artwork is a visual explanation of thoughts, so the thought of the one to become the living canvas comes first as most important, not the person himself.
Second comes artists own feeling and imagination about the piece he is going to tattoo.
At the end with a lot of importance come the artist's own skill and hard work blended with his experience and determination.

Ans 2. i do consider it as a very interactive artform but not as the first.

Ans 3. when i draw in a paper, the paper become as important as the color and the imagination i have. i take the paper as a friend who's helping me to cheat in a hard exam, i trust him and i know it trusts me, we co-operate, we help each other, and finally we pass the exam with same grades. likewise the artist and the one getting tattooed needs to pass the
exam together by trusting, co-operating and helping each other out. and they should also keep this in mind that whatever the result is, its always the same for both of them.

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AnimaObsidian [2011-08-11 14:59:21 +0000 UTC]

1) Both the artist and the tattoo recipient are very important in the process. They both must realize that the tattoo will most likely stay on the person's body for his/her entire life, so the tattoo must hold some special meaning or serve to beautify the body. Being a living canvas also means that the person being tattooed must be proud to showcase the artwork. The artist can obviously help by making a tattoo that the person can show with pride.

2) I would, since both the 'canvas' and the artist share an experience in creating the art.

3) Pro tattooers should have a relationship built on trust with the client, just like how craftsmen sell their quality wares or offer their best skills to the clientele. The artist must trust that the 'canvas' must be able to show off his/her tattoo with pride, and the customer ('canvas') must trust the artist to put in his best to make a good tattoo.

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ichigoboo [2011-08-11 14:16:33 +0000 UTC]

1.)Which author is more important in the tattooing of the body - the tattoo artists or the one to become the living canvas? I think its both.

Do you consider tattoo art to be the first “interactive” artform? Yes one of best art forms out there.

How would you describe the unique relationship between tattoo artist and the person being tattooed?
You have to trust that person you are giving them your body to put something on your body that you will have forever.

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LovelessNirvana [2011-08-11 14:16:18 +0000 UTC]

I have written a paper about tattoos and have one of my own. Which is more important? That's difficult to answer. When someone gets a tattoo, it is a personal expression. It is something that they want, means something to them, and goes where they want it. That is not to discredit the artist though. They spend a long time polishing their art and profession. In the actual tattooing process, I would say that it is the artist. It may be what the 'canvas' wants but it is their work.
Is it the first Interactive Art? Yes and no. Interactive art usually allows more than one person to experience it, become part of it. Though any number of people can get the same tattoo, it is considered a taboo in most of society to get the same tattoo as someone you know or have seen. An unwelcome imitation. They are a form of intense individuality. Tattoos do trace back as far as clothes though. They are old. Saying that, this stuff is on your SKIN; forever. It would be hard to get more interactive than that.
The relationship can run very deep. Often even life long. A certain amount of trust has to be given instantly. Any mistake would be bad for both parties and they would have to live with it. The artist is someone who's art you must respect and talents you must trust. The artist has to care about the 'canvas', or at least the art work, enough to take their time and do it well. Time, blood, pain, and money go into this relationship much faster than any other you will ever experience. It can be long or brief but it is always serious.
(A good reference book about tattoos in general is "Ink: the not-just-skin-deep guide to getting a tattoo" by Terisa Green.)

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simonsrk [2011-08-11 13:41:29 +0000 UTC]

Q: Which author is more important in the tattooing of the body - the tattoo artists or the one to become the living canvas?
A: Both.

Q: Do you consider tattoo art to be the first “interactive” artform?
A: No. Cave paintings were.

Q: How would you describe the unique relationship between tattoo artist and the person being tattooed?
A: Privileged.

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Whisper292 [2011-08-11 13:26:16 +0000 UTC]

I feel like all three questions really have the same answer. It's definitely interactive, and the artist and the one receiving the tattoo are equal partners. The relationship between artist and living canvas is symbiotic, and one can't do without the other. Unless the person getting the tattoo just goes into the shop and picks out a tattoo from the book (I did that once and it was a big mistake), he or she is as involved in the creation of the tattoo as the one applying it.

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manamotif [2011-08-11 10:11:38 +0000 UTC]

tattoing is my passion

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emptioasis [2011-08-11 07:31:33 +0000 UTC]

perfected from ancient origin, a living canvas can easily be observed within modern society as mainstream art. tattooing will live on through the many generations of people who don't mind needles

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daanube [2011-08-11 05:07:29 +0000 UTC]

1.- the reciprocity of both is unique; none of them would anything without the other. as an example, you could be the greatest tattoo artist but, if nobody wants to be tattooed by you, it has no sence.
an artist is nothing without his/her canvas, due to the canvas is a part of the artist; it complements him/her...

2.- it depends of the way you look the interactive word. i mean, are you trying to expose the interactiveness artist/canvas or tattoo artist/body? due to the artist is displaying his/her art on "living something", we can say that it makes it interactive..they need more accuracy than any other kind of art...since there's no way back if they fail.. i think it makes it interactive

3.- I think i've already answered this question at the other two... anyway, they need each other to be useful, to find its sense in the way of art

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HexyLovesforever [2011-08-11 04:41:47 +0000 UTC]

Its more important for those who are getting the tattoos but also for the artist. I give most credit to the "canvas" person because it obliviously means something to them when they are getting the tattoo. The artist gets to express themselves and feelings in the tattoo and they really connect with the person who is having it done.

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xXKrissumXx [2011-08-11 04:09:25 +0000 UTC]

I do consider tattoo an art form. What amazes me is that there are great patterns and images that people would like to have permanently embedded into their skin.

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ThreeCats-ina-Cellar [2011-08-11 03:19:06 +0000 UTC]

Wow, this is actually really cool. Like woah.

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gaara1599 [2011-08-11 03:07:55 +0000 UTC]

those are some hard Questions.............

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Felgrand35 [2011-08-11 02:47:42 +0000 UTC]

do we get free tattoos?

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mustanglover14 [2011-08-11 01:59:35 +0000 UTC]

Awesomesauce!!!!!! Yes!!

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RHuggs [2011-08-11 01:29:53 +0000 UTC]

To me, tattoos are a very serious and personal art form. Too many walk into a shop and pick that flash off the walls and say, "hey, I want that tattoo". That's fine, even the best tattoo artist needs that kind of traffic to help pay the bills. However, I prefer a serious artist who knows their work and what they can and cannot do. I usually enter with a rough idea of what I want done, and then ask the artist to take my idea and work it up with their own twist. It's kind of like I wouldn't tell a surgeon how to remove my gall bladder, so why tell an artist how to perform their surgery? Anyway, all is good, just for me it's very very personal.

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zachhefty [2011-08-11 00:47:16 +0000 UTC]

personally i like to use tattoos to explain who i am and what my calture is. and to tell my life story. I love them. I am currintly drawing tattoo designs for a friend who owns a shop in exchange for free ink cause i can't afford the tattoos. perfect i think.

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deKay1981 [2011-08-11 00:07:19 +0000 UTC]

i don't know if it has been said or not so i will say it anyway.
This is the long version of course!
I first started my path down body mod when i was twelve and i got the top of my left ear pierced and had always wanted to get 'chills' alien tattoo'd on my arm. I got many more peircing's done in my ear, eyebrow, nipple, pa.
It wasn't until 2005 when i was 21 that i got my first ink started, i had grown out of smoking by then and wanted something unique so i drew as best i could a bio mech design, i'm not a drawer, so it looked pretty average.
I took the design up to a newly open studio in my town and they were very accomidating, shot the line's of my design over my inner shoulder (crazy place for a first tat) and told me to come back in a week's time for the colour.
The next day, after partying hard with friends i crashed out in the mid day sun and layed there for 5 hours, i had taken my shirt off and without thinking covered my fresh tattoo line's with my shirt, needless to say my chest was sun burnt to hell but when i went back to the tattoo studio they hailed me as a great and i was welcomed into there fold, from that point on i was was in the shop every day and became an aprentice to the two resident artist's until the shop closed in 2007.
Basically because i looked after the work they had done i was welcomed to become an artist myself.

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crazygirl-lP [2011-08-11 00:06:46 +0000 UTC]

my opnion, responding to the second question, i think that in order to consider tattooing as the first interactive way of art we must define what is considered interactive, because, as far as i know (i might be wrong) painting in a cave was first, and it can also be considered interactive because it was a way of showing the next generation haw to do certain things, and that didactic function is also interactiv,e so i'm not sure if tattooing is the oldest interctive art.
And i don't know enough about tattoing and don't have any (but i want to get someday)so i can't answer the other two questions.

And.... that *0*

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CarolaLaLoca [2011-08-10 23:49:55 +0000 UTC]

YES FORM OF ART!! Tattoos expresses the person's personality and i think they're sexy

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KiraJacqueline [2011-08-10 22:39:07 +0000 UTC]

1. The artist getting the tattoo. Because you're right. For the wielder of the needle, it's him or her 'painting' on a 'canvas.' But for the person actually going under the needle and getting 'painted' on, it's a whole new level of extreme. Without the 'canvas,' there would be no art at all.

2. All art is interactive. Tattoos introduce a third person to the mix, it's true; now the relationship is Artist + Canvas + Viewer, where in most other arts there is Artist + Viewer. Tattoos bring more people into the mix, but all art makes people think or feel...So no, tattoos are not the first.

3. This relationship is like no other. There's got to be trust, and the willingness to go through / inflict pain for the sake of the artwork. Then, there's the fact of the art itself being personal Even just drawing on someone is an act of closeness. And that sort of work washes away. But tattoos are permanent. When you get a tattoo, you are the artist's canvas, and the mark of all real art is that the artist pours some of him or herself into their work. By allowing the artist to mark you, you take some of them into yourself.

This was a very interesting, thought-provoking article. Thank you so much for sharing!

-Kira.

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jkakashi12 [2011-08-10 21:50:34 +0000 UTC]

tattoos are definately a form of art.. because to a degree you c a person's personality or interest by their tattoos.. I got three.. and plan to get plenty more

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nosh07 [2011-08-10 21:43:09 +0000 UTC]

well it depends to thought of the people......wot they select the priority in tattoo making on their own body.....perhaps...... i have slight change idea rather then others... may b they will disagree to the point of mines...... its subject to the other field of art..... indeed....i suppose that to represent to your talent there are so many other ways..... just to exploit to your body.... its color.... and beauty...... thats you naturally persist..... to owe your own endowed by the God...iz totally God gifted...... !!!

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sabbat-circle [2011-08-10 20:06:49 +0000 UTC]

I myself have contacted an artist on DA to ask if I can use their work for ink, and they said yes, so I got it done. I have since asked the same artist to design another tattoo for me, and although I at the moment havent had the ink done, I will be.

In regard to your questions:

1) Which author is more important in the tattooing of the body - the tattoo artists or the one to become the living canvas?
All of the above. In my case I have no talent for drawing/designing tattoos, and after scouring the internet, books, & galleries for inspiration the work I chose to become ink ticked all the boxes in the representation I wanted.

2) Do you consider tattoo art to be the first “interactive” artform?
I don’t know about 1st, but its certainly interactive!

3) How would you describe the unique relationship between tattoo artist and the person being tattooed?

From the artist that designs the tattoo to the artist that inks the tattoo, there has to be trust as well as an openness that is quite frank, and honest.
Ink is a way to express something, if you can not articulate what you want to express through having the ink you have very little chance of getting the ink you want.

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angelicetherreality [2011-08-10 19:35:01 +0000 UTC]

Nice, it's good to look at the good artistic part of tattooing, BUT! 3
did we forget that a big number of people have non serious reasons for tattooing? -more like getting hooked on some stupid idea and ending with a permanent mark of stupidy on their body?
I ranted about dumb tattoos some long time ago here: [link] check it out if you want, cause I haven't changed my mind yet on that

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drastic86 [2011-08-10 19:30:00 +0000 UTC]

This is an excellent article. The person committing to the tattoo is far more important. However, there are many people doing tattoos who really dont appreciate that bond between a living canvas and wearing that art forever. Its important to understand both. Im glad to see this sacred art form has reached people of all races, social statuses and religions.

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djog [2011-08-10 19:03:39 +0000 UTC]

Which author is more important in the tattooing of the body - the tattoo artists or the one to become the living canvas?
- both

Do you consider tattoo art to be the first “interactive” artform?
- No, the music is interactive too

How would you describe the unique relationship between tattoo artist and the person being tattooed?
- as trust, in the most pure form.

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djog [2011-08-10 19:00:47 +0000 UTC]

some of my designs has been used for tattoos but im not a tattoo artist. the question is:

who is the artist, the man with the pencil or the man with the needle?

I thing both, and i think the living canvas is an artist to...

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neko-panda [2011-08-10 18:04:09 +0000 UTC]

well so far i have 4 tats a vine of flovwers and petels on my foot a star sign on my wrist a butterfly on my neck and a heart kinda thing on my back

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withwings18 [2011-08-10 17:56:18 +0000 UTC]

I would name the tattoo artist as the greater author of tattoos. I can create the perfect tattoo in my mind but without the artist who can put it into reality, it's nothing but pen ink on skin, only surface deep.

absolutely! even commission based art, has the same fundamentals.

the relationship between the two is one built soley on trust. i'd never go to a random tattoo shop, i have to click with the artist and forge a relationship. i'll never go anywhere than to MY shop.

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TurtleChix [2011-08-10 17:42:35 +0000 UTC]

Um...
Cool..
But I'll never get a tattoo...

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ontheinsideim80 [2011-08-10 17:42:00 +0000 UTC]

Hi, I'm not quite sure where to begin, I am a tattoo enthusiast, (also a designer/artist). I have a good relationship with my tattooist, we seem to be on a fairly similar level of understanding and viewpoints on tattoos (and most other things too). I am also a firm believer in tattooing as an emotive and expressive art form, myself and my current tattooist work in tandem to achieve the desired effect. The designs I come up with and the ideas we share are equally important as the other. It is a very personal and intimate act getting a tattoo done, thus very important to trust and respect the person holding the gun!

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ACE-of-SPADES-666 [2011-08-10 17:37:00 +0000 UTC]

so far i only have 1 tat, its one of the MetallicA skulls, the one with the red eyes and long fangs. the coloring part hurt like hell but it was well worth my $250, lol

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Rikuchan867 [2011-08-10 17:32:34 +0000 UTC]

i think that both are equally important to each other. without one you cant have the other. they both help each other. the canvas shows the world the skillful art of the artist, and the artist shows the world the imagination of the one being tattooed.

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Liliestar [2011-08-10 17:13:13 +0000 UTC]

I think making a tatoo is first a desire to really live with the body you choose that's why you do this : to have the body who suit you. So the tattoo artist is really important because is the one who gonna gave you birth.
You have to really have faith in him and his art.

But when it's finish and you see your tatoo, it's incredible, you feel truly yourself.

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AydenGracePhoto [2011-08-10 16:35:19 +0000 UTC]

I think both the artist and the canvas are important. One could not exist without the other. Its a give and take with both minds being equally creative. Tattoo's are definitely interactive. The best tattoos come from when both parties are creatively vested in the tattoo and its birth on skin. Furthermore, the person that is tattooed gets to share its' story every time someone sees the artwork.

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ChibiChick137 [2011-08-10 16:06:30 +0000 UTC]

Truly amazing! i personally love tattoos, and the artist is just as important as the living canvas! tattoos can express so much about a person, i agree that it could be the first interactive art form!

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FamiliarRainbow [2011-08-10 15:37:06 +0000 UTC]

wow awesome

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CarterLovesClaire [2011-08-10 15:13:40 +0000 UTC]

There is nothing like the feel of a stroke with a brush, but the feeling of a needle, now what is Bubly

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Director1265 [2011-08-10 14:50:27 +0000 UTC]

First off, it is a known fact that the art of tattooing one's skin has been around for several thousand years (there's evidence of tattooing found on ancient cavemen remains, some of which are over 50,000 years old). But to me, tattooing is a little bit more than just drawing on yourself. To me, tattoos are a form of expression. It expresses one's individuality, it expresses one's desires and pleasures, it expresses one's feelings and opinions, it expresses one's dedication to a certain something such as a faith, a loved one or a certain organization, and it expresses one's creativity and their desire to show off that creativity. It pulls people away from the hive mind and gives them a more unique appearance so that they have at least some degree of individuality.

But tattoos are permenant, and the only way to remove them is to remove the part of the body that they've been etched onto, so if a person was to have one or more tattoos, they can't simply come up with something whimsical they thought up moments before or tattoo themselves just because someone else has tattoos. It requires a conciderable amount of time and effort to come up with a decent tattoo, because it will be with a person for the rest of their lives, so they would need to come up with something that they are willing to always keep on them. And that, I believe, adds to the significance to the art of the tattoo.

Though I have none yet, I have three tattoos I plan on getting onto myself: an image of Buddha (to represent my faith to his teachings), a silhoette of a wolf with a wolf pack frollicing within it (to represent the fact that there is more about me than people see, and because I love wolves), and a "Dune" sandworm with the famous Litany Against Fear (you know, "I must not fear, fear is the mind-killer?"), because I find that saying to be very deep and meaningful to me...and because I'm a hardcore Duner.

My point: see how I have legitimate and sentimental reasons to have those tattoos? A tattoo can be made in any design; it just has to be there for the right reasons.

And that's why tattoos are a form of art that must never die.

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8hysteria8 [2011-08-10 14:20:31 +0000 UTC]

Q1: Which author is more important in the tattooing of the body - the tattoo artists or the one to become the living canvas?
A1: I consider this to be the hardest question ever. I'm not saying that tattoo artists should be underestimated, hell no! - yet one should have a vast imagination and a skillful hand to make a real artist. There are tattoo artists that deserve praise in every single way - understanding the person yet to be tattooed, giving life to a picture on the very skin, every little thing is important. But in my opinion the 'living canvas' is more important. They carry the concept, the idea of what the tattoo is about and what it represents. Every person willing to be a canvas for art is art themselves.

Q2: Do you consider tattoo art to be the first “interactive” artform?
A2: In fact I do. It's used as an interactive artform right now - to tell us music, art, life tastes and preferences, also state in the society, age etc. (I'm not speaking only for the people who get tatts for expressing themselves, there are tribes in some parts of the world that still use tattoos and scarring as a way to represent their age, social status and so on). These tribes exactly should be seen as the modern equivalent of ancient people using tattoos as a form of communication and an important part of life.

Q3: How would you describe the unique relationship between tattoo artist and the person being tattooed?
A3: It just cannot be described. Ever. It's about trust and fulfiling each others visions. It's about being involved in changing people's lives for good. It's about expressing feelings, both the artist's and the tattooed one's. It's all about empathy (and as I'm saying empathy, I mean the psychological term where you can walk in each other's shoes and see the world through each other's eyes) and sharing a passion. I consider the bond between me and my tattoo artist to be the most profound and dedicated relationship between two persons loving this particular form of art.

Out of all the questions, I wish to represent the artist that originally drew one of my tattoos on paper. [link]
She is gorgeuos and ingenious. Her art is so inspiring that I keep telling she changed my life. I think it should be clear how talented she is and I really really hope that other people would find their next tattoo in her gallery.

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pIRATebAbY [2011-08-10 12:18:33 +0000 UTC]

1) They are equally important, the canvas know that this is forever and have to the committment for the artwork thats on thier bodies.

2)In terms of being interactive art form, i think its more about customization, everyone is different and has different preferences on what they would like done and which part of the body the art will shine at its best.

3)There is a unique relationship, that this person is marking your body for life, and you have to trust that person, and thier skills to make it just right for you. Tattooing is not something to take lightly.

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