The Traditional Way: meanings

The Traditional Way: meanings

A very good resource. Please visit this blog and help spread the info.

Round 5 “Flash” Randomizer

Round 5 “Flash” Randomizer! 25 drawings of Accidental “Flash”. is of the following:
13. OM 34. Luck / Clover


This one took a bit of time due to the fact that I had to understand Indian symbols for luck. The Elephant is a symbol for luck along with bells.

The pencil work is mostly done, I just need to ink and color it.

I hope you all like it

Progress on finding an apprenticeship.

So after a month or so I figured I would lay it down with how my progress is going on finding someone that will apprentice me. I have made some mental notes along the way, and I would hope that you all take to heart some of the things that I have to say.



First off, I still don't have an apprenticeship. I know that it sucks, but hey you have to keep at your goals if you really want to make it. I have been drawing, trying to study different styles of tattoos, and educating myself to the meaning of them. It is important to embrace the culture if your going to truly be apart of the industry. Keep yourself busy, and keep yourself focused.



Some of the pointers below are in direct relation to the hits and misses that I have been though already. I have been to 3 different shops with largely different results, the only thing that they share is the that fact that they all said no....at least after the 1st few tires.





1.)Be yourself, look for someone that you can get along with.

I have already been told that it is very important to find someone to apprentice you that you can get along with, and that the two of you all mesh. After all, your going to be around this person alot. You have to be able to respect them and at the same time trust them enough to really take to heart what they are teaching you. Not only is it important that they know there stuff but you also have to been able to hang out with them. Don't try to be someone your not, because then your not going to be comfortable. Don't make excuses for who you are. Tattoo culture has alot to do with being able to express yourself and not give a crap about what other people think of you. I know who I am, and I don't give a flying rat's ass if someone else wants to judge me because of it. When you talk to another artist make sure that the two of you could hang out. Make sure that you all have somethings in common. Not everything, but just a few things that you all can talk about. If you could see yourself having a beer with this person and you already respect the way they work then the fit might be a good one.



2.)Educate yourself.

Your teacher is going to be showing you the tools of the trade, you need to show respect for the trade by educating yourself. Hell the entire reason for this blog is to help not only myself but other newbies just like me understand what we have to educate ourselves in. GET SERIOUS, DO WORK, SON! Tattoos have been around for a long time, so there is plenty of info. Not to mention you need to begin to understand the importance of a tattoo machine "hitting hard" and the differences of a coil vs. rotary machine. You also have blood born pathogens education, and sterilization education that is VERY IMPORTANT to learn, so help yourself out.



3.) Portfolio, Portfolio, Portfolio...

I can not stress this enough. Your trying to get into an industry full of posers, don't start yourself off on the wrong foot. Build yourself a strong portfolio, have color work, design work, work in different tattoo styles, show that you have good color theory skills, and that you know how to draw. Your an artist learning a trade that is not just another medium but a culture and a way of life. When you start out your going to be doing alot of flash designs for walk-ins. Your not going to be able to express yourself until you know what you are doing. So embrace that fact, own it, understand the differences in "American Traditional", "Japanese Traditional", and all the differences in lettering styles.



4.) Persistence

Your going to get turned down... your not going to mesh with one artist or the next, but keep at it. Don't give up, and don't cut corners. You will find someone that will give you a chance. When reaching out to a potential teacher make sure you get some work done by them, you need to show them that you want to learn and that you need to get to know them. what better way to do that then by getting ink done by them. Its a captive situation...lol. Go to the tattoo shop for random things, hang out, ask if you can be of help in anything. BE HUMBLE! Your not God's gift, even if your momma says so! Your a newbie only a step above every other Tom, Dick, and Harry with ink.



Keep your chin up! Follow your goals! And like my hommie, Commander Mark, says "Draw, Draw, Draw about 30 mins a day!"

Something Geek: Numot, The Devastator Proxy MTG card

After all, its all about being who you are.....

Here is a proxy card that I drew up for a card game called Magic the Gathering.

Here is the original card:

And here is my Proxy. I will be coloring it soon.

One day the passion will be sedated...

I have been so busy the past couple of weeks. Where does the time go? Trying to stay focused is hard, but the passion to draw never leaves. Why is it that when I can’t spend time drawing do I get the most itch for it? I have all of these ideas in my head, all of this need to draw. Sometimes I wish I was just alone so I can just draw to my heart’s content. Real life has a way of making it hard to be an artist. The term starving artist is so true. You have to be willing to starve just to be able to create. Passion never sleeps, never eats, yet constantly craves. Even while at work my mind races with thoughts of what I could be doing. The things that I could be learning.

Its hard to be pulled in different directions but I have to stay true to what I want to do… I have to be willing to sacrifice things so that my passion can have an outlet. I have to keep moving forward.

One day……

Round 4 "Flash" Randomizer

Round 4 "Flash" Randomizer! 25 drawings of Accidental "Flash". is of the following:


13. Kanji 34. Snake

This one came out really cool, or at least I think so. I went with the Kanji for Loyalty, and decided to go with a Japanese style. The flowers are Zinnias a traditional Japanese flower that represents loyalty. The Snake in Asian cultures is not as negative as in European cultures so I wanted to go with more peaceful look to the snake both to represent wisdom, and the year of the snake.

So here you go.

The "Flash" Randomizer! Round 3

Round 3 "Flash" Randomizer! 25 drawings of Accidental "Flash". is of the following:


4. Angel 20. Pin Up Girl

It was also excuse to try out some traditional lettering styles.

The scan is not that good so please excuse the messy pic.

May the Fourth Be With You........tattoo style

In honor of the May 4th (the Star Wars Day) I gathered up a few images from around the net that honors both Star Wars and tattoos. Not to mention some really great people put together a book called "the Force in Flesh" Check it out if you get a chance.

So without any further delay.....I present to you all "May the 4th be with you"

This one is very special to me because I helped design it. Its Yoda's lightsaber(yes, yes, I know his blade is green). The love of my life had just finished her cancer treatment and she wanted something that is remembrance of her struggle with it and how she over came it. The pink colored blade is a traditional color for Cancer awareness. Instead of getting a ribbon, she got her lightsaber. While I wished I was the one to tattoo it...I was happy that I got to design it.

Justice!!!! True fans will know what I am talking about.