Artistic Learning

Scenerio: You are a great artist many published non tattoo artworks. Maybe even a professional graphic designer etc... Local shops have decent artists, but they are not capable of producing non-tat art of the same quality as you (maybe their basically copy machines, but not very good at original art). Question: Could it be possible to get a worthwhile apprenticeship from a tattoo artist less capable on paper than you are?

Um well shit idk lol , I think that an apprenticeship , regardless how good the person believes themselves to be is ultimately the choice of the person doing the training. It's like them older fellas say it's THEIR choice to apprentice anyone, they don't owe anyone a damn thing. But like I said in some other thread here I'd rather have someone that I believe to be a better artist training me. My beliefs on this are fairly inexpereinced sure. And art is one of those things ya know, some people think the mona lisa looks like shit and the others blah blah blah , so it's hard to discern what's good art and what's not , it's all open to a bit of interpretation. So you're saying that you or someone or whoever is a better paper , canvas, fistcan, or whatever artist than the professional tattooist ? If that's what you're saying I'd say that it could mean alot of things and of course if you're an accomplished artist in other areas you're more likely to get that desired apprentice, but I also don't see how being good in one area would guarentee your success in any other. Great musicians don't all play piano or bass or whatnot but they're all good musicians. But at the same time I'd say that if the better artist is the one with more vision , drive and direction. And it's more than obvious in the tattoo industry of today that had the older fellas not taught the younger aspiring artists what they know then the younger people would have no base of operations to expand their own visions.Just look at the quality of tattoos you see today compared to ten years ago or even 50 or more , hell within the last year even. It's expansion but expansion has it's point of origin and always will. As far as asking if you could get a "worthwhile" apprenticeship. Everything's worthwhile , if your'e half full I guess.2 cents and some change, and I don't care if you wanted it or not.

Being a comitent/good tattoo artist is not all about being a great "Artist" Its about doing good tattoos. For many, many years a good tattooist was based on putting on a good piece of flash. And it should still be judged that way. Fact of the matter the majority of people getting tattoo's are looking for just that. What will set you apart from the rest is what you bring to the table as an artist. But one needs to learn to walk before he can run. So learning the ropes from a non artist tattooist is not a bad thing. If They know what there doing, learning is learning, Proper. Consider it like any other art form, there are basic rules, (Not to be Ignored) and what you do with them, is what will establish you down the line. So if your a great artist it's still my belief that working in a good street shop will set you on a good course. Doing (what you may consider) mindless, and run of the mill tattoo's may teach you how to best deal with clients, and is a great way to get yer chops in. So don't look down your nose on another tattooist, just cause you don't feel he's as much an artsist as you. He's tattooing, and willing to teach you the ropes, perhaps because he see's something in you. Good luck J.Capobianco www.joecapobianco.com Hope Gallery New Haven CT

I have to say Mr. Joe you kinda hit that one on the head a bit hard. You do tend to see a helluva lot more trendy flash tattoos running around than you do the nice nice custom pieces designed with a bit more thought involved in the initial decision to get a tattoo in first place and I'm sure you're right about the learning to cope or deal rather with customers. I come from the so called "scratcher" side of this , ahem RETIRED " scratcher' at that , but at any rate. Do you as a professional find yourself trying to talk people out of tattoos or talk them into something you know from your own experience to be a better decision in the long run? I have no idea how many people I actually tattooed when i was tattooing , but there were multiple times when I just didn't wanna do the damn thing , it was either a boring piece of art to begin with or they had foolish ideas for placement or just a bad idea for a tattoo, which was the case more often than not dealing with people who didn't mind coming to me rather than a trained professional. I guess I'm running off the original question of the thread I apologize for that but Are you torn between paying the bills and doing the trendy little tribal piece or the butterfly trible combo tramp stamp asshat , or saying hey you know what would look really really good here is something like this or this or ya know here's my card why don't you come back in a few weeks or whatever and see if you really want to get this shitheads name tattooed on your wrist like a moron?

Well firstly, I've been blessed with not having to work in a straight up street shop for quite a few years (not that there's anything wrong with street shops), so my perspective is a bit dated. But I do get quite a few "normal people", (not looking to get all sleeved up) who have heard that IM pretty good, and they'd like to get there first tattoo from me. I do my best to explain to them that they get this, and there in for the long haul. And I try to keep my doors open for them so that if they decide to add to there piece there's room to do that. But as an artist, and tattooer, its up to you to decide when the person is just looking to get a tattoo. Cause lets face it, for some people a tattoo is just that, a "tattoo". Not art, not a statement, not a living Eulogy to there dead grandmother of 120 years, just a freakin tattoo. And as a tattooer I don't necessarily think its always my job to correct people on what's the right thing to do for them. IM loath to do that name on the side of some poor bastards neck, but I've done my fair share of em. And who's to say that, that pretty lil' 19 year old wont look just a cute withy that Kanji for "Smells Like?" on her bikini line. Like a great tattooer once said ta me "Can't see it from my back yard" So if you feel like being the artist police than by all means knock yerself out. I just don't think that it's for every clients sake. Like I said sometimes its just a tattoo. Hope I don't offend, but What ever... J.Capobianco New Haven CT www.joecapobianco.com

Oh no no offense taken at all , i was just curious , thank you. Is there really an art police? lol AND GOD DAMN THIS "ENTER IMAGE TEXT HERE: FUCKING THING I'VE FUCKED IT UP LIKE 8 TIMES ALREADY , HOLY DAMN k thanks

You Guys both hit it right on!!!