Id and Ego

If it's a topic beaten to death, excuse this. I think it's a shame that the culture of tattooing, atleast in the states, has allowed it to become a culture of intense ego. It may be inescapable if the nature of body modification is the pursuit of an aesthetic, and to increase one's vanity. From the artist's perspective, it is nonsense. Throughout my career as an artist, including learning as a student in college and as an apprentice, I have been fortunate enough to learn from very talented people who respect their skills enough to understand that teaching is the way an art manifests, moves, and evolves. The idea that methodologies can't be discussed in an open forum is nonsense showing that some aren't willing to see the full growth of an art form. All of the arguments are nonsense and poor excuses to shroud an ego. If the rock star status has to exist out there, let it be, it's a given for sure. It would be nice if it weren't so overbearing on the biz, though.

Most of the most talented artists I know make an effort to share their knowledge with the right artists in a responsible way. A bunch of them tattoo in CT... We're hosting a whole convention based on tattoo artists teaching tattoo artists responsibly. I found most of them, while aware of their skills, are also pretty humble cause they hang with folks who are also very talented. There are a lot of assholes out there too, though, thats for sure. Shark infested waters. But if you get tattooed by very talented folks and listen to what they say its pretty easy to find the right artists to get tattooed and learn from.

Oh, and if your referring specifically to not discussing the technical aspects of tattooing in this public anonymous forum, then you have the wrong idea about what's responsible. Lets talk all about furthering the art all you want, but I dont want people I dont know dispencing advice about how to poke hole in peoples bodies. I do encourage artists to get tattooed by their influences and go to conventions and take seminars. All responsible ways to learn the technical aspects of tattooing from professionals, not random internet visitors.