A client came into the shop and wanted to do Aberration Pro Custom Tattoo $350 all you can take special. The client wants a traditional Japanese style back piece. In the piece he wants a yin yang with fire and ice, two koi fish circling the yin yang, dragons circling the opposite direction of the koi fish. That was the main center piece that the other quarters were going to be built around. So now as artist it was left to us to come up with the rest of the piece and put in the other scenes. Japanese art has always been an interest of mine. It conveys not only tradition but beauty as an art form.
The Japanese have long been a traditional and ancient people. The island is rich in tradition and still has lots of customs it's people follow even today. It has been a goal of mine to visit the country to see it's beauty that I portray in my tattooing. Many times I wonder why people are so drawn to this art form. Is it because of the color flow? Is it because individuals want to have a tradition that is almost never found in the United States? Personally I think people get the tattoos because they feel the power of the images and what they represent. It bothers me when people come into the shop and pick something off the wall. They put no thought into the piece, it is so much of an impersonal process that will be left on someones body the rest of their lives.
The Japanese culture still looks at tattooing as Americans did in the 50's all the way up to the mid 90's. They feel it is still the criminal majority that gets tattoos. Hopefully one day that will change there because they have some of the greatest artist in the world on that tiny island. They are such a rich culture and have beauty that is out of this world.
So how do we convey this traditional artwork into a back piece? The first thing we did at the shop was to take the clients back measurements. We had to find the center of the back to place the center of the whole piece where everything else would flow around. After we found center and measured the quadrants off we had to come up with scenes that would flow together when placed together with everything else. Once we had the idea of what was going to go into the piece we then took poster board and started drawing the back piece up how it would look on paper. Once the client approves the poster board we will start the stenciling process and start tattooing. Check back from time to time to see our progress on this fun piece.
Someone making a commitment to a backpiece is making a serious commitment of time, money, patience, and sleeping on your tummy for a while.
ReplyDeleteThis would require quite a bit of preparation work for the Artist as well. Is there a deposit taken before work begins (or a fee for the extra time the Artist would need to compose the piece?
I don't see Japanese culture changing over to a greater acceptance of the tattoo any time soon, or even in my kids' lifetimes. Although Japan is modernized with technology, their traditions and rooted beliefs run deep. These beliefs have been practiced for thousands of years, with very little change.
Truth be told, I think it all hinges on their ancient clothing traditions. Specifically, I think if they would stop wearing that traditional diaper-looking thingamajig for boxers or briefs they would begin to realize what they have been missing, and what the rest of us know already.
I'm certain that every bad decision Japan's government has ever made was caused by diaper burn/rope burn, or a super-wedgie....and we probably never would have been attacked at Pearl Harbor if that grumpy general had been wearing a pair of BVDs.
OK back to subject. I LOVE the Japanese style of tattoo artwork. The first magazines I remember buying with tattoos (and surprisingly, boobies) in them showed mostly Japanese style artwork.
The Japanese use of symbolism is in everything - even their "letters", and I think is resonates on a deep level because the symbolism reflects universal beliefs, morals, and what I think a lot of people admire and strive for; a simpler existence, and a more spiritual lifestyle.