Will these people never learn?
Look. We all know that times are tough on everyone these days, but when will these scratchers get it through their heads that tattooing is a highly skilled art, not an easy way to make a buck?
The latest bid for the “Another Asshole out to Destroy Tattooing” award is a 45 year old woman from Hudson, NH. Ronalda Brunner-Cummings has recently been arraigned in the Nashua District Court for allegedly tattooing a 15 year old boy in her illegal apartment tattoo set up. Police allege that she has tattooed at least four teenagers there. God only knows what else she gave to them. “Happy sweet sixteen, Junior. You have hepatitis C.”
The truly disgusting thing is, if you checkout any of the tattoo forums online, she isn’t the only jerk out there doing this and it’s growing by leaps and bounds. Of all the things that threaten the hard won status of our beloved art, this is probably the greatest.
Almost every scratcher gives the same old tired excuses. “There’s nobody who is willing to teach me.” “I really love tattooing, but the nearest shop is 60 miles away and I can’t afford to drive that far.” “I bought a book/video with my tattoo kit and it showed me all I need to know.” “People have been tattooing for thousands of years. It’s not rocket science.” Ect….ect…ad nausea.
Let’s look at this for a second. One if there is no one who is willing to apprentice you, there is probably a damn good reason. Sometimes a artist will turn you down just to see if you have what it takes to tattoo. In a real studio there are tons of things you have to learn besides just being able to draw. Sterilization, cross contamination, keeping the tattoo area as clinic like in it’s environment as any health care practitioner’s place of business. What? You think all that shit gets done by itself?
Could also be that your as delusional as an American Idol hopeful. God knows how many of those tone deaf suckers have left the audition swearing that they can sing. Yeah, right. Most of them should call themselves Cleopatra, Queen of Denial.
If your not willing to do anything it takes to get an apprenticeship, then I would say it’s a safe bet that you don’t have what it takes to work in a proper tattoo studio. It’s also a damn good bet you don’t love tattooing, either. All of us who gained the proper training sweated blood to make it. We laid out the cash, traveled as far as we had to, and put up with more crap than you could possibly take. Why? Because we do love the art and were willing to pay the price to prove it.
That book/video is going to give you just enough information to get your ass in trouble, or someone else hurt. What is so ridiculous about that excuse is by the same argument I could read the driver’s test book and drive a car. Didn’t happen. I had to take driver’s education to get the feel for all the things the book couldn’t give. It’s the same with tattooing. There are hundreds of nuances that can not be taught in a book/video. They are the things that can only be learned by someone who already knows what they are doing showing you how.
Yes, tattooing has been around for thousands of years, but for the most part was done in small tribal groups where they didn’t have to worry about the blood born pathogens that plague us today. Hell, AIDS didn’t even exist fifty years ago, much less thousands of years. If a you think its just as safe now, then how do you explain the enormous increase in Hep C and other blood born disease in areas where scratchers are allowed to run wild?
Do you know how to properly set up an autoclave? Do you know how often to test it? Do you know how to test it? How do you set up a sterile tattoo station? What do you do to break the blood barrier for proper sterilization? What is the optimal speed for a liner, or a shader? What do you do if the client passes out? How should the floor of your station be properly cleaned? How far should the needle penetrate the skin? How do you set the needle for proper penetration? How do you get the color to hold in the skin without grinding it into hamburger? What is “brush shading” and how is it done properly? How do you apply a sterile stencil? How do you handle a obviously drunk client?
Tattooing is NOT an easy job! It is a highly skilled art form that takes dedication, care, and tons of personal feeling. If you really want to be a tattoo artist, then you should be prepared to show you are willing to earn it. As a scratcher, you are just part of the problem and deserve any punishment you’ll get. Including the law suit that should be brought against your uncaring ass.
Tags: Dislike, Health Risks, Health Risks, News, Scratchers, Scratchers, tattooing
December 2nd, 2009 at 1:52 am
I’d like to know how you got into tattooing if you didnt start at home with your own kit? Did you waltz in to a tattoo parlour and show them some pictures you drew? I want to know how it happened. Im not a ’scratcher’, yet, and ofcourse Id love to avoid being labelled as one but I think everyone starts somewhere and there is no other logical place to start. An email explaining this would be great.
From a budding artist
Sam
December 4th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
I suppose that is something a lot of future artists would like to know, Sam, and I can’t blame them. When one has a passion for art, and tattooing it can seem next to impossible to find an open door. But, I can assure you it is not. It is just like any other thing that is worth while…hard as Hell.
One thing I can tell you for certain…do not turn scratcher…it is not worth it, and more often than not a way to make certain you will never be a tattoo artist. Basically, it will usually ruin your rep before you start.
To answer your question. I was a lucky little cuss. I had drawn for as long as I could hold a crayon, pencil, pen, whatever. I also had the (mis) fortune of growing up on the wrong side of the tracks…if you know what I mean.
As a result, I grew up around a lot…and I do mean a lot, of bikers. Hardcore 1%ers. One good biker friend of mine treated me like a son. Not surprising since he had watched me grow up, and from time to time helped that process along. One day he was checking out some of my drawings and said, “Ya know, you ought to do something with this shit. How’d ya like to learn to tattoo?”
Naturally, I said yes, and he introduced me to a member of a sister club who owned a tattoo studio. The rest, as they say, is history. (I went through Hell in that shop, and I got the scars to prove it.)
Now I know that everyone doesn’t have such luck. But I do know how it can be done, and I’ll tell you what. I’m going to do a post about how anyone with the heart, and balls, can become a tattoo artist. Keep watch here, and I’m sure Matt will get it posted ASAP.
Just remember…it ain’t easy to do. But then again, nothing worth while is.
June 8th, 2010 at 3:40 pm
Totally random, but I have to disagree with you just a hair. Yes, I think MOST people that want to tattoo need an apprenticeship…I have had more than one simply because I had full time jobs and with some shops this wasn’t acceptable because I couldnt be there all the time..I guess my only arguement is not EVERY person who taught themselves is a scratcher. The man who taught me was completely self taught…and he does mind blowing work. Guess I just had to put that out there, though I definitely don’t recommend it for everyone. http://www.myspace.com/drrossartist - This is some of his work… This probably seems like a pointless response, but I just felt like I needed to put in my two sense that some people can be self taught and have a real love for tattooing - as well as have incredible talent. {end rant here}
October 8th, 2010 at 7:57 am
When you said “What is so ridiculous about that excuse is by the same argument I could read the driver’s test book and drive a car. Didn’t happen. I had to take driver’s education to get the feel for all the things the book couldn’t give.” I disagree witht this statement totally its like a little philosify in your own head because I NEVER read any book on driving or I NEVER went to drivers ed.. Past my test the first day written and driven, So would this mean I would be able to just pick up tattoo’ing NO it wouldnt. But I do agree with the rest to tattoo it takes skill I tattoo and its not something you just do in one day but it isnt as hard as this guy is makin it seem its either You got the skill or you dont if you dont then you can try by its usually just a skill if you suck at it I would leave it alone..if your not sure then Practice on practice skins (over & over) not on your friends!!!!