Reflection

At first when we started this project, I wasn't entirely sure what to think. And now that we're finished with it, I find myself noticing so much more than what I would have before. At first, I didn't pay that much attention to the tattoo community and kind of closed my mind to what it actually is like. But after spending time in it, I have so much appreciation for the art that takes place in tattoo parlors and shops. It's amazing to see what some people can do with a needle and some ink, and create a permanent memory that lasts a lifetime on someone's living, breathing canvas- their skin! I have a newfound appreciation for all tattoos, even if I'm not particularly keen on what exactly someone gets. I find myself looking at tattoos a lot more on pinterest now just to see what people are getting, and maybe, just maybe, get ideas for my first tattoo.

Reflection: Changed perspectives

It's truly unbelievable how simple experience can flop a stereotype completely over on its side. Our adventures to these few tattoo parlors has rendered me speechless in regards to my original view of these lincoln shops. The project in its entirety has allowed for us to open our own world to an entirely new community and lessen our ignorance of its principles and culture. If I am to be honest, I think all three of us, in our own way, were quite terrified about the idea of branching out to this seemingly scrutinizing district of "colored" individuals. The thought of dark clothed, rugged looking, painfully antagonizing rough rider artists rendered me shaken up. This did not seem like a safe place to conduct research. But as we break down these walls of insensitivity, we all come to a better place of understanding. These places weren't scary at all. Not even in the slightest. We had successfully flopped our fears of uncertainty and gained knowledge that will better serve us in years to come.

I think the group factor of this project really contributed to increased research development and jumping over certain insecurities. There was a grand amount of work included from each of us that helped our project move further down the path of success. Whether it was interviewing candidates, taking pictures, blogging, or researching, we had a grand time together moving through this community with ease. The amount of information we obtained was crucial to each one of us and we had no problem inputting what we needed throughout our project.What really struck me as interesting was the entire blog aspect. At first, we weren't sure how to run with this program, or even what program to use. We considered Tumblr, and other miscellaneous website, but blogger from Google was ultimately the best and most user friendly for us. Setting up our posts was pretty cool as well, from designing a font, to including a poll, and posting numerous blogs to provide a presentable scene of information and insightful experience. I had so much fun contributing in this assignment, and I wish more classes would take this project for its worth and mold the young minds to think differently about what they don't know. Some say ignorance may be bliss, I say it's a miss.

Reflection

The inked community has definitely been opened up to me more these past few weeks.  I used to have the perspective that people with tattoos were just different.  But now I have this understanding that people with tattoos aren't violent or have more aggressive personalities, they're just artistic.  Knowing the perspective from both people who have gotten tattoos and the tattoo artists themselves has given me the bigger picture regarding the entire community.  I always felt intimidated by tattoo artists' but now I realize they are some of the nicest and most understanding people I have ever met.  Stepping out into this community has really taught me to never judge a book by its cover.

Every generation goes through different trends of tattoos.  About 30-50 years ago, it was getting swords and crosses for those in the army, or the hibiscus flower on the ankle for women.  However, fewer people had tattoos back then than people in this generation.  Kids are getting tattoos sooner and sooner.  "Tattoos are particularly popular with teenagers who explore their identity through experimentation with their outward appearances and, since the 1990s tattoos have become an established part of youth culture" (Blair 39).  Before we know it tattoos are going to be a regular thing rather than something that makes people different, which goes against how it all started.  The popularity of tattoos has significantly skyrocketed within the last 5-10 years, and who knows if it will continue to increase at this rate or if it will die down with the generation, similar to a couple of generations ago.

Here are a couple of very popular trends with college aged women

As you can see, they are very feminine and small.  Also all of these tattoos are located on their bodies in places they can easily hide if need be because of work.  That is becoming an increasing factor and also risk with tattoos.

Tattoos Teenagers: An Art Educator's Response

Lorrie Blair

Art Education, Vol. 60, No. 5 (Sep., 2007), pp. 39-44

Published by: National Art Education Association

Article DOI: 10.2307/27696239

Article Stable URL: http://0-www.jstor.org.library.unl.edu/stable/27696239

The Coolest Tattoos...

I stumbled upon this article while procrastinating doing this project and studying for other tests (but how fitting, right?). But I thought it was really cool and a great representation of a few of the different styles of art that are done as tattoos! Enjoy the pictures, and I've posted links to the websites of the artists and also the source from which I found them. 

Amanda Wachob's, from Brooklyn, New York, tattoo designs look incredibly like paintings, for more of her work, visit this site: http://www.amandawachob.com 

From Germany, Chaim Machlev's tattoos are often called Dots to Lines, and are very intricate geometric patterns. http://www.dotstolines.com/tattoos

From Portland, Oregon, Alice Carrier's work is known to be especially vintage and usually has to do with nature. http://www.alicecarrier.com

Ian Levin works only with black ink, and his tattoos are known to be intricate and interesting. http://www.pinterest.com/ak478025/ien-levin/

David Hale's tattoos are considered to be inspired by folk-art. http://davidhale.org

Traveling artist Kenji Alucky uses a method called stippling, which are intricate and tiny dots to make the tattoos. https://www.facebook.com/blackinkpower 

Marcin Aleksander uses vivid colors to product surrealist art. https://www.facebook.com/rawtattoo 

Berlin's Madame Chan does many different styles, including these chimerical tattoos. 

Mariusz Trubisz from Poland specializes in shading tattoos, often coming up with neon colors. https://www.facebook.com/mariusztrubisz

Ondrash specializes in watercolor tattoos, which are incredibly popular these days. https://www.facebook.com/ondrashtattoo

Sasha Unisex's tattoos involve unexpected prisms of color. http://instagram.com/sashaunisex

Peter is incredibly talented at a wide variety of styles; some shown are watercolor, cubism, or shaded drawings. http://peteraurisch.com

This tattoo artist's work is often described as a unique photoshop aesthetic. http://www.pinterest.com/dnisan/tattoos-xoil-france/

There you have it! I hope you enjoy looking at these pictures, and definitely check our their websites. It's incredible to see the kind of talent these artists and and how precise they can be when making the tiniest dots and lines on people's skins! Always remind yourself that they're working with living, breathing, moving canvases--something that cannot be easy! I have so much respect for tattoo artists after looking extra into this project and their communities in general.

Wang, Peggy. The 13 Coolest Tattoo Artists in the World. 31 October 2013. 4 May 2014 <http://www.buzzfeed.com/peggy/coolest-tattoo-artists-in-the-world>.

An interview with Lindsey Yoneda

How many tattoos do you have?

I have four tattoos. I have a Japanese family crest, a hamsa, a hot air balloon, and Harry Potter stars.

What made you want to get tattoos?

I think it is a good way of expressing yourself. It's a reminder of what is important to me in my life, and I think that it's a creative art form, that you can always have a piece of art on your body.

How does it feel to get tattooed?

It depends on where you get tattooed. It feels how you'd expect it to feel when you get a needle stabbed in your skin continuously. My inner arm (hot air balloon) hurt the most because the skin is more sensitive and thin there. When they're doing long lines, it almost feels like they're cutting your arm open with a knife. But after awhile, you get used to it and it feels more like a vibration on your skin.

What do you think about people getting addicted to tattoos?

I guess some people do get addicted to the feeling of getting tattoos, but if I would say I'm addicted, it would be to the new art that's on my skin that I get to look at every day. I've heard that some people fall asleep while getting tattoos--that's weird.

How did you decide what to get and who you wanted to tattoo you?

I decided what to get by thinking of something that would be important to me for the rest of my life, like family and home, which are what my main theme is. I didn't really look too much into who was tattooing me, I met them beforehand and looked at their portfolios and heard what they had to say though.

Do they have any special meaning to you?

My Japanese family crest was my first tattoo. It's importance is that my dad designed it and each Japanese family has their own crest, so it's important to my culture and my dad and sister have the same one, so it connects me to them.

This is Lindsey, her dad, and her sister.

My second tattoo was my Harry Potter stars.Harry Potter has been a huge part of my life, growing up and now. It's like a family thing, because my sister and my mom would read to me in the summers, and we would all bond over Harry Potter. I think the reason why I love Harry Potter so much is the theme of Harry Potter, which is something I live my life by. The theme being nothing is more important than love and friendship.

Lindsey's stars are from the top corners of the Harry Potter books, and are located on her right shoulder.

My third tattoo was my Hamsa. this one is representative of my mom's Jewish side of the family. the Hamsa means it brings good fortune and wards off bad vibes pretty much. I have the Hebrew symbol for life on the inside of it - "Chai." I thought it looked cool, I drew it myself.

Lindsey's Hamsa is located on her right thigh.

My hot air balloon is my most recent tattoo. I got it because the first thing I was ever obsessed with in my lifetime was The Wizard of Oz. In The Wizard of Oz, the hot air balloon in the movie that is supposed to take Dorothy home says Omaha on it, which is where I've grown up my whole life - Omaha born and raised, represent. Fuck yeah! Coming to college and being away from home, even though it's close, was something I'm not used to. So it's to remind me of home while I'm away.

Lindsey's hot air balloon is on her right arm.

Do you want any more tattoos?

Yes! I have a lot of things that are important to me and I have a whole empty body, so why not!?

Yoneda, Lindsey. Your Tattoos Jenna Brende. 4 May 2014.