If you are one of the few readers that have read this blog for very long you know I have tattoos and that I am a tattoo enthusiast. I have written several blog posts about tattoos and I even have a blog devoted to women with tattoos. Women’s Ink is my attempt to soften the stigma of women who have tattoos since this is still a major taboo for quite a few people.
A gentleman left a comment on one of my blog posts equating tattoos with graffiti and lumped everyone with tats into an “attention seeking” group as well as (basically) stating that you only see graffiti in the lower class sections of town so why would you want to do that to your body?
Okay, I want to address this one step at a time because even though this comment was over a month ago it still bothers me. Now I will state up front, I did not delete this comment but I did answer it though not as thoroughly as I would have liked to so I will with this posting.
First: Graffiti
This is what is most generally thought of as “graffiti” which to me is more “tagging” and there is a major difference. This is the type of graffiti that I believe he was referring to:
While this still has an artistic flair to it this is what general graffiti is seen as. This is graffiti/tagging and not artistic in the least as far as I’m concerned:
These are examples of actual graffiti –style art done by artists whose medium happens to be on buildings or on the street. These are not usually covered up.
This is a sampling of famous graffiti artist Banksy and I guarantee, no one paints over his work since being tagged by him will increase the worth of the building.
Banksy is known as a guerilla artist and his art is usually social commentary in an art form. People even get Banksy based art tattoos:
Personally, I love the Banksy tattoos and I don’t consider his art or the tattoos as something to be looked down upon or to dismiss it as “just graffiti” because there is a major difference between kids with a can of spray paint and artists using a different style of canvas.
This is an example of a bad tattoo. Bad concept. Horrible execution since it’s misspelled. This is what I think of when people talk about bad tattoos with writing:
In part 2 I will address the issue of artistic self-expression VS attention seeking behavior.
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Posted by farmer*swife on August 4, 2009 at 1:45 pm
Very expressive. Graffiti is an art in itself when done with taste and talent. Looking forward to the next excerpt of this.
Posted by delaney55 on August 4, 2009 at 1:52 pm
Thanks :0)
I want to hopefully open some people’s eyes that there is bad art out there and bad tattoos but there is also cool art and very cool tattoos. Art and tattoos should be judged based on the talent of the artist not by making judgments on the type of canvas the art is on.
Posted by Bonnie on August 4, 2009 at 3:49 pm
Some cool graffiti here! I did not know you had tattoos – will have to read those posts…
Posted by delaney55 on August 4, 2009 at 4:43 pm
Yeah, I have 3 of them. One larger Geisha on my back, tribal butterfly on my right inside ankle and on my inside left wrist I have a butterfly w/vines and a flower plus my daughter’s name.
Tattooed at Last is the post where I document my Geisha tat being done.
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Posted by Carla on August 4, 2009 at 7:36 pm
I’ve seen some very pretty tattoos, but for me personally, this is not something I would ever do. Just like I would never get more piercings or wear certain types of clothing. I think everyone has a sense of style, and that’s just not mine. I agree with you about good tattoos and bad tattoos, like comparing a Rembrandt with a paint by the numbers. No comparison. … and tattoos with mispelled words, that’s really sad! I do wonder about people who get tattoos on their faces, or on every square inch of epidermis they have, particularly when they get these tattoos at a young age.
Posted by delaney55 on August 4, 2009 at 8:22 pm
I address that issue in part 2.
Tattoos aren’t for everyone but then neither are bell bottoms, belly button piercings or crew cuts. :0)
Posted by Carla on August 4, 2009 at 8:42 pm
Exactly! Can’t wait to read part 2.
Posted by goodbadandugly2 on August 5, 2009 at 8:59 am
OMG the misspelling tattoo made me laugh so hard! My cousin has a tattoo but my dad thinks they are a sign of the devil!
Posted by delaney55 on August 5, 2009 at 9:02 am
He’d really love me then especially since I started getting tattoos when I turned 50 so I don’t have the “dumb kid” excuse
)
Posted by The Last Post on August 5, 2009 at 10:11 am
I actually quite like tattoos, my favourite are the celtic bands some people have around their arms. I don’t think I would have a permanent tattoo myself just in case at a later date I changed my mind but I wouldn’t mind a temporary henna one. I have always admired people who stand back from the crowd and don’t go with the norm – which is why I am seriously considering a major style change myself.
I am really looking forward to part two.
Thank you for such an inspiring post.
p.s. I saw the picture you posted of that spider tattoo, that was impressive if not a little scary.
Posted by delaney55 on August 5, 2009 at 1:52 pm
Temporary tats are fun, let’s you try it out and experiment without the pain or commitment :0)
Posted by croneandbearit on August 5, 2009 at 12:03 pm
Good for you on explaining to the old fart what it’s all about. Too many condemn that which they don’t understand. I have been thinking still of getting one tat in particular, but my paranoia about needles so far has stopped me, and it’s just a little tat – no big deal. I also always worry about infection – I mean it is cutting into you and I don’t “heal” well any more. So I shall continue to think about it. Hugs!
Posted by delaney55 on August 5, 2009 at 1:54 pm
You would need a really good artist that is gentle and doesn’t go too deep. My wrist tat was mostly healed in about 3 days and usually it’s 1-2 weeks for all the scabbing to be gone. You should see who is in your area and check it out for the sheer grins and giggles. You might get inspired and find a great artist.
Posted by Sandy on August 8, 2009 at 6:22 pm
I would never equate tatts with graffiti….hell, one is defacing someone else’s property and the other is self expression. I don’t have any and probably never will. I have come to believe that they are main-stream and will soon (if not already) be as common as pierced ears. Hey, to each his own.
Posted by delaney55 on August 17, 2009 at 11:55 am
I will admit that there are some really awful tats out there but there is also some great tattoos as well. Stigmas need to die off.