tattoo was hecka basic anyways. i just feel bad for whoever's hand that is.

weak, whodunnit"

I don't understand why this was posted? Jim posted this on the 30th of september, and it was taken care of basically same day.

I just saw it and thought it was interesting to me and others may find it interesting to.

you would be surprised at how many tattoo artists just pirate everything. i assume its from most artist starting out doing flash art and they progress to drawing their own stuff later, but some never really progress they just find better art to copy.

Bedlam77 said:you would be surprised at how many tattoo artists just pirate everything. i assume its from most artist starting out doing flash art and they progress to drawing their own stuff later, but some never really progress they just find better art to copy.

you would be even more surprised at how many people don't allow their artists to be artists. a lot of people (maybe even most) treat tattoo artists like machines - 'i want a 3 inch by 2.5 inch butterfly positioned exactly a half inch off the center of wherever, i want these exact colors, oh and heres the pic i found online'

Bedlam77 said:you would be surprised at how many tattoo artists just pirate everything. i assume its from most artist starting out doing flash art and they progress to drawing their own stuff later, but some never really progress they just find better art to copy.

sometimes its not as simple as that. you make it sound like reference is a totally bad thing, sometimes the BEST and most iconic tattoo designs are taken from popular culture or vintage postcards or old sailor iconography.

for example, these make great tattoo flash, regardless of where the originals are from (an old postcard set mostly)

i have tattooed and owned a custom studio for a number of years now. this is my daily drag i fight daily with people bringing in online copies of other people work and just dont get why i wont just copy it for them. makes me want to stab out my eyes.

do you tattoo other peoples flash through your studio?

I think one of the most important factors in this is giving credit where credit is due, and not using (especially SELLING) other people's art as your own. Its one thing to reference (look at and draw) and its another thing to copy. You can produce the same look and feel of something without copying someone else's work line for line.

If someone brings me a preexisting tattoo or piece of flash, I'll redraw it so that they have a one of a kind tattoo. Thats because I have respect for the original artist, and for the person I'm tattooing.

I've heard a lot of people say its okay to copy tattoo flash for tee shirt designs, because "why reinvent the wheel". If thats your viewpoint, why make art at all.

i was not very clear, we keep flash more for people to understand they dont have to get the 80's tattoo over and over. i agree with craig and cutty i think reference is fine i usally prefer to use a photo of a bird over someone illustration. and really enjoy doing neo traditional work as well. my main point was that alot of tattooist feel like they can take anything and make a complete copy. i think this mentality is not a only a problem but a weight holding the industry back

sorry the quote thing is not working on my laptop. when i like someones art i will buy a flash set but prefer to change things up instead of just tattooing the flash art but that is what it is for. i dont find cool designs for t-shirts or other mediums and pass them off as my on in my tattoo work. im in the suburbs now but when i was downtown alot of artists wouldnt just draw the tattoo they would ask the client to come back for an appointment. i found out later they couldnt draw at all they were just tracing other people portfolio art. lost all respect for these people.

Cutty. said:I think one of the most important factors in this is giving credit where credit is due, and not using (especially SELLING) other people's art as your own. Its one thing to reference (look at and draw) and its another thing to copy. You can produce the same look and feel of something without copying someone else's work line for line.

If someone brings me a preexisting tattoo or piece of flash, I'll redraw it so that they have a one of a kind tattoo. Thats because I have respect for the original artist, and for the person I'm tattooing.

I've heard a lot of people say its okay to copy tattoo flash for tee shirt designs, because "why reinvent the wheel". If thats your viewpoint, why make art at all.

I also feel like I should add, theres a big difference between tattooing a piece of flash on someone, and making album artwork or tee designs out of it. One person pays you to put the design in their skin, and if they have their heart set on it being exactly that image, so be it. Its their skin, and that person isn't going to make money off of the tattoo in their flesh. On the other hand, as a designer, if someone pays you for a piece of artwork, they're paying you to create something original for them. If you, as the artist, rip something off, that can get the band or brand in a lot of trouble. If someone finds out that piece of art is a rip, that band or brand can either get sued, or has to cease and desist the design. Its just good ethics that if someone pays you for your originality, you owe it to them to give them original artwork.

(this isn't in response to what you're saying, Bedlam. Something thats been on my mind lately)

No worries, I agree with you as well and think tattooist need good ethics.

i think i thought Bedlam was suggesting that the tattoo was taken from the album cover.

the whole flash thing is a mystery to me, i always wonder what tattoo artists feel about it. i think its totally acceptable to tattoo a piece of someone elses flash onto a person, in the same way that if a client wants a piece of stock photography used, you use it! obviously it goes hand in hand to say "buy the flash, buy the rights to the stock"

i see them as the same thing, if someone really wants that stock vector, let them have it, its a business.

i agree with all the wider issues though.

You are correct, sir completely slipped by me it was the other way around.

surprised eljefe was behind this, they do nice work.

agreed. i have a couple prints by el jefe

Craig Robson said:i think i thought Bedlam was suggesting that the tattoo was taken from the album cover.

the whole flash thing is a mystery to me, i always wonder what tattoo artists feel about it. i think its totally acceptable to tattoo a piece of someone elses flash onto a person, in the same way that if a client wants a piece of stock photography used, you use it! obviously it goes hand in hand to say "buy the flash, buy the rights to the stock"

i see them as the same thing, if someone really wants that stock vector, let them have it, its a business.

i agree with all the wider issues though.

Like I said, theres a big difference between tattooing a piece of flash, and being a designer selling it to a client as an original piece of art. Otherwise shit like this would be acceptable, and we'd have a million tee shirts with this gypsy head on it.

Craig Robson said:

rumble AD. said:

x Nau x said:

rumble AD. said:need some thought before i post this one.thanks!

Work on her lips, its too small.

thanks man!workin on it now :)

try not to stick so closely to your "reference" material. (read: tracing material)