Most visual and creative industries are like this. It’s hard to really show the hours, days, years of practicing, drawing, making etc that goes into life as a working artist or creative. I think there’s an even bigger disconnect when you flatten all that into seconds worth of consumable and disposable content.
Especially in tattooing, you may look at the photo of a cool tattoo or sleeve and keep scrolling. But let me just take a moment to revel in the beauty of the process. From consultation to finished tattoo, the magic is in the hours it took to get there. The exchange of ideas, the drawing and planing, to the hours of working, and spending time with someone. All that culminates into a piece that goes on to live a live of its own.
On a complete tangent, this is why I never like it when clients get referred to as “canvases”. A canvas is inanimate and has no thoughts or opinions, and you tuck away when you’re not working on it. I think its weirdly smug and de-centers the collaborative energy and effort that goes into every piece. Anyways that’s my mini rant.
I’m not saying the casual viewer has to be awe struck by every tattoo they see, but I do hope you as a person who has or may someday get a tattoo get to revel in the experience. Whether you’ve been tattooed by me personally or another artist I hope you’ve experienced the joy that can come with a new tattoo drawn just for you, or getting a piece of flash you resonate with, or marking a moment in time. Maybe take this as a reminder to bask in the little details once in a while.
So what have I been working on since we last checked in?
Flash! That’s right, physical flash. I’ve been drawing, sketching, painting and finally working on a little book or reusable flash that will live in the shop to be updated regularly! Are there things that you’d like to see more of? Never hesitate to let me know!
Before I go
Let me take a moment to appreciate all the fun projects big and small I got to work on with you guys! And for all the moments away from the shop spend with family and friends. I’m so excited to get into fall, as a little scorpio babe, I feel it’s the time I truly thrive! What are you guys looking forward to? Do you have any fall activities that you can’t wait to tuck into? Maybe coming in to visit me ;)
-Cara
P.S. I know its still hot as hell outside but I’m steadily manifesting that fall feeling by slipping into my Cocteau Twins era 🍂