My son saw his first tattoo done when he was 7 years old. His dad was getting a memorial tattoo for a fallen biker brother. Jake said that day that he wanted to be a tattoo artist. He used to draw on himself with pens and markers all through junior high. In 9th grade he was finally in a formal art class, only to meet an art teacher that really knew NOTHING about true art. The assignment was to draw the way school made them feel. He drew a fish in trees (he felt like a fish out of water). It made sense to me. The teacher tore the picture up and told him that it was not art. Jake didnt draw again until he was 19 years old. He had given up on himself and his artistic ability because of one stupid teacher. He began doing piercings on himself and other when he was 13. We met a tattoo artist shortly after that and he trained him to do them correctly. Jake asked if he could be an apprentice for him at the shop. Due to unfortunate circumstances, that wasnt meant to be and the artist relocated too far away for Jake to work with him. Last year, just before his 18th birthday, he met another artist here locally. That artist did his first tattoo. A couple of weeks later we paid for his first big peice for his birthday. That started the ball rolling. The artist that did his first tattoo started letting him hang around. In May of this year he challenged Jake to try to do a tattoo on himself(thinking he wouldnt do it). Jake took the challenge. He freehand a spark plug on his lower leg and it was great! The artist continued to ask him if he was sure he hadnt done it before. He came home that night so fired up. Happier than I had seen him in years. He said "Mom this is what I am supposed to do with my life". The next day he sold his prize possesion, his truck. He bought his equipment and started to work practicing on himself mostly. Within one week he had done about 15 tattoos on myself, his dad and friends. By week two he was attempting much more complicated peices. By week three he was up to doing complicated bio-mech side peices. He has progressed very rapidly. Its like he was born to do this. Finally using that 157 I.Q. God blessed him with. He has a myspace site that we have uploaded his work to and he would appreciate any feedback on his work. Chris Garver is his favorite but he strives to be a portrait artist someday like Kat. He watches recorded episodes of Miami Ink to learn technique on shading and things like that. In the past 5 months he has done more than 200 tattoos and everyone is better than the last. Local artists are getting really nervous about his talent. He could use a professional opinon about his work from someone confident enough in their own work to help without being threatened by it. We have found a few accomplished artists that have given his work high marks and offers to work but he wants to open his own shop. Should he work under someone first before jumping out on his own? You can see his work by looking him up by his email address on myspace. Look for xxjiffypopxx@aol.com. He is NOT a scratcher. He is doing professional quality work with NO training whatsoever. He is just a 19 year old kid with a dream of doing great things in the tattoo world. Take a look and let him know what you think about his work.
I think that is fantastic. It's so awful how one teacher can make o break a good kid. I saw your sons profile, but am new to myspace, and am not sure how to message people. Sad i know... I was just curious about how much it hurts to get one on your foot,etc. I don't mean to be pesky, but i don't really have anyone else to ask. Best of luck for you all. And the tats on his profile, where very good.
I just like to say that it is really awesome that your son has finally found his calling in life. And to think that it could have all been shattered just from one stupid teacher. I know how that goes. I say more power to him and I wish him luck in all his endevors whatever they may be. There are so many people out there trying to keep you down and he is really lucky not only to have found someone to help mentor him but he is lucky in that he has a very supportive family even willing to get tatooed. I wish I was that artistically inclined I do draw a bit but they are nothing compared to what your son, Chris Garver, Kat, Ami, or any of these amazing artists can do.
yeah sure anyone can pick up a tatoo gun and trace a picture but for a true artist there is so much more to it than that and it is my full belief that just a little piece of the ARTIST goes into each tatoo granted it would have to be a small piece for all the tats that Kat, Chris, Ami and the other do but still the work that they do is so awesome. I know I am rambling sorry bad habit of mine.
Anyway the best of luck to all of you. And as for the person who asked about the top of the foot thing depends on your pain tolerance though I have heard that it is really painful.
