Thought Process

When someone asks me to draw something up for them, there is usually a process I go through. First, I get the basic details such as what they want, colors, and size. If it is a tattoo drawing, I like to know where it will go on the body so I can visualize it.

I have been watching tattoo shows such as L.A. Ink and Inked on Netflix, and just been basically obssessing about the tattoo culture. I have been paying attention to every detail I can, becoming a human sponge.  Last year, when I first moved back here, after seeing an ad posted online for a tattoo apprenticeship at a local tattoo shop, I jumped on it. I gathered all my drawings, all my sketchbooks and went down there and spoke to the lady in charge (of course a female tattoo artist) and she told me straight up about what it was all about-she didnt sugar coat it. (enter quick story)

She told me that an apprenticeship is tough work, it isnt paid, you have to be there everyday and it takes months before you can even pick up a machine. And trust me, this didnt scare me away, but I realized that it just wanst the right time for me. I needed to get a job, learn a trade I can work soon and fall back onto if I needed to. I told that manager thanks for the info, but that it just wasnt the right time. Enter going to Cosmetology school. I have been attending since January and will be graduating in December. So now, I am back on the tattoo track.

okay, okay- back on where I was going with this- and I think I remember where I was going with this. Oh yea- so when I am drawing up a tattoo, I get into the whole thing. It is not just a drawing, I love to hear the stories behind what it means to that person. I place myself in "their" shoes, when I draw, I imagine it as if the drawing is for me, as if I was getting that tattoo inked on my skin. Thats why I love watching tattoo reality shows, because the artists on there feel the same way I do about the art they are putting on someone. I feel more and more like I am meant to become a tattoo artist. With each piece I draw, I am one step closer to my goals.

So, for this next piece, is a memorial tattoo drawing. A friend of mine lost both her parents when she was young and as a tribute to them, she wants to get inked and she needed help coming up with something. I suggested two angels holding each other and the dates in scrolls under them.  This is my next piece I am working on.

Here are a few reference pictures I am using and going to take what I like and create my own version of what I think would be an amazing piece for her.

I hope you enjoyed this post on my thought process and how I help to create drawings. Sorry that I rambled on in a lil tangent. I am off to bed, I am not going to stay up until 3am again tonight.

Quote of the day:

Sweet Surrender Art. Beauty. Fashion.

Capricorn Tattoo

My good friend, Jak-Jak asked that I draw this up for her. She wants a Capricorn symbol and when I tried to ask details of what she would like, she said "I trust you" and "Do what you want to".  I love when people tell me that because it gives me the freedom to put my own artistic flair on it. I put myself in their shoes and imagine how I would want the tattoo design. She wants this as a side piece or possibly on her hip.

I have been making my tattoo designs big so that it can be framed on a wall or something. So, here it is, the finished rendering of this tattoo.

Here is a fun picture I wanted to share from a fashion show where me and Jak Jak dressed up as "chula gangsta's" lol Enjoy!

I hope you liked it and that it inspired you!

Quote of the day:

Many of us are quick to assume that if we are breathing and functional that we are actually "alive". Being alive is actually being the person who you really are at heart. You might be living your life, but that life may not constitute you being alive if you aren't living as the person who you really know you are. So many of us feel pressure to run our lives as those who claim they love us want us to live it.

The people who really love you will allow you to live life as yourself, and will encourage you to follow your heart, as long as they know that it won't kill you. Following your heart is making a choice to be alive. Following your heart requires you to listen to no one but god and yourself in order to make your decisions. Following your heart will leave you fulfilled and will also lead to happiness. What are you following? Your heart's path? Or the path that everyone else wants you to follow?

Sweet Surrender Art. Beauty. Fashion.

Birds, Infinity and Music

This morning, I met up with my "Galaxy" theme model, Shiloh to give her a lil gift basket I put together along with a cd of her photos from our shoot. When we had met up months ago to discuss my photoshoot ideas, she had told me of her idea she wanted for a tattoo. She wanted to incorporate birds, music notes and the Infinity symbol, so this is what I came up with.

And of course my camera died and I cannot find the charger, so Shiloh took a pic for me and tagged me. So, here it is.

Feminine and cute, she loved it!

I wish I knew how to tattoo, but it will take some time, not to mention some training and equipment. My birthday is coming up around the corner, and I am planning on getting equipment and start an apprenticeship or mentoring with another tattoo artist.

For now, I am trying to draw everyday and enhance my skills and get better with each drawing. One day and one drawing at a time. :)

Quote of the day:

Sweet Surrender Art. Beauty. Fashion.

Script Lettering

Since I have decided that regular college is just NOT for me, I stopped attending to classes and now just concentrating on my cosmetology license and my ART. I decided to just STOP procrastinating and just draw to get back into it, so my good friend Nick wanted me to draw up these lyrics for him in script lettering.

Script Tattoo Lettering "We Can Pretend We Don't Envy The Dead"

Nick absolutely loved it and is planning to get it tattooed on his side. I wish I knew how to tattoo already but just dont have the time or money to do an apprenticeship.

Picture of me with my sketchbook....lol I was up until 130 am finishing this up. lol


I found a picture of some lettering I did in middle school, lol I thought it was funny to think that I even drew lettering when I was younger.

Here is Nick and I at a fashion show back in April.

He is actually working on this fashion show that we will be showing this next saturday. The Theme is "Cities of Night" and we will be featuring fashion and hair of London, Tokyo, Milan and I forgot the other one. LOL I am not going to be a model this fashion show, but I am going to be a makeup artist concentrating on the LONDON look. I love London, although I have never been there. I wanted to move there to attend Fashion school and explore the culture when I was younger.

I will be posting more on that later! Since I completed Nick's drawing, everyone is now wanting me to draw up their tattoos for them, so I have alot of requests that I need to get going on.

I am off to get ready for the day and run around and run some errands.

Quote of the Day:

Becoming the person that you want to be is a lifelong journey. Everyday we should learn something new about life, and about ourselves. Some people choose to value who they are by the pursuit and acquisition of material things, instead of trying to gain and pass qualities to others that will last for generations to come. Being everything that you can be involves the pursuit of becoming better than you were the day before.

Make a pledge to seek wisdom, to be helpful, respectful, and reliable to those around you, not only for good karma, but to also be a great example of what a person should be to those around you. Be a person of compassion, of motivation, and determination. Set goals for yourself and accomplish them. Go for your dreams, and inspire others to go for their dreams as well. Be, because you can be everything, and anything that you set your mind too. Most importantly, be yourself!

Sweet Surrender Art. Beauty. Fashion.