Inked

I remember the first time I watched a new reality show called Miami Ink a few years back on TLC. It featured the daily life experiences in a small tattoo shop on South Beach, as well as explored the relationship between the artist and the client. The show offered an interesting insight into the meaningful experience that getting a tattoo can be and I found myself fascinated by the entire process, from concept to creation, that comprised this permanent form of artistic expression. Little did I know that one day I would have the opportunity to witness first hand what it's like for someone to receive a tattoo...

Last week my best friend Ryan, A.K.A. Ryshu embarked on the final leg of a journey that began several months back with the conceptualizing of his 2nd tattoo in less than a year. It has been said that once you get your first tattoo you become hooked, and every subsequent one comes easier and more quickly. This seems to be the case with Ryan, who after receiving his first ink in May 2008, almost immediately began the process of inventing his next piece along with finding the artist who would execute it's creation. It turns out that choosing the artist is a pretty important step in getting a tattoo, as the days of walking into your average tattoo shop and picking a random design off the wall seem to no longer be. These days it's common to find that people research different artists, looking for the style that perfectly fits the design needs. This results in the creation of a unique partnership bonded by the intense experience getting a tattoo can be. This turned out to be exactly the case with Ryan and his chosen artist, Tom "Ugly" Michael who came to Atlanta as a visiting artist for one week at Ink and Dagger Tattoo.


Ryan and Tom...Partners in Crime

Ryan's appointment was at 1:00 PM and was scheduled to last 8 hours. I accompanied him on his trip there and shared in the anticipation of the day. Ryan and Tom had consulted on a design and this was the first time we were going to see the final art to be applied. Ryan's design was based off of an old Japanese Print that featured a Samurai riding horseback, and he asked Tom to customize it in his own way. As the art was revealed to us for the 1st time, it was obvious that Tom was a master and that Ryan was in good hands. It was a beautiful drawing filled with detail and it was big. The proposed design would start on Ryan's shoulder and end at his elbow. It looked like it was going to be a long day, so I decided I would leave them at it and return later when things were well under way...


The black outline almost complete

When I returned to the shop 5 hours later I was blown away. Tom had just about completed the outline and it was stunning. Tom is truly a master, and by the way, one of the nicest guys I've ever met. Society has a way of determining worthiness based on appearance and tattoo artists are typically on the fringe when using this criteria. Judging a book by its cover is never good, and Tom exemplifies this notion as his seemingly hard exterior is completely contrary to his very approachable personality. Upon entering the room it was obvious that not only Ryan and Tom were good buddies at this point, but that I was also welcome there, and Tom did a nice job of creating a comfort zone that enabled me to photograph at will. As a result I was able to have my own "Miami Ink" experience with first hand access to the process and the artist.

For the next 5 hours I hung out, and while Tom did his job I did mine. Not only was I there to document the experience photographically, but I also played the role of support for Ryan. Any curiosity about the level of pain one experiences when getting a tattoo can be cleared up by witnessing one being applied live, especially when it is of this magnitude. Ryan was a trooper, and he managed to survive, but not without obviously suffering for the cause. I watched all day as Ryan winced through much discomfort, constantly fighting back the reality of 10 hours worth of needles repeatedly penetrating the skin with an intense force and velocity that does not let up from beginning to end.


It's really a lot less pleasant than it looks here

The whole process was really interesting to watch. As I have been recently experiencing my own artistic awakening, I find myself very aware of the constructive approach to design. It's very methodical and usually involves a step by step process to achieve the final result. Creating a tattoo is very similar to this as it involves 3 distinct phases. The first is in setting up the black outline. Then comes the shading, giving the important detail necessary to create that 3-dimensional sense. Finally comes the coloring, which really finishes off the piece in dramatic fashion. Every artist has a different approach, and I really got into watching how Tom tackled this monumental piece. Adding to this was the fact that Tom was really into the artwork itself, as he does not often get the chance to create on this level, and it was obvious that he was putting his all into the work. There was no rushing, no corners cut, and he worked through the marathon session with intense passion.



As the night wore on, and the tattoo shop had long been closed, the three of us grew together. We took several short brakes, got to know each other in little ways, and developed a cool bond over the experience. All of us "suffered" in our own way, and as a result can identify with the work separately. It was great watching Tom shine as he executed a work that his heart was totally into, and watching the transformation Ryan experienced, both physically and emotionally. It's a powerful experience watching someone receive a tattoo, and I am thankful that I got to take part. It truly is a powerful collaboration that can occur and when done well can lead to amazing results.


It's 1 AM and the job is finally well done

If you'd like to get a different perspective on this experience head over to Ryan's Blog to get a sense of what it's like to actually receive this awesome piece. Also, check out my Photobucket Portfolio to view more photos. Thanks again Tom for allowing me to take part, and to Ryan for being manly enough to endure it. It was an experience that I will remember for a long time to come...

Thanks!

Eric

The Artist at Play

This is my latest illustration, and it marks the beginning of a "Renaissance Period" for me. Over the past 15 years, as life has gotten in the way, I have found myself struggling to find the motivation to create personal art. One of the major downsides to working in the creative industry is that it can really drain you of the energy necessary to create on your own. As I found myself slowly getting sucked into the daily grind that society demands you play a part in, my artistic output began to suffer more and more. This is one of the main reasons why I left my corporate job. Working 50+ hours a week and checking your office voice mail over the weekend has a remarkably adverse affect on your ability to indulge in the finer things. Interestingly, things did not immediately change when I became freelance, as I actually found myself doing way more art for hire type stuff, and consequently became even less motivated to move.

Towards the end of last summer, I began to feel a malaise that would stir me into action in a way that I haven't experienced since my youth. I was growing increasingly dissatisfied with the realities of being a freelance artist, dealing with mostly non-creative yet heavy handed clients. On top of everything else, as the economy started to bomb, I began to lose work from the majority of my customers who were mostly small businesses. As a result, I felt unfulfilled as I had spent so much time and effort accomplishing creative things, but had very little to show for it. I realized that I had been coasting along in life and my goals of being an accomplished artist were nowhere near realized. It was time to make a change.

Which brings us to this piece...

With my new-found determination, and a little motivational help from my partner in crime Ryshu, I set off on a journey to fulfill my destiny as a master of my art. The illustration above originally started off as a drawing in my sketchbook a few years back. I decided I wanted to evolve it somewhat so I scanned it into the computer where I then proceeded to "clean it up". Little did I know that it would morph into what it has become.

The Artist at Play actually has a double meaning. The first, more obvious one is that it is a reflection of the "creator" piecing together his creation. Although at first glance it may appear that the subject of this piece is the robot, this is not actually the case. In reality the composition is intended to reveal the character of the unseen mad scientist feverishly constructing his work with intense passion. The meticulous organization of the chaotic elements needed to make this assembly are designed in such a way as to expose the personality of the artist. And this is where the double meaning comes into play. In order for me to feel satisfied with a piece, I have to labor over it. By "giving birth" to my work I can feel confident that I've lived up to the artistic standard embedded deep within my subconscious. I also struggle with a dual, yet equally competing artistic nature. On one end I have a playful, abstract sense and on the other I have a perfectionist need for realism. I am in love with both of these styles, and they both demand my equal attention. The Artist at Play is a perfect example of how I indulge both of these qualities and it truly is the only way I can produce work and love it.

This work was recently featured as a "Daily Deviation" over at Deviant Art, which is basically a social networking site for artists. It was a huge hit, and in one day received over 8,000 views. I can't even put into words how gratifying it is as an artist to receive that kind of response. Thanks again to Ryshu for the initial recommendation that got it featured...

So there you have it...that one that started it all. This will of course be the first of many to come. Feel free to check out my other illustrations over at my DeviantArt Gallery

Thanks!

Eric

Welcome to my blog

Who am I?

From the moment I was able to grab onto a drawing tool, it was obvious I had a thing for being an artist. I was constantly drawing on anything that I could find and I had a definite passion for expressing myself this way. So it was perfectly natural that I would study art all through my early education and eventually pursue it from a career perspective.

Once I graduated from high school I attended Florida State University, where I earned a B.A. in Studio Art. During this time I was exposed to all facets of classical art techniques and it was an experience that honed my skills as a visual artist and only served to drive me further into pursuing it full time.

Upon completing my degree at F.S.U. I moved to Atlanta where I would specialize my studies and earn an A.A. in Computer Animation. This experience was most beneficial as it served to expose me to more modern methods as well as professionals working in the industry.

While I was finishing with this degree, I took a job working in a corporate marketing dept. During this time I was in charge of Retail Merchandising and my responsibilities included developing merchandising programs and managing various projects designed to support the many brands of the company. This was a great "real world" experience, and it gave me a tremendous amount of knowledge necessary to branch out on my own. After almost 6 years, I left the company to start my own business. My goal was to work freelance and pursue the kind of creative opportunities I felt were lacking in my career to date, and with that determination I successfully founded The Visual Guy. That was in February 2005 and I have not looked back since. I continue to experience new challenges and I have the opportunity to handle a wide variety of creative assignments, which I love.

In fact, this has been one of the best decisions of my life and there is great satisfaction in knowing I am pursuing a calling that was obviously apparent so many years ago.

Feel free to view my website The Visual Guy to get a feel for my style.

Thanks!

Eric