More Christian tattoo artists a positive development?

[Sabertooth]

Did you write points 1, 2 and 3, above? or are they from a quote from someone else?

They're mine, but I wouldn't rule out Someone Else... ☝

 

[farouk]

Thanks to all who voted so far in the poll!

NB: If you have not yet voted yet in the poll, please vote now!

 

[farouk]

@Sabertooth Thanks.

So is the Wonder Woman drawing that you mention in your Media selection? or are you referring to something else that you did?

As regards artistry that is specifically tattoo-related, I do think that tattoo art can reside within the bounds of modesty (something that some hyper-convervative ppl even seem to struggle with).

 

[Sabertooth]

So is the Wonder Woman drawing that you mention in your Media selection? or are you referring to something else that you did?

It is a figure-type, sometimes known as the "gladiatrix." She is a heavy-set mesomorphic body type. Wonder Woman & She-Hulk are good examples of that type. That figure is very often associated with porn images, too, but that is a stereotype.

Did you know that Jane Russell was a born-again Christian later in life, and that she distanced herself from her earlier, provocative work? Same body, different spirit.

("The Trumpeter's" arms, upper body and slighter bust are all intended to call to mind a swan's neck. A WW body would have been a total miscast.)

As regards artistry that is specifically tattoo-related, I do think that tattoo art can reside within the bounds of modesty (something that some hyper-convervative ppl even seem to struggle with).

Can, but so far, it has not been my experience in real tattoo parlors.

 

[farouk]

1. Drawing human figures well requires an almost medical understanding of external anatomy (a.k.a. eidonomy).

1. @Sabertooth[/USER] Even before you mentioned it, I was going to say that some of the strictures one hears from cultural Fundies would seem to imply that a trainee doctor supposedly cannot learn anatomy and a talented artist can't even draw medical anatomical resources. Frankly, they are coming from a totally unrealistic mindset, in my humble opinion. A similar comment could be made about some of the criticisms of tattoo artistry.

 

[Sabertooth]

A similar comment could be made about some of the criticisms of tattoo artistry.

Context is everything. Besides, that is them, not me. Their criticisms being wrong doesn't somehow make porn, the occult, etc. more acceptable. That is just the pendulum swinging the other direction.

 

[farouk]

Context is everything. Besides, that is them, not me. Their criticisms being wrong doesn't somehow make porn, the occult, etc. more acceptable. That is just the pendulum swinging the other direction.

You're right; I think I agree entirely.

 

[farouk]

View attachment 6648

Oz

One can see how manly it is to identify with Biblical Christianity in this way, right?

 

[farouk]

1. Some people are offended at such an overstated figure, no matter how modestly she might be dressed. That is their problem.

1. @Sabertooth I guess also, since tattoo artwork is meant to enhance, and as well as being many (for years it was almost exclusively on men) it's also become very womanly, if ppl don't like it, then I guess it's likewise their problem, not that of tattoo artists, Christian or otherwise...

 

[Sabertooth]

if ppl don't like it, then I guess it's likewise their problem, not that of tattoo artists, Christian or otherwise...

I was speaking of content.
You are speaking of medium.

Ultimately, the medium is neutral (so that IS the other person's problem), but we are expected to judge content to a certain extent. I don't think that working tattoo artists fail on the medium front, but rather, in terms of content.

 

[OzSpen]

One can see how manly it is to identify with Biblical Christianity in this way, right?

Absolutely. He's a rugby league player who is unashamed of his witness for Jesus.

He now plays for the St Helens Super League club in the UK. He was born in Australia but is of Fijian descent.

 

[farouk]

I was speaking of content.
You are speaking of medium.

Ultimately, the medium is neutral (so that IS the other person's problem), but we are expected to judge content to a certain extent. I don't think that working tattoo artists fail on the medium front, but rather, in terms of content.

@Sabertooth Excellent distinction, yes!

It's a pity that when 18 year old young men and women make the adult decision for ink and sometimes face negativity for making their adult decision, that the distinction which you rightly make is not better internalized: i.e., sometimes the culturally or aesthetically inappropriate content is not distinguished from the medium it is now their responsibility to pursue or not pursue, as the case may be.

If I may say so, good thinking!

 

[farouk]

I see no one — no one — has voted for it for being for men only. ...

 

[farouk]

It needs to be part of their business setup, too, or their scruples will be "thrown under a bus" along the way.

@Sabertooth I think I see what you mean about scruples.

In a sense, I guess those who receive their first tattoo might find it hard to "bite the bullet", so to speak, but once they have become a tattooee, the first ink experience helps them overcome the scruples about the medium. (Or maybe the word here is used in a different sense, I don't know...?)

 

[farouk]

@Sabertooth PS: Maybe with the young man or woman having it done for the first time it's really about plucking up the courage, in the sense of overcoming scruples.

 

[Sabertooth]

...helps them overcome the scruples about the medium. (Or maybe the word here is used in a different sense, I don't know...?)

"Scruples" doesn't really apply to a neutral medium, just content. And it applies more to the artist than the client.

Suppose Kelly Christian opens a tattoo parlor, Living Epistles. S/he does a few tats for church friends right away. Once or twice a month, s/he gets another Christian or benign commission. Somebody comes in.

• "I want a flaming demon head across my chest..." "I don't do demons."
• Another, "I want '666' tattoo'ed on the back of my hand..." "Not here."
• "I want a stripper on my bicep, so she will dance when I flex..." "We don't do porn."
• "I'm a Capricorn. Can you put that on the top of my breast...?" "No astrology here."

Soon Kelly notices that s/he's turning away more clients than s/he's accepting. His/her business is losing money as overhead costs are looming.

His/her choices are either

1. Diversify services in order to stay busy when there is no acceptable tat commissions available,
2. Expand services to include darker content, or
3. close his/her business.

If #1 doesn't take off, #2 becomes a real, recurring temptation. That is where his/her scruples might be abandoned.

 

[farouk]

"Scruples" doesn't really apply to a neutral medium, just content. And it applies more to the artist than the client.

Suppose Kelly Christian opens a tattoo parlor, Living Epistles. S/he does a few tats for church friends right away. Once or twice a month, s/he gets another Christian or benign commission. Somebody comes in.

• "I want a flaming demon head across my chest..." "I don't do demons."
• Another, "I want '666' tattoo'ed on the back of my hand..." "Not here."
• "I want a stripper on my bicep, so she will dance when I flex..." "We don't do porn."
• "I'm a Capricorn. Can you put that on the top of my breast...?" "No astrology here."

Soon Kelly notices that s/he's turning away more clients than s/he's accepting. His/her business is losing money and overhead costs are looming.

His/her choices are either

1. Diversify services in order to stay busy when there is no acceptable tat commissions available,
2. Expand services to include darker-themed commissions, or
3. close his/her business.

If #1 doesn't take off, #2 becomes a real, recurring temptation. That is where his/her scruples might be abandoned.

@Sabertooth I take your point; I think also that sooner or later most jobs have dilemmas and challenges for the believer in his or her life of faith.

 

[farouk]

I agree that tattoos are a lot more mainstream.

@Prayer Warrior You've probably noticed / concluded this already from what you've observed in your area. I think that young Christians today have to some extent - rather than resisted the medium - embraced it instead and use to to communicate a faith message, not unusually. (My wife and I talked to a young lady with the whole of the wording of John 3.16 tattooed on her wrist area; it was her favorite Bible verse, and mine also; and I'm sure that other conversations have arisen as a result of her willingness first of all to take the plunge - so to speak - and get inked ...which maybe was her whole aim in the first place, to use her ink as a witness tool. If this makes sense - not, I mean, for you personally, but likely for this young woman?)

 

[farouk]

"Scruples" doesn't really apply to a neutral medium, just content. And it applies more to the artist than the client.

@Sabertooth I guess when the young Christian man or (even more likely) woman goes - with maybe a bit of trepidation but also perhaps in a decisive way - for the first tattoo (faith based, or whatever):
Could it be healthy for him or her to remember rationally that any slightly irrational questionings he or she may inwardly have despite having made a definite decision to proceed with the faith based design - may actually relate more objectively to whether the content as designed is going to achieve the most effective end...rather than being about what you call the "neutral medium" itself?

Yes, I can see that the word 'scruples' may rationally apply more to the artist within the bigger business picture than to the embarking newly adult tattooee, first timer or whatever.

 

[Sabertooth]

Scruples is more related to one's own conscience than to fear. If a client hasn't settled the matter with their own conscience, they have no business being in that chair.