I just got finished reading another experience on here about "stealing" a tattoo design. I think stealing is a very strong word. When one walks into a tattoo shop, you are greeted by all sorts of flash covering the walls, and laying in books or sheets somewhere. Sometimes the studio has a portfolio of the artists' work. Flipping through you see pictures of the flash coming alive on someone's skin. Sometimes it looks exactly the same. And sometimes it's modified; different colors, sized bigger or smaller, shaped a bit differently. A lot of people say don't get flash. Come up with your own thing. I don't view this as true. Sure, there are times when a person just wants a tattoo. So they just point to something on the wall and get it done. Then there are those that WANT a tattoo. So they walk into the shop, and see the brightly colored walls. Flipping through, one just pops at you. Jumps right off the page. Speaks to you almost. And you can't quite picture your skin without this artwork. But, I digress.
At A Glance Author christina rose Contact christina [email protected] When It just happened Then, there is another kind of tattoo. The kind that someone sits and draws, and re-draws, and draws again. Just to get it right. Or the picture of a beloved family member, or a famous person. Something different, and creative. A one of a kind so to speak. These are the people often labeled as the ones who "do it right". They take a picture out of their head and put it onto paper. A true expression of who they are. A window into their inner being. Do these gifted people get extra credit for having something no one else does?
What about the artists? Where do they fit into this whole thing? Some of them will be more than willing to tattoo anything you want. Others will see certain designs, and flatly refuse. Or offer to change the design up, to make it more unique. And as the artist, they have every right to refuse. But is it right? Doesn't everyone have the freedom to put what they want on their body? What gives them the power to refuse? Even if it's as simple as a name of someone you love. That has always been the biggest no-no. But what gives anyone the right to tell this person they can't have that done?
But what about me? Where do I fit in? I have tons of ideas constantly swirling in my head. Designs picked out, the exact placement on my skin. But alas, I am no artist. I cannot pick up a pen or pencil and draw my designs out. So I walk into my shop, and look on the walls. I find the design that speaks to me. Sometimes, I draw my inspiration from pictures. A logo of a band. A picture from a web site. Is this considered stealing? I am taking someone else's idea and permanently placing it on my skin. Did I steal from them? And yes, I also have a tattoo, two in fact, inspired by people I admire. I wanted the tattoos exactly as they have them. Do I feel like I stole? Not in the least bit. I drew inspiration from them growing up. I feel this is my way, my personal way, of saying thank you to them. And tattoos are personal to everyone in a way, right? So why can I not show my personality to the world?
And what about those who favor a particular sports team? Are they stealing by putting the logos on their arms? Or anywhere else on their body? And those who have a band they love. Or see a tattoo somewhere they just have to have. I personally wouldn't be upset if someone wanted to take something I have tattooed on my body and do the same. I would be flattered. Even if I did draw something "one-of-a-kind", it means something to ME. Something very special. And if my artist decided to put it in his portfolio, and I went back a few months later to see it on someone else's skin, I might be taken aback at first. But that tattoo would never mean the same to that person as it does to me.
Stealing is defined as taking possesion of someone else's property. It is impossible to "posess" someone else's artwork. One can copy it. Have the same likeness put on their skin. But it is not in any sense stealing. Copying or reproducing someone else's tattoo does not fall into the same category.
Everyone gets tattooed for different reasons. For their own, personal, sometimes spiritual, reasons. Whatever that person decides to get. A tattoo is always different. For everyone. Even if it does look a lot like so and so's.