Seuraava haastattelu on tehty ystäväni Mudskipperin kanssa ja tarkoitus oli saada vastauksia kysymykseen ``How to get into tattooing`` hänen kokemuksillaan.
Mudskipper: I'm from Cape Town South Africa, I started messing around with tattoo
Graffiti scene back in my city. I´ve been tattooing in Bangkok, Thailand
and in SA, I`m yet to take my machines on the road. I have made some
tools.
T-Junkie: I know you’re into art as general too, how did you decide to get in
to tattooing, were you already into other forms of art before
tattoos or did it come from tattooing?
Mudskipper: I have always loved Art in general; my mother is a full time artist. I
have always been into drawing on things, whether it was walls, skate
boards, airbrushing surf boards, tagging, bombing or sketchbooks. I
was working in the film industry in the Art Department doing murals
and art effects on walls. I had a few friends doing apprenticeships,
but they weren`t getting paid. I needed to make money to support myself
and was making good connections in the film industry. I finally
started messing with airbrushes and tattoo machines. I soon realized
that tattoo machines, ink and needles on skin were the medium for me to
start working with.
T-Junkie: What do you feel are the differences between tattoo art to other
forms of art? Other than canvas etc.
Mudskipper: The human skin tells so many different stories. Tattoos can tell
stories of prison, social commentary, in South Africa, Prison tattoos
are very common, all hand poked social commentary, stories of crime
life, ideas of paradise and freedom. Tattoos are a physical
expression saying to the world this is me and this is what I believe.
Skin is so different and varies so much depending on the person. Some
people have healthy skin, some people have bad skin from doing drugs
and eating badly, some people are scared up, people move around,
people get emotional. I`ve heard so many people pour out their life
stories in tattoo shops. A tattoo grows old with the person and is
carried with them always. Human Skin is the ultimate canvas.
T-Junkie: Talking about the canvas, a person`s skin. It must add quite an amount
of pressure compared to say painting? Do you still feel pressure these
days or you feel like you know your shit well enough not to?
Mudskipper: In the beginning I practiced on guys that had been in prison and were
full of hand poked tattoos and didn`t mind non professional tattoos.
I also had a bunch of cool friends that let me practice on them;
I tattooed Lemon skins, Oranges, Pigskins and anything or anyone that I
could tattoo on. I remember feeling nervous at the first shop tattoo I
did, I was a bit shaky and it took longer than usual only because I
was worried about it not coming out cool. My tattoo role model is my
very close friend Tyler B Murphy of Sins Of Style Tattoos in South
Africa. He told me not to care about the fact that a tattoo is permanent
or that it hurts the client. Concentrate on enjoying the art and
making a beautiful tattoo piece. And now that`s exactly how I think. I
just zone out and try to make a quality tattoo. If you are hurting, tough
it out and earn your piece.
T-Junkie: How much actual hand skill do you need to tattoo? Does it correlate
into drawing i.e. if you can do great tattoos you will also be able to
draw?
Mudskipper: I think some people are meant to tattoo and some aren`t meant to. Sure
being able to draw is a huge part of tattooing. So yeah skill is definitely
needed man. I get better with every tattoo I do, so practice makes
you improve. I draw everyday and try improving on hand styles and
shading. You should practice drawing and then work on tattooing.
Knowledge of art with light and shadows, color mixing and general art
are essential homie.
T-Junkie: What kind of tattoos are the hardest to do and why?
Mudskipper: I think that differs from every artist. Some guys are masters of
script, some are amazing at color and black and grey etc., so for me I
think it comes down to what you know. Sometimes guys have scars or old shitty
tattoos they want to cover. Those can be tricky to do nicely. But boils
down to experience, compared to my peers and mentors I`m still a really
young buck in the game. Speak to me in 5 more years and I`m sure I will
have a totally new take on tattooing and what I find hard and easy.
Some spots on the body are harder to tattoo as well. Maybe the guys
fat and full of stretch marked skin or super ripped low body fat, it all affects the
canvas.
T-Junkie: If I am correct your specialty is ‘B&W’ tattoos and shading but you
also do color work? Why do tattooists have specialty`s? Is tattoo art
so diverse? Can you name some of those specialty`s that different
artist have and why you feel you have the one that you have? Is it
preference or is it according to skill how different tattoo artist`s
develop their specialty?
Mudskipper: It`s on how you grew up and what art got you pumped or stoked to tattoo.
I loved black and grey realism and portraits, I thought that shit was
mad gangster and classic. I have buddies that are burners at graffiti
and love working in bright colors, some people love old school Sailor
Jerry style tattoos. It could be the way they were influenced by a sub
culture like hip hop, the punk scene or whatever, all impact the way
we tattoo and the styles that artists like to do. I want to be all
rounded good at everything.
T-Junkie: Tell me what where the steps from wanting to do Tattoos to being able
to do them on your own?
Mudskipper: You have to draw as much as you can, dive into the art world and
anything that gives you creative stoke. Use the things that influence
you to guide your work. I practiced doing lines on oranges, pigskin,
fake skin, myself and friends with space. The key is to keep producing
art and keep learning, watching, respecting and improving.
T-Junkie: Some quick questions, answer what comes to your mind first?
Mudskipper:
-Tribal tattoos? Meant for Exotic people who are in actual tribes or
who`s relatives are in a tribe.
-Kat Von D? Great Black and Grey portraits, TV super star, made
tattoos appealing to the average house wife and white picket fence
family.
-Sailor Jerry? His designs are awesome, but have been adopted in the
fashion industry and now everyone`s over killing the images and making
them un cool. The designs were for Sailors, outlaws, greasers and
social outcasts, now it`s the in thing to have a sailor jerry tattoo;
wish it was different and not as popular.
-Old Skool? I guess old school is the base and the road to the future.
-Ed Hardy? His designs are infamous, just sucks that you are 99% a prick
if you wear the clothing or should be on the show Jersey Shore....
