The art of tattoos is one of the strongest forms of individual expression. My interest in this art form comes not only from my affinity for its aesthetics, but also from its ability to provide human connection. Through my work, I've been able to make strong connections with people who would otherwise remained strangers.
My recent work is inspired by artists such as Thiago Bianchini and Lloyd Stratton; however, they are not licensed tattoo artists; their art inspired those like myself who are a part of the tattoo scene. Both of their cohesive black and white styles created a well suited reference for me as I tried to challenge myself in creating more rigorous drawings more recently.Like Bianchini and Stratton I used different micron marker tips which allowed me to add as much detail as I wanted. After each drawing was finished I went over some parts with watercolor to bring variety and contrast to the designs. Over time, i started playing with layering in order to make my art more dynamic in order to represent new stages in my life. When I first started drawing tattoos my ideas were more simplistic and were conceptually seen on anyone’s tattooed body. As my expertise expanded so did my ideas whether it was adding color or drawing on a larger scale. Over time my art has matured making it better suited for a gallery rather than; for example, a piece on someone's forearm. Because of this, it allowed for my senior show to be successful. |