fashionablygeek.com: Scott Campbell is a famous tattoo artist, and his work adorns celebrities ranging from Penélope Cruz to Marc Jacobs. Recently he embarked upon a tattooing project called Whole Glory that’s not for the faint of heart. He offered his tattooing services free of charge to absolute strangers. The catch? Participants would stick their arm into a hole and Campbell would tattoo whatever he wanted—and they wouldn’t be able to view the tattoo until it was done.
19 comments:
These tattoos are beautiful, and knowing that they were tattooed onto the person's arm with their trust completely in the artist makes them all the more exciting.
On someone of a tangent, I have questions regarding tattoo's and professionalism.
Now with it being 2015 and all, and with theatre being an open artistic business, where is the line between professional and showing too much.
So often I find that people are dressed so so casually when coming to work in the theatre, or to meetings but is that correct?
In school I can understand that people are a bit more casual here, and in the "real world" I know not to expect a suit and tie at every meeting but what do I wear? If I decide to get tattoos am I allowed to show them? Or am I too cover them up because showing them would be distracting from my work and make the focus about the artwork on my arms?
In general I think tattoos are awesome, and the ones in this article are beautifully done, but I am still confused as to where to draw that line.
I'm actually going to say that this is more risky to the artist then the person getting the tattoo. we as artists often have to foresee what the result of our work will be and either make sure we have a well rounded decision process behind it or we choose to not care about what other people think. These people going in there expect to come out with something they like and want on their body for the rest of their lives. This puts all the pressure on the artist and the costumer just has to sit there and expect to be pleased. This then puts all the blame onto the artist because they have made all of the decisions except the fact that the costumer is in there. Most people will hopefully know what they are getting into but many will have an opinion because we are human, most if not all do. I think skulls are cool and it might be the best drawing of a skull ever but I wouldn't want it on my body forever. Every time i see it and every time i think about what i dont like about it i would blame that artist because they made the decision to pick that one. That is why as an artist I dont do self portraits or surprise pieces that are customers to the person with no details. What i produce reflects on me and the chances of it being exactly what they want are slim. Although this is a problem in all entertainment we as artists can only do our best to serve the majority of our costumers/guests.
Woah, these people have some pretty remarkable trust in this artist. It also looks like a lot of the people who got these tattoos already had some existing tattoos on their body. As someone who doesn't have any tattoos, I would never have the confidence to get my first one without knowing what it would be. I imagine this is a bit easier for people that already have tattoos and have followed the reputation of this artist. Either way, this is super brave of both the tattoo recipients and the tattoo artist. Especially in this specific form of art, the opinions of others usually matter greatly. If the recipient of your art does not like it, it is not like they can walk away from it on a museum wall. It is permanently drawn on their bodies, and it will follow them everywhere they go. I can't think of any other art form that has such high stakes. This artist's idea for the hole in the wall is taking the trust that already exists between tattoo artists and their clients, and bringing it to a whole new level. I wonder how we can mimic this form of high stakes art in the theater world.
Although I appreciate the artistic value that this idea has, I feel like this is might not be the safest practice. The amount of trust these people have in this artist is admirable, but one thing I think people didn't consider is that they can't see what's going on behind the wall in terms of hygiene. As they're a professional artist I'm sure that they're aware of proper cleaning procedure, yet with this physical barrier there's no way of knowing. However if there was a way to confirm that everything was completely safe I think it's a really interesting idea. As far as the artistic side of things go I think his style is really cool . Complete artistic freedom isn't something that is usually present in tattoo art, so by eliminating these boundaries he is able to truly create what he wants. I don't think I would ever be brave enough to risk getting something that I don't like, but I think that for some people it would be a really cool experience.
I saw this project on the Creators Project website and was absolutely blown away by it. I wish I had been in the area I would have been all over it! Its an amazing look in the trust people are willing to give to complete strangers and the trust that you take into yourself every time you meet some one. I hope this project or projects like this pop up more over the country it really is a great way to instill that sense of humanity we've seem to have lost. With this particular artist I don't know if I would have done it as easily as these people did. He has too much an affinity for skulls for my comfort. I also would have liked to meet the people he worked on just to see who they were as individuals. I wonder if it takes a certain set of people to make this experiment work.
Knowing that you would be getting a tattoo, but not sure what it would be, would definitely steer a few people away from doing something like this. Sticking your arm in a hole, and not knowing what is going to be coming out. You only assume that the person behind the wall is not going to do something trashy. Looking at the pictures, the artist was able to determine the persons gender and responded in a like minded manner, by creating a design that would be suitable to the gender. I wonder if during the process, they would talk back and forth so that maybe the tattoo would go towards a particular design. So that you aren’t completely unaware as to what is being drawn, and might give you the little confidence boost you needed to stick your arm in a hole. Being in the family I am, if I get a tattoo, I know that wouldn’t sit too well with my father, so I will leave it to those who feel like getting a little ink.
This must have been a daunting prospect, for both the artist and the subjects. For the artist, the idea of complete artistic freedom, while wonderful, is also very intimidating. I feel that a big part of being a tattoo artist is working with people to create something that both of you love. In this project the artist is putting a lot of trust into his talent and skill. It helps that he is world famous for what he does, but I know the idea of complete artistic freedom would terrify me, especially if I was working on someone else’s body. As for the participants, the amount of trust they had to put into the artist and his work is unbelievable. I’ve been thinking about getting a tattoo, but I’ve had the design for two years now, and it’s something that has a lot of personal connotations to me. The idea of getting artwork permanently on my body that has nothing to do with anything that is personal to me is an interesting one, though not wholly unpleasant. I think that a really looks at tattoo art as purely artwork, not a personal representation of something about yourself, and it might be nice to wear the artwork of someone you really admire.
The people who chose to do this are the most brave in my opinion. I don't think tattoos are bad or anything, but they are pretty permanent and visible. I think this is interesting to me because these people had no connection to the tattoo whatsoever. I always thought that a tattoo is a way for someone to permanently display something that is meaningful to them but this experiment got rid of that factor completely. It focused on the talents of the artist and brought a whole new meaning to what tattoos can be. I think this experiment really shined a light on what a reputation can do for an artist. The fact that these people got tattoos from him even thought they had never met shows a kind of trust and confidence in his work that can be flattering to any artist. I understand why he did it too, for the absolute freedom of his art work and not having to conform to fit the needs of anyone else. I think that this was a pretty neat experiment, one that I would never get involved in, but neat none the less.
That is a lot of faith in a tattoo artist. I have always wavered on the idea of getting a tattoo. I think that there are people who get beautiful tattoos and others who just did know what they were doing. I don’t blame the artists because it was the costumer that wanted that picture permanently ingrained on them. However, to put your arm through a hole and not know what was being tattooed on your arm is risky in my opinion. Not because I think that it will look bad but because you have no idea what he will draw on your arm and you may not like it at all. And this is your arm, it can be seen all the time. Although a part of me gets the chills from thinking about the anticipation of not knowing what is happening and having an amazing tattoo come out from it. It all depends on the person.
Of course my first reaction to this was to gage how I would feel about each of the tattoos if I was participating, and while I'm not a huge fan of tattoos in general I thought they were all pretty cool looking. That being said, I can't imagine how I would feel knowing that whatever happens on the other side of the wall would be permanently on my arm for the rest of my life. I think it's interesting to think about your perception of what is good art and what is bad art based on what you want it to look like. Maybe someone who wanted a design like the ones he did would not be as happy with it because he would have his own ideas of what it should look like. Sometimes when real life doesn't meet our expectations exactly, we aren't happy with something even if it is an objectively good thing. I think this is something to keep in mind when you're judging your own work too. I've definitely had moments when I tried to carry out an idea but fell short of my own expectations, and even though the final product wasn't terrible I didn't like it because it wasn't exactly what I was imagining.
Wow these people are very brave to put their arm in a hole and get a random tattoo. I would never do anything like this because I do not like surprises especially ones that will last your entire life. What if you hated the tattoo? Then you are stuck with it or have to get it removed, which might not work 100% and could also be painful. It is also risky because they do not know it is a really good tattoo artist on the other side of the wall, so it is possible that the tattoo could be bad. Tattoos are also risky with cleanliness of the needles and other equipment. They are not able to see the needle and the sanitation of the whole operation. It is a good thing that everything worked out and they came out with really cool tattoos. I personally would never do anything like this.
This seems like a terrific yet terrible idea. The freedom given to the artist and the trust of the canvas is incredible. As a result, the tattoos are beautiful. That being said, so much could go wrong. Personally, I believe that tattoos should have a significant amount of meaning and thought put into their creation. I suppose the people getting these tattoos are familiar with the artist, and if the fact that he did it is enough meaning for them, then good for them. I just wouldn't be willing to do this. When I get tattoos, I will be in control of what they are.
It is also interesting culturally how our view of tattoos has changed over the years. Society used to be much more against body art, but now most younger people are accepting of it. Piercings are also becoming more peeve leant in mainstream culture. It worries me that these trends could lead people to place less thought into permanent changes to their bodies. I'm fully in support of these changes, just think about it beforehand. Yes the artist is just working on the canvas, but the canvas has to wear the art everyday.
These are beautiful tattoos, I just hope the canvases are happy with them.
I will never get a tattoo. That's not because I think it's wrong. That's not because I believe that tattoos aren't beautiful, or that the people who so confidently bear theirs aren't respectable, or that there is anything morally wrong with having a tattoo in the first place. I simply don't have the faith. I am too indecisive. I would never be satisfied with my choice. I don't trust a needle which is not intended for the sake of my health or my sewing. And I would probably not be satisfied by the looks of any tattoo unless I were to do it myself - which is so not happening. But the utter confidence and bravery of a person who chooses not only to get a tattoo in the first place, but to do so in utter blindness, astounds me beyond belief. These are the people who will allow the arts to live on, because they are the ones who put faith in the artists of today. And the confidence of the tattoo artist himself - this is the boldness which will sustain him for the rest of his career.
I have been thinking a lot about tattoos recently. I don't have any, and I have been thinking about getting one for a while. But I am pretty sure if I ever do get a tattoo it will be after years of consideration, and I will have a very detailed drawing for the artist to work from. I think that these people who get tattoos without knowing what they are going to get are very brave, much braver than I am. And even though I can't even begin to understand why a person would put that much trust in a person who they don't know, and have them permanently alter their body, I think it very admirable. For the person, and for the artist. Can you imagine the pressure on the artists? These people are trusting him or her with their bodies. That's an incredible relationship to have with someone who you don't know. I think tattoos are beautiful, and I look forward to getting one some day, but it'll be with someone I trust, and after careful deliberation.
The idea that people were willing to give full control of a permanent piece of art on their body to the artist is really surprising to me. From the author of the articles point of view it seemed that the volunteers for this project didn’t have a clue of who it really was tattooing them. I understand the allure of getting a tattoo done for free is appealing for some, but I wouldn’t personally ever want to give up control about what is going to be on my skin for the rest of my life like that. It brings up an interesting point not just for tattoo artist but all artists, in that who are they really creating for. I understand the desire to want to have creative control of the piece is what drove the artist to this project, but at the same time this isn’t a piece or art that its being commissioned and put off to the side this is a not-so-easy-to-erase work that the volunteer has to live with.
After looking at the work of the artist I really wish more people could have gotten a chance to research the artist a little more. I watched probably too many seasons of Ink Master over the summer, but I feel it has lead me to start looking at tattoos with a finer eye. With what the image linked in the article I feel bad for the people wearing the tattoos on their arms. Several of the works have minor but clear line weight issues, and inconsistency with keeping sharp straight lines. From the very first work if you look at the flag like cross lines that circle 180 degrees you can see that not all of the lines that are clearly supposed to connect due, and have even consistent spacing between the line. The only thing I personally will say the artist did a good job on what his shading on the skull on the right side of the tattoo because you can really get a sense of depth and realism to the skull.
If you look at whole glory tattoo number 18, I am just as disappointed. The thick center lines creating the spine of the snake don’t all have the same constant line weight or straightness. I understand that the body of the snake is continually curving but the artist was able to make some lines straighter than others. What really upsets me is the head of the snake because you can clearly see that artist saved it for last when their hands and eyes were tired. So many points on the head of the snake you can easily pin point where the artist started and stopped his lines because a lot of the lines appear shaky and a small puddle at the end because he held the needle in place to long. For such a heavy line intense piece clearly that is not the artist strong suit and the piece felt very practice level to me.
I really don’t feel like this artist is really specialized in any specific style that he has shown in his free works and I honestly feel bad for the people wearing them. This artist seems to have an okay grasp on certain technique but I really think he needs to go back and restudy some basics because he is make some far too simple mistakes.
I've been thinking a lot about getting a tattoo recently, and it's probably not going to happen any time soon. A tattoo is a really big decision to make for many reasons, but two stand out most. First, it's a permanent marking. Sure, they're removable, but the expense and pain involved renders it pretty much permanent. If you like it now, how are you sure that you will like it in 10 years? 25 years? 50 years? Second, it's a huge vote of confidence in the artist who is giving you this permanent mark: as each person has their own drawing style, so each tattoo artist has their own perspective and skills. That these people can trust that the art on their bodies will be good is something I wouldn't be able to stomach.
Something that bothers me about this is the way that it frames the recipients as simply pieces of skin to act as a canvas. A tattoo is something so personal, so permanent, that it really should be a collaboration with the recipient...if he wanted to create "pure art," maybe he should have just used a pen and paper.
For one thing, its an amazing display of trust to stick your arm through a wall and let yourself get an unknown tattoo on the other side. Personally I could never do anything of the sort, leaving it up to a stranger who hasn't even seen your face to decide what the next permanent mark will be on your body is terrifying. With that said I think the luring fear of the permanency of the tattoo is what makes this project Whole Glory so exciting. Not only is it a way for an artist to give out free art to his fans, but its an exciting exploration about what a tattoo says about someone, especially when tattooed without any predetermined knowledge. Although I think most people shouldn't just get tattoos through a hole in the wall, the project sets up a interesting relationship of trust between Scott Campbell and the participant, all the while providing tattoo enthusiasts with a great opportunity to acquire art from a famous tattoo artist. Its not for me, but I think it's a really exciting and interesting art project.
OOF! This seems like something I would totally do if I was totally able to get laser tattoo removal right after. It is a pretty cool concept though. It definitely has a trust aspect to it. Not knowing what will end up on your arm is terrifying and knowing that there is a chance you might hate it is even more terrifying because you have to live with it now. I do think that it is a good way to promote the art of tattoos and Scotts art more specifically. It gives the artist the knowledge that you trust them and that might mean alot to them as to take more pride in the work they do on you. Now there is talk about how a pen and paper would have worked in favor of some participants but this is completely voluntary and the participants choice.
My favorite quote from Campbell is, "...because with any medium, it’s always purer if you are unaware of the audience. You can get lost in the work without worrying what people will think". I love the concept of allowing a complete stranger to create any sort of art on your skin. Of course, the drawbacks of this are pretty obvious and I understand why people would be scared by this idea. However, as an artist I am excited to see the amount of trust people are placing in other artists, such as Campbell. Sometimes art doesn't expect much from it's audience, but getting a random and permanent piece of art on your skin forces the person (or "canvas") to constantly interact with the art.
I recently got a new tattoo, and it has been very interesting seeing the varying opinions of people I talk to about it. What I find most interesting about tattoos is how the tattoo artist's work follows a person throughout their life. I think Campbell realizes this, but he also gets to create his art unsolicitedly and purely.
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