Expression

The Old Guitarist by Pablo Picasso

They say that a picture is worth a 1000 words but sometimes that’s wrong. A lot of times a picture is only worth a few words or the wrong words. The meaning is muddled and lost. It becomes completely unrelatable. No one gets it and eventually you forget the point anyways. This also happens in tattoos.

The problem most people have is they mistake a symbol for a message. Its like getting a tattoo of a Nike swoosh logo. 1 person might get it because they actually worked for Nike for 20 years and are a hardcore “company man,” another might get it because they are fans of Michael Jordan or one of the other athletes that endorses Nike brand products. My point is how are you supposed to know. Oh I hear all the time its not for anyone else but me, but is it really for you if its just a symbol…because symbols already belong to something else, so by definition it can’t be yours. If somebody asked you who you are, would you say I’m Nike? Even if you said I’m a Nike fan or employee is that really an answer about who you are?

This is how you get to self expression. Its easy but it’s not. Take the symbol and turn it into a message. It’s like in Batman Begins, Batman settles on the bat as a symbol because its scary and legendary. Its mythological and eye catching. So consider this, is Batman just the cool bat logo on the side of all his gear? No, Batman has a message, he does the deeds and actions. The bat is the symbol, crime fighting is his message, the black outfit and bad ass cars are his expression. So if you want a complete bad ass work of art, don’t settle for the bat logo get the Batmobile and ride for Gotham or die trying. That’s what makes a good work of art, not the technique or medium, but how well we can relate to it on a human level. Think about this, the first criminals Batman encountered had no idea what the bat logo meant but they knew a guy dressed as bat, beat the living hell out of them, and turned them into the police. The message is what makes an impression, not the symbol. Remember you could slap any logo on a Batmobile and its still be just as awesome.

So my goal as an artist, is to build you your “Batmobile” based on your message. Your message is how you live your life and what for. Cause that’s who you are. So hypothetical “Nike Employee and Fan,” instead of getting the check mark, ask yourself what has Nike actually done for me. What deeds and actions of mine are truly inspired by my love of Nike. Lets say the employee got to design a shoe for his favorite sport, skateboarding, which he is currently teaching his kids how to do. So lets do a father/child skateboarding tattoo that has some Nike shoes/symbols in it instead of just the logo. That is expressing yourself, because the tattoo becomes part of your gear that makes you, you.

For those of you who think this sounds complicated or scary, its not. You live your life everyday, if you are ashamed of it or scared to be honest about it, then a tattoo is the least of your problems. So just be open with someone you are asking to make you even more awesome then you are. Cause that’s the only way to avoid regret and dissatisfaction. I will do my part, but you have to do yours. Don’t pretend, don’t hide. Ask me for help with the art, but don’t ask me who you are. Cause, “it’s not who you are but what you do that defines you…”