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Showing posts from April, 2022

Secondary research - tattoo machines

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 The are three basic types of tattoo machines: - coil - rotary - pneumatic Coil tattoo machines - patented on 28th of December 1891 by Tom Riley ( tattoo artist who invented "English style of tattooing) Tom Riley's machine had a single coil and was a modified door bell assembly contained in a brass box. (Roe P. 2005 ) However Thomas Alva Edison is often called the father of the modern electric tattoo machine as he invented how to use electric motor . According to Perez C. (ND) "Coil tattoo machines function through electromagnetism. They feature coils made from a conductive cylindrical centre post that are then wound with an insulated copper wire. The coils are not active until attached to a power supply. Tattoo machines can feature one, two, three or more coils – with two being the most common." Electromagnetic coils were also used in the telegraph instruments such us Morse's. Well made and good coil machine last for years, however is very loud, which might be ...

Primary research

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 Primary research is a research where a researcher collect data and information directly, rather than using data done by someone else. My primary research is an interview with a Slovakian tattoo artist - Romana Kondracikova. I texted  Romi and I asked for a shot meeting. She was very pleased when she find out that she will be my inspiration to the project and she said that I have made her day. That was very nice and a good start to the conversation. She is working as a tattoo artist for 15 years now and her tattoos are amazing. However she is still modest and was very surprised about fact, that I want to interview her.  Firstly I asked her about her life back in Slovakia and what schools she has finished. Romi said that she always loved drawing, however her parents didn’t support her, they thought that is only a hobby and she will never make money from art. She was allowed to join after school art clubs as she never stopped drawing. When she was 15, her boyfriend tattooed...

Project development in the real world

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  This project might exist in the real life as a tattoo design or fabric patches for the leather punk jacket.  Punk subculture express itself by the original look in general, contemporary street punks wear leather jacket with metal spikes or studs, chains, military-style boots. They often wear elements of early punk fashion, such as kutten vests, bondage trousers (often plaid) and torn clothing.   Punk fashion always shows individualism, rebellion and even aggression. Some Punks wear accessories or have tattoos that express socio-political messages. Back in late 90's Polish Punk does not really cares how his tattoo is designed and it which tattoo studio would be made. Tattoos were often made during the parties at someone's house or even in the basement. Not in a very hygienic environment.   I deliberately drawn simple punk related graphic as the might look back in 90's. Letter A, symbol of Anarchy was very popular design, same as simple word "Punk" or immortal ...

Considering my work in the real world

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 I found my old graphics and sketches from the time when I was strongly connected with the Punk subculture, which would be a perfect opportunity to talk about my art and how we tried to change the world. As I was the only person in the group of my friends, who can draw , I always been asked to draw or design posters or tattoos. Back in late 90’s were  no internet, barely anyone had a PC at home so my inspiration was Punk music, people around me , Punk bands posters or cassette tape covers. I drew a Punk related poster and it was published in one of the Punk Zine, the magazine strictly addressed to the Punk subculture where all the important information about the gigs and new albums were posted.  Our message was simple, everything against Nazism, Racism, Fascism and the quote “No Future!” Related to everything: there is no future in education so I skipped school regularly. There is no future for the World ruled by Nazis etc. We were against the rules and Anarchy was the on...

Goya - Crazy like a Genius

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"Goya - crazy like a Genius" is a documentary from 2007 about Spanish painter Francisco Goya, presented by by Robert Hughes, Art Critic and Writer (born in Australia, 1938 – 2012).  In this documentary , Robert Hughes truly fascinated by Goya's paintings and life, talked with passion about his favourite artist. When in 2004 after the accident, Hughes was 6 weeks in coma, he claims that during this time he mentally lived in Goya's World where all the creatures from his paintings appeared, laughing at him. That shows incredible influence  that Goya's work had on Hughes. "Goya was born on another side of the World somehow, He was clever enough, smart enough and skilful enough that he could play the World's game" . Leon Golub, American artist  Francisco Goya (1746 - 1848) was born in a small Spain village  - Zaragoza. His first job as an artist was painting religious scenes in Church of era Pillar. In 1770 young Goya painted 11 huge stories of life of Ma...

Project Sign Off and Major Project Plan

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        Sign Off sheet link  

Tell Me a Story

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 I draw a comic strip where two young people decided to do tattoos. By the spider web, bad lightning and dark background I tried to point out that they are not in the modern and clean tattoo saloon; they are hiding somewhere in the dirty basement with a very bad light, doing something illegal. In my first project I draw my mum on the background, cooking dinner, completely unaware what is happening. Finally I decided to drew a black background instead.   I have mentioned the story in my previous post, this is my twin brother and me doing tattoos. Luckily we were in my room, not in the dirty basement, however back in 1996 it was something wrong to have a tattoo. Only people in jails or really naughty bad gays had tattoos, that wasn't popular and definitely there were no tattoo studios back then in Poland. The title "forbidden tattoo" tells everything, Maybe that sounds silly but I choose that word instead of "illegal" or "taboo" because I remember that w...

1 idea, 10 ways - development excercise

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 In this exercise I choose a cat tattoos and I would like to show how one idea could be interpreted in many different ways. Regarding to tattoos, the design depends on the person that is choosing tattoo. This is very personal and usually had a meaning.  Personally I would choose a black cat tattoo because I own and I love a black cat. Then I would consider the style, simple outlines, cartoon cat or maybe pointillism tattoo?  I thing that exercise is very useful and basically is something what I will do in the future. If I will be a tattoo artist I will offer my client at least ten different ideas for his tattoo, then after consultation, reduce to 5 and finally he would choose the only one. Same with a logo design, it is always better to introduce a few options to the client. 

I hate Art!

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The title of this post is quite offensive and I didn't wrote it with pleasure, because I love art, however I do understand the purpose of this post. When Sam introduced the topic, my first thought was to choose something in abstract painting , something in one colour, or just a blank canvas.  I choose Agnes Martin's painting because it is unfortunately in one colour, makes me thinking " the was no effort to paint this picture " its just a blue square, everyone can do that" Sometimes it is so difficult to understand abstract art. I wouldn't choose this picture to hang in my living room, simply because is not my cup of tea and the wall is in the same colour, so it would disappeared eventually. On the other hand,  abstract paintings are always been sold for a million dollars because "it will look good in the office". Not fair. Agnes Martin,  Night Sea,1963 However, during the research I find out more about Agnes Martin and her art. and I really like he...

Smart objectives

 The theme what I choose this term is Ultimate Black. I would design logo and branding for a Tattoo Studio, which include t-shirts, leaflet and poster for a Tattoo Convent. I would consider different styles in tattooing, however I would stay in the black colour theme. My inspiration would be history of tattoo and tattoo artists work. I would  design on paper and on Procreate. The complete digital portfolio will be presented in gallery on my website on the beginning of June.

Icebreaker, 3D self-portrait

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 My inspiration to 3D self portrait was Italian painter Giuseppe Arcimboldo (1527 - 1593) who was famous for painting compositions of fruits, vegetables, books and other objects arrange to relate human portraits.  At the beginning of his career Arcimboldo worked as a  cartoon designer of stained glass windows for the Milan Cathedral, then in Prague he was court painter and theatre decoration designer. He was famous from his illusionistic trickery and his paintings were full of allegorical meanings and jokes. Arcimboldo's portraits made up from vegetables, fruits and roots were loved by everyone. Back then it was something extraordinary and people always wonder  if it was something  bizarre and whimsical or something painted by madman. However at the same time his paintings were very cleaver far from painted by someone who is mentally imbalanced. At the end of his career he created portrait of Rudolph II and his self - portrait "Four Seasons on One Head". Arcimbo...

The Fantastic Five

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Themes Oriental Surprise. Explore the art of the Orient both traditional and contemporary Primitivism. Enjoy a ride into the past.  Ultimate Black. Create your pieces using the colour of night On the last session Sam introduced three new themes for the main project. First I was impressed by Primitivism all the colours and opportunities which I could use by choosing this theme. I love Modigliani and one of my first painting was inspired by him, I think it was in 2001when I painted that my first sketch    Amadeo Modigliani Female nude, 1916 My first thought was to create posters with people enjoying life, painted in a similar way in the colourful bright colours. the only different is that I wanted to add some modern object to the primitivism, for example mobile phones , laptops, cup of coffee from Costa and bag of Mc Donald's chips. I wanted to connect those two Worlds together : Primitivism and Modern that was my purpose. However my heart also bits faster to the third them...

Welcome back in term 3

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 After a short two weeks break we came back ready for the new challenges in term 3. During the break I watched the “Glow up” show on Netflix. Basically it is a  make up artists competition where they   presents the best make up techniques and  skills. They are very talented, creative  and their make up looks stunning, it is a piece of art. Every single task was interesting and inspiring, for example they did make up for the actors in the “Lion King “ musical or they took part in preparation to the medical documentary series where they created real looking bruises , broken nose, scars ,veins open wand etc  They followed the script  and were able to be creative and go big using not only a colourful cosmetics but also play dough, clay, foil, string, prosthetics, etc.  For example here this spiky elements in the make up were created piece by piece from the play dough then painted.  I love how they transform models to someone completely different....