Need opinions please-Honest ones

Hey guys. Well, for you old timers here it comes again. I just finished reading the thread concerning old timers' advice on peoples artwork. Well, this is exactly the attitude that all of the senior tattoo artists are sick of!!!! If you dont want an honest opininon, then dont show your fucking work. Dont u think that many people are going to have an opinion about the tattoos you hope to someday create??? Well, i want dearly to be ready for apprenticeship, and all of these lame ass complainers are just making it harder for me to get into this industry. Anyways, respect goes out to the wise. SO, IF YOU PROS WOULD TAKE A LOOK AT MY WORK, ON TRIBE.COM ( OR I COULD EMAIL IT) I WILL TAKE YOUR ADVICE- DONT WORRY, IM NOT A FUCKING PUSSY, I JUST WANT HONESTY. Look for ARON PICKRELL on Tribe.com. Check out my photos. Thanks to everyone who continues to help out even though they are asked these questions a thousnad times.

Hey bud, I looked at your stuff earlier, and I'll get back to you on this... I gotta go for now, but I wanted you give you some good info which isn't fair when I've only got a sec here... AL

I'd suggest practicing a lor more before even attempting getting into the industry. I'm not trying to rain on your parade but you need to really adjust your art to be worth tattooing. Start by drawing tattoos from designs that you've seen (subjects)... Skulls, tribal, ect ect.. Clean your work up.. Learn to shade... Learn to have a steady ouline before you even color/shade... I wouldn't worry about color.. I'd practice shading with black and grey.. outline in pen... copy it a few times.. and attempt shading the same thing over and over agian... Try to keep consistancy and depth... I wasn't trying to be a prick.. just point you in the right direction...
7

test

I would also suggest really working on your portfolio before finding an apprenticeship. your work is pretty cool, but you really want to have a rock solid portfolio full of amazing artwork before knocking on doors. Keep painting, keep drawing, and keep doing it. I would also suggest saving some bucks and getting some tattoos from the best. California has some of the best artists in the world, you are lucky! In fact, I know 4 amazing ones that are enrolling in art classes this fall. Check out the conventions every chance you get. Check out the original art galleries on this site and compare. When you find some artists you like, shoot them an email and ask their opinions on directions you should go, steps you can take to better your art. Learning and practice are the keys... If you can take real criticism and work hard you will go wherever you want. If you take the time to prepare an amazing portfolio, get an amazing tattoo, and are a respectful person who can deal with both the public and insanity of the industry, things will fall into place.

Just testing cause the letter thingy is gone... Anyway, you have a good eye for color but you're missing any organic quality to your work. The lines don't flow at all and look forced. You have to relax a little and stop being so afraid of screwing up a line here and there on paper. If you can't get comfortable with paper, you'll never be comfortable on people. I suggest a few things: 1) Take a drawing class. I'm not saying that you can't draw, but you REALLY need to learn to relax a little. A good drawing class will teach some quick sketch tequniqes that will add a lot of life and depth into what you have. 2) Find a small tattoo or piece of flash that you find is really eye catching, Then recreate it. NO TRACING! Just copy it to the best of your ability. Don't spend days on this, try hours at the very most. As you go through it line for line, watch the bolding, the highlights, the shading...this will really show you WHY this design is special and it will undoubtedly give you a few new things to try with your own work. Please remember that when you're done, THIS IS NOT YOUR WORK! Don't claim it as your own. You've simply replicated it (which is a skill a tattoo artist needs anyway). 3) Draw a semi-simple shape such as a small fish or a bird. Don't put any detail in it. Either redraw it or photocopy it about seven times. Now look through a tattoo magazine or website and see what different visual effects are used in tattoos. Try to make each shape look different. One should look like copper, another like silver, another like crumbling stone, another very realistic... And you can even do different styles from different areas. Japanese style is much different than Hispanic style. Study why and see if you can put those influences into your shape study. I hope this helps.

Polish, Polish, Polish. Refine, Refine, Refine. Perfect, Perfect, Perfect... and don't give up. Good strong color sense.