More Christian tattoo artists a positive development?

[farouk]

Thanks to all who voted so far in the poll!

NB: If you have not yet voted in the poll, please vote now! :)

 

[farouk]

...it would depend on if it cultivated the wrong things as with any job or passion.

PS: Good point; I think that pursuing tattoo art as an artist can be a wholesome professional passion - so to speak - but you are right that when any profession becomes driven by money and - yes - greed, then there should be the warning lights in the conscience.

 

[farouk]

I have no idea which parlor she went to though; because there are many in my town.

@justbyfaith There is often a choice of parlors; hence also some of the idea behind the poll, above, as regards the possible scope for Christian input into the industry.

 

[farouk]

I'm pretty sure a lot of Christian islanders such as Samoans, Tongans, etc. and there are a lot of devoted Christians from those races and parts of the world and a lot of them get tattoos

PS: @Josho Often Samoans, Asians, etc., who get tattooed receive the ink via the "traditiona;" method, whether 'stick and poke', or whatever the local term would be.

My guess that most of the parlors in your area of Australia would use the Western method of tattoo machines, right?

 

[farouk]

@OzSpen PS: My guess is that the amazing variety of colourful flora and fauna in Australia provides for design inspiration for not a few tattoo artists.

 

[farouk]

I have two tattoos. ... I have the words "La Mia Vita Bella" and a small red rose ... It is Italian for "My beautiful Life." I chose this because I am so very much in love with my life, especially as I learn more about the Lord. I have so much to be thankful for and I truly DO love the life He has given me. I am planning a third, of a cross, on my back as well.

@blessed76 Well, having it done is certainly widely regarded as being a very womanly choice (many years ago it was almost exclusively a male thing to do). Anyway it's a choice now that many Christian young women pursue. My wife and I talked to a young lady with the whole of John 3.16 tattooed on her wrist area; it was her favorite Bible verse and mine also, and I'm sure other conversations have arisen as a result of her willingness to put into practice this now very womanly choice.

A young man in church recently was telling ppl about his tattoo plans; his tattoo design plan was inspired by his mom's tattoo. These days I guess one can say that having it done is both manly and womanly.

I reckon this prompts Christians to wonder also about the scope and viability of tattoo parlor work (hence also the poll, above).

 

[farouk]

@Soverign Grace Hi; I saw your post on the other thread.

I thought of looking into how to establish a town. It's a dream that I don't know will ever be fulfilled but I would love to do something like that. I want Mayberrry. If the Amish can do it, why not? ...I'd like to understand how the Amish do it. We've seen them at Amish markets and the girls at the counter look so clean - no heavy makeup, no tattoos, no piercings - like back in the 50's.

So do you really want a town where no one has tattoos or pierced earrings?

Do you have any idea how such a prohibition would work? how it would advance the Gospel? or is it strictly about your personal preferences?

(I'm just interested; because I'm puzzled.)

 

[farouk]

*Some of my pieces get criticized for being form-fitting, especially with female figures.

@Sabertooth So do you think that ppl are being hyper-critical?

 

[farouk]

Lol, no, only when I see a lot of skin that's been injected with pigment. :)

Well, anyway, it's what is done widely confidently now by both genders from age 18 onwards; and often only small ones.

A young man at our local church was telling ppl recently about the tattoo he is planning; the design is inspired by his mom's tattoo.

 

[Sabertooth]

So do you think that ppl are being hyper-critical?

It's hard to say. I am very objective with the human body.

I have to be. I am a caregiver to my 25yo daughter. I see everything. When you are not a caregiver, gender separation is the norm, like it is with my two non-autistic daughters. And it is black & white. My autistic daughter is pretty (she looks like my mother). My involvement with her is always in the presence of my wife. Everything is above-board.

I think that people who are not caregivers tend to be more uptight. (And women who are not severely autistic tend to be more sexually aggressive when they expose themselves.)

I like the well-developed human form while maintaining a level of modesty. That level seems to be at odds with some unspoken standard, though.

 

[farouk]

It's hard to say. I am very objective with the human body.

I have to be. I am a caregiver to my 25yo daughter. I see everything. When you are not a caregiver, gender separation is the norm, like it is with my two non-autistic daughters. And it is black & white. My autistic daughter is pretty (she looks like my mother). My involvement with her is always in the presence of my wife. Everything is above-board.

I think that people who are not caregivers tend to be more uptight. (And women who are not severely autistic tend to be more sexually aggressive when they expose themselves.)

I like the well-developed human form while maintaining a level of modesty. That level seems to be at odds with some unspoken standard, though.

@Sabertooth Thanks for your comments. I think that likewise ppl are going to have all sorts of different views about Christians working in tattoo parlors; it's likely inevitable, don't you think?

 

[Sabertooth]

I think that likewise ppl are going to have all sorts of different views about Christians working in tattoo parlors; it's likely inevitable, don't you think?

That is a generalization. Their repertoire is usually available for all to see (to promote their business). If it ventures into darkness, it is unmistakable, and is fruit by which you can judge their spiritual status [Matthew 7:15-20]. (They might even be saved by grace, but their dark works are what they are.)

If their repertoire does not veer into darkness, then they are innocent in that regard. That is discerned on a case-by-case basis, but I have yet to encounter a tattoo parlor that exhibits the latter. Darkness-accommodating parlors are not exonerated by the hypothetical possibility of clean ones. They either are clean or they are not.

 

[Soverign Grace]

@Soverign Grace Hi; I saw your post on the other thread.

So do you really want a town where no one has tattoos or pierced earrings?

Do you have any idea how such a prohibition would work? how it would advance the Gospel? or is it strictly about your personal preferences?

(I'm just interested; because I'm puzzled.)

No I wouldn't exclude tattoos and piercings - heck I'd have to exclude my own family!

I was thinking more along the lines of establishing a town where people agree to live by Christian principles - the first being love. I've been in churches where it was all law and no love. Love, I think, is the highest calling.

 

[farouk]

That is a generalization. Their repertoire is usually available for all to see (to promote their business). If it ventures into darkness, it is unmistakable, and is fruit by which you can judge their spiritual status [Matthew 7:15-20]. (They might even be saved by grace, but their dark works are what they are.)

If their repertoire does not veer into darkness, then they are innocent in that regard. That is discerned on a case-by-case basis, but I have yet to encounter a tattoo parlor that exhibits the latter. Darkness-accommodating parlors are not exonerated by the hypothetical possibility of clean ones. They either are clean or they are not.

I appreciate your conscientious approach to such matters.

Fact is also, while 30 - 40 years ago many Christian parents might - for example - have been opposed to their sons getting ear piercings, yet now so many of them do it that it's much more widely regarded as a subjective and personal preference matter.

I do wonder if something of this approach might apply in some cases at least to the idea of Christians working in tattoo parlors? (I take your general point, though.

 

[farouk]

No I wouldn't exclude tattoos and piercings - heck I'd have to exclude my own family!

I was thinking more along the lines of establishing a town where people agree to live by Christian principles - the first being love. I've been in churches where it was all law and no love. Love, I think, is the highest calling.

@Soverign Grace
Oh I do agree about the precious principle of love, which should really be practised by the place that is 'the pillar and ground of the truth', which is the church of the living God (1 Timothy 3.15). Thanks for your comment.

So in your family do the men wear earrings as well as the women, and do the women receive tattoos as well as the men, customarily? Such practices and habits do develop and change over the years; and families often reflect this; and when it is something in the end subjective, it ought not to be a problem, in my humble opinion.

 

[Soverign Grace]

It's hard to say. I am very objective with the human body.

I have to be. I am a caregiver to my 25yo daughter. I see everything. When you are not a caregiver, gender separation is the norm, like it is with my two non-autistic daughters. And it is black & white. My autistic daughter is pretty (she looks like my mother). My involvement with her is always in the presence of my wife. Everything is above-board.

I think that people who are not caregivers tend to be more uptight. (And women who are not severely autistic tend to be more sexually aggressive when they expose themselves.)

I like the well-developed human form while maintaining a level of modesty. That level seems to be at odds with some unspoken standard, though.

Sabertooth - I studied nutrition for 40 years. Are you aware that autism is linked to a damaged microbiome? I would try your daughter on probiotics if you haven't already. Jarrow is a good brand. Some issues may arise if her digestion/ the waves of her intestines don't work normally, then you may have to give her something like fresh ginger. Much has been learned about how the microbiome affects mental processes - it's a burgeoning field.

 

[farouk]

I don't know what possessed them to start the ink, good question I'll have to ask them.

@soul man So did you get any impressions yet as to why they started with their inkings? so many of their contemporaries seem to do it, anyway; probably for a huge variety of reasons.

(I guess it does to some extent beg the poll question also as regards the scope for parlor work, right?)

 

[farouk]

It's hard to say. I am very objective with the human body.

@Sabertooth I guess the angle of my original question was as regards your artwork and skills; and I guess as well that the idea that a true artist won't become skilled in drawing human beings "in case someone / Fundies, etc. are offended" is highly unrealistic.

 

[Sabertooth]

"...in case someone / Fundies, etc. are offended" is highly unrealistic.

1. Drawing human figures well requires an almost medical understanding of external anatomy (a.k.a. eidonomy). I choose the figure that I am going to use by how well they fit the scene that I have in mind, a bit like a casting director. The "Wonder Woman" figure is a great figure but does not fit in every "part." Some people are offended at such an overstated figure, no matter how modestly she might be dressed. That is their problem. (She is one figure in my palette of figures. It matches women that I actually know/in my family.) Healthy, adult human bodies are inherently sexy. But one can be sexy AND innocent, at the same time, right? I'm looking at you, Joseph.
   
2. Even when fully dressed, any figure (male or female) can be depicted in a promiscuous stance toward another character or directly toward the viewer. That is an error on the part of the artist and/or model.
3. I pair my figures so that when I draw PG-rated romantic scenes (whatever is appropriate in front of their own children), they will be shown with the same spouse, to avoid portraying promiscuity.

I know that you are going to say that the "Fundies" are setting the bar too high (and maybe go back to them being critical of those who receive tattoos), but that straw man is not grounds to never set the bar at all (for the artists). That is a very common failure among secular artists, citing artistic license. Adultery, the occult, etc. should be no-brainers to every Christian, even if we can't agree on the exact placement of the bar, otherwise (a function of the Holy Spirit). Grace does not equal a license to sin [Romans 6:1-2].

 

[farouk]

1. Drawing human figures well requires an almost medical understanding of external anatomy (a.k.a. eidonomy). I choose the figure that I am going to use by how well they fit the scene that I have in mind, a bit like a casting director. The "Wonder Woman" figure is a great figure but does not fit in every "part." Some people are offended at such an overstated figure, no matter how modestly she might be dressed. That is their problem. (She is one figure in my palette of figures. It matches women that I actually know/in my family.) Healthy, adult human bodies are inherently sexy. But one can be sexy AND innocent, at the same time, right? I'm looking at you, Joseph.
   
2. Even when fully dressed, any figure (male or female) can be depicted in a promiscuous stance toward another character or directly toward the viewer. That is an error on the part of the artist and/or model.
3. I pair my figures so that when I draw PG-rated romantic scenes (whatever is appropriate in front of their own children), they will be shown with the same spouse, to avoid portraying promiscuity.

I know that you are going to say that the "Fundies" are setting the bar too high (and maybe go back to them being critical of those who receive tattoos), but that straw man is not grounds to never set the bar at all (for the artists). That is a very common failure among secular artists, citing artistic license. Adultery, the occult, etc. should be no-brainers to every Christian, even if we can't agree on the exact placement of the bar, otherwise (a function of the Holy Spirit). Grace does not equal a license to sin [Romans 6:1-2].

Thanks for your thoughtful comments, @Sabertooth . Did you write points 1, 2 and 3, above? or are they from a quote from someone else?
I certainly agree with your final paragraph.