finding a place to start

Well, it's been about a month since my last post. I tried emailing a studio about a potential interview, but with no response. I guess I'll have to just show up there and hope someone is available to talk, since they couldn't be bothered to either respond and say "thanks, but no thanks" or "please call to schedule an appointment". I'm sure it's my fault for not just going there in person in the first place, but still, a little common courtesy would go a long way in this world!

At any rate, I've been doing more tattoo work, I wish I had a more consistent flow though. That's another thing I miss about working in a shop. Still not missing the drama though, my Facebook News Feed is still overflowing with it! I'm trying to focus on some art production for the time being. I feel like so much time this summer has already slipped by--it's practically August already!!

I spent a couple of days last week prepping a few canvases with gesso. I'm really hoping to do a few acrylic pieces, since I bought some acrylic mediums to play with, but have been having a difficult time getting started with them. I also have a folder full of ideas for sets of tattoo flash that I want to put together, but that's something I want to do in watercolor.

I feel like I have all these ideas bubbling just beneath the surface, but I just can't get them out, like being creatively constipated. I feel like I'm so close to it, but just can't quite get it for some reason. Maybe I'm overthinking everything, tensing up my brains until nothing will come out! Why is it so hard to get started on something? Once I get going, it's a completely different story. It's always the way. I've been spending so much time looking at paintings and tattoos lately that my eyes might seriously start to bleed any moment. Just trying to get inspired, trying to find a place to start, trying to find my voice in here somewhere.

An Update

It's been awhile since I've last posted a blog. My back injury is better than it's been in a long time, but still causes me some difficulty, so I'm trying to slowly get back to work. I spent a few months flat on my back in bed, after many MANY attempts to carefully work through it. With the help of my chiropractor, I've been able to avoid surgical intervention, though the process has been slow. I spent some time helping out at my uncle's motorcycle shop (doing office work), but I'm trying to get back to tattooing at this point. I've yet to really explore the opportunities I might have with shops here in the Albany area, though I plan on taking my portfolio around and introducing myself in the near future. I went back to school this past January, and really enjoyed getting back to it! I had a solid semester, and a fantastic Studio Art professor whose critiques of my work really helped push me forward, which is something I've needed for awhile now!

I've discovered how much I enjoy working with acrylics, as opposed to oils (even though they were my first infatuation) and I made great progress with my watercolors. The bottom line is that I've broken through the wall and begun producing artwork for myself, for the first time in many years. It's so easy to get caught up in other people's ideas and desires when your job revolves around what someone else wants you to draw/produce.

I did my first Tattoo Party in well over a year (maybe more) last week, it really reminded me how much I've missed tattooing. When you're only working by appointment, you get a taste. But doing a number of pieces, one immediately after another, you start to remember why you loved it in the first place. I certainly miss knowing what it's like to have a consistent paycheck every week, and I've tried to convince myself that I could go back to an office job, as long as I can leave it at the office at night and go home. But I can't change the way I feel about being a tattoo artist. Some of my previous employers have left a poor taste in my mouth, and for a long time, I associated that with all of tattooing. I'm glad that I'm working through that though, it's been like trying to deny a part of myself.

I fully plan on finishing my Bachelors in Art, and then eventually a Masters, to leave some options open. I know that the skills I will continue to refine will be useful, no matter what path I take through this life. I'm so grateful for the support of my husband, my family, my friends, and my loyal customers--I'd be nowhere without each and every one of them.

I'll include some artwork in my next post, but I've been updating my deviantArt page again, so feel free to check it out!

Erin Clayton on deviantArt

Studio Space

Since making this room ready to work in has been occupying a lot of my attention as of late, I thought I'd share some pics of what I've been working on. To start with, let's get a rough "Before" established

Not so much to look at, I know! So, obviously the carpet was not going to work. When we pulled it up, we were excited to find a pretty decent wood floor, though desperately in need of re-finishing.

We've already painted the walls here, though the trim still needs a fresh coat of paint. Looks like someone dragged a body through it, doesn't it? Here's another angle:

The floor has been sanded since this picture, and I just spent a bunch of time today sweeping, vacuuming, and washing the sawdust off the floor. We'll be painting the trim and sealing the floor over the next few days (hopefully!) and I'll post some more pics.

Hiatus

I'm trying to keep positive, but I can't help but see this as a setback of sorts. Due to a herniated disc and several pinched nerves, I've had to take a break from everything. I tried just being careful, tried to not "over do it", but it just kept getting worse and worse, until finally I had to try complete rest for a little while, or consider surgical options. Despite my love of tattoos and piercings, surgery has always made me uncomfortable, so I tried taking a little time off, but my boss wouldn't hear of it, so I ended up just quitting all together.

Officially, it's been about 7 weeks. I've recovered around 80-85% of the way, and just started looking for a new job this week. Since we moved out of Ulster county, I can't go back to anywhere I've worked before. I've been working on my resume, since it seems unlikely I'll find work in a tattoo shop around here before spring. I'm going back to school in January, online. If nothing else, this hiatus has made me really examine where I am and where I want to be in terms of a career.

I've invested so much into tattooing, I can't give it up. But it really bothers me that I never finished my BA. So in the meantime, since winter is the slowest season for tattoos around here anyway, I'm going to find some menial job (in all likelihood). School starts in January, but it's all online, so between school and some job, I'm going to squeeze in as much sideline work out of my studio space at home as I can. It's a room completely separate from the rest of the apartment, and I can work off of disposable tubes, and I already have almost everything I need. Once I'm back up and running again, I'll post some pics of what I'm doing.

Mannequin Project

So the local Chamber of Commerce and a newer local art gallery/Artist Collective has invited local artists, including tattoo artists, to take part in a show of mannequin torsos. The torsos are to be decorated at the artists discretion, so I'm looking forward to it, despite not being sure about the direction I'm going in with them.

I was only slightly disappointed when I found that there was only one size female torso, I was hoping there might be some plus-sized forms to work on, but what do you really expect for free?

Finding Child-sized mannequins made up for the lack of plus-sizes


I've already applied the first coat of gesso to the adult form in this pic, I have to say it was a lot creepier painting gesso all over the crotch and buttocks of the child torso than I expected, can't wait to do the second coat tomorrow!

The show is going to open in Kingston, NY 9/21/09, I'll post specifics as the date gets closer. Supposedly there is an independent film to be made featuring all the contributors, which will be great exposure, and a good exercise in talking about my artwork, as I have a tendency to hide in the background and avoid talking about myself and my work. (Which is also another reason why I started this blog as well. )

Now I just need to get moving about putting together a new business card..

A New Tattoo!

Since it's been so rainy lately, business has been pretty slow. At least I ended up with an awesome new tattoo that I love. Jeremy did it for me, it's a Mitch O'Connell piece. This was the first time in a long time that I've let ANYONE tattoo me, the reason being other than the Hello Kitty Robot my friend Bryan (from the video) did for me, the last few pieces I've gotten have ended up disappointing at best, and just plain garbage (to me, at least) at worst.

So that's my Lucky Bunny. I'm somewhat obsessed with his little nub. The experience of being on the other side of the needle was needed; It's easy to forget just how it feels, transcending pain can be an uplifting and educational experience, helps to put things into perspective.

Sometimes, especially lately, I've been getting frustrated. Because business has been slower than usual for the time of year, I haven't been tattooing as much as I'd like, and I can feel the muscles in my hands getting weaker. I'm trying to compensate by working on paper, but it's just not the same. I know that I'm harder on myself than anyone else, but I don't want to devote my life to something and only be "okay" at it. I wish there was more time and less stress in the day, but until then, I'll just keep plugging along..

Video - Tag Team Tattoo

This video was shot sometime between the end of '07 and the beginning of '08. The other two artists are Casey Schwartz and Bryan Holland. Our brave subject, Jake, will be starting a full-leg sleeve themed "Zombie Apocalypse" in the near future, more about that soon...

Tag Team Tattoo