6

1.18.12

coming into a point with drawing where it's getting downright fun.

When i stop to think about it, it's been roughly four years since i've dedicated my drawing to tattoo.

...had this kinda' obvious thought:  "...it's as if on the paper i am able to release and communicate, if lucky, engage the looker."  With a focus on technique and the tools necessary to accomplish the desired look to the drawing, things start to click.

...this dragon is the last of a lengthy run on COLDPRESS watercolor paper.  Can't stress enuff how much changing the paper has affected the quality of the blend and color - much smoother.  My lady was right when she expressed that the coldpress offers the drawing texture, so important not to toss the paper out the window.

...now to color this first concept, and onto hardpress.

CHI.

5

1.13.12

..bit of negative vibin lately.  Seems to be a running theme.  I dunno, maybe i like it.  The mental grind, that is.  ...keeps me feeling like i've a purpose.

Bought a new liner pen.  Chinese.  Sakura MICROPERM.  Really smooth.  And tapers just a pube at the tip, which gives it a slight edge over my ever-trusty sharpie.  Don't get me wrong, not deucin sharpie...just keepin things fresh.  Sharpies work well on the cold press watercolor paper.  The itsy-bitsy-bit of bleed they offer helps in giving the line a bit o' texture.  This sakura pen stays solid and pretty damn clean - like how it can take just a bit of pressure.  And HARD PRESS watercolor paper???!!!!  Holy Valhallan Descendant, Batman!!!  Awwwwweeeeeesome.  Blending is wicked fuckin smooth, like butta'.

Dragons.  And a humble bumblebee in the summer.  Those are the two muses.  Rule of 1/3rds would say there's one more coming...somethin to look forward too.  Gathering reference material on the dragons, drawing from my noggin until shit makes sense.

Going to MA tomorrow to be tattooed.  Looking forward to it for a few reasons.

...And fuck no i'm not writin 'em down.

Date night.  Happy.

On the forecast for the weekend:  lil' bit of graphic-work-for-work tomorrow morn, rehearsal on an underscoring project i'm working on with a hot chic in the afternoon, tattoo exodus into the night - and hopin to have the energy to watch Hostel 3 'fore bedtime.  Sunday in Skyrim with the fam.

"Only love, can leave such a mark.  But only love, only love, can heal such a scar."

CHI.

4 (prologue)

1.6.12

...thwoop!!!

Santiago's arrow struck deeply into the heart of the beast. Her shaft was of sycamore.  Her now stained red head of molded clay and her quills hand-placed from the fell feathers of a father cardinal, rested in peace. She was gifted in the art of drawing blood.

Standing quite still, holding his breath, Santiago had made his first kill.  Not out of necessity, for his village was able to breed all needed bellymeat and to harvest bountiful crops.  No, Santiago's prey was sent from the forest as an act of sacrifice.  A rite of passage.

He exhaled.  And collapsed into the shallow, stone bottom creek.  His bow fell from his shoulder as on his hands and knees he sought stillness in the sharp flowing current.  And cried.
-------

rick stanton
www.stantonarts.artworkfolio.com

3

1.3.2012

...that's my boy, Jack. Or 'Dukes' as i call him.  I drew those with an ink pen on his arms upon request, yesterday ( i drew a rose on my left hand first, and he wanted his own!).

I know he admires my tattoos, and if i had to bet, i'd put it all on the fact that one day he too will have permanent armor placed on his body, just as his old man does.  ...he may even decide to become a tattooer himself...and if i'm ultra lucky, one day he will be my apprentice.


Inside i feel incomplete, but on course.  It's a satisfyingly-shitty fine-line to be walking.  Responsibilites are met, i make more $$$ now than i have in years - but i work for EVERY penny, and it's tiring; worthwhile all the way, but fuck, man.

I think I'm ready to POP!!!

It's getting very difficult to hold my reserve in respect to tattooing.  The other night, I was talking with a member of my family, a dude who has always dug my drawings, and when i told him i HAVE NOT even HELD a tattoo machine in my hands, his mouth literally dropped.

'Scratching'.  It's what shop owners call a tattooer who does so out of their own home.  Typically self taught i believe.  With the volumes of knowledge available in terms of the techniques and mechanincs involved in tattooing, i can see how ANYBODY could become one.  I have been ADAMANT in not doing this. 

My lady told me that it's ok to follow in the footsteps of 'self made successful people.'   I'm fighting that current with all my will...part of me wants to recede and literally take this into my own hands...

I've fought with every fucking fiber of my being NOT to order a machine, FUCK EM ALL, and like every other 'uneducated but talented' motherfucker in AMERICA who has done so before me; stuck two giant middle fingers up at a 'system' that as of yet HAS NOT allowed me completion.  System.  Heh.  Funny fucking term for a 'craft' that remains one of the last great 'outlaw' jobs in this world.

I did ask my tattoo artist to work with me on completing my apprenticeship.  He said "I will call you".  Phone has yet to ring, AND i've booked again since then. He took my art, showed it to the co-shop owner; and for a life moment the stars aligned...i ended up in a great conversation, actually SWAPPING views of owl-work...made my heart beat fully.

I will book ONE MORE time with him, very, very soon, complete the roses on my sailor jerry forearm sleeve, and will downright level with him on what the hell is up.  When i was in getting my owl tattooed last week, i looked up from my chair, and saw a PAINTING, hanging in my tattoo artist's station, that was rendered by my PAST co-master.  It made my gut drop.  I felt all the cosmos crushing in on me - like i was being 'nanny nanny poo pooed' in the most devilish of senses.  Won't lie, i left the shop defeated, and am still feeling it.  ...the rat fink action figure didn't help, either.  (both of those items were NOT in the shop 3 weeks ago.)  Paradox?  Possibly.

I won't quit.  It's not an option.  I have to keep going, make sense of all this.  I can honestly say that I'm confident in my drawing now, 100%.   I'm taking commissions, getting $$$ for doing them, and that has its own level of satisfaction.  I am slated to show at Tisane this fall again, and i'm planning epic artwork.

Still, i am unsettled in all of this.  Have been for some time.  I feel fucking black-balled.  All i did was ask to speed up the process.  How the hell is a 36 year old father, who holds a f/t and p/t job, able to do a traditional apprenticeship?  Truth is he's not.  I don't and never will have a sugar mamma, no trust fund, no cushion.  My bills are expensive, and i must work.  ...it is a gap that i can't seem to fill...

...And while the maintenance of a 'positive' attitude on all this comes and goes, i still have faith.  Why, i don't know.  When asked years back "Why are you doing this?", i responded with "Because I'm supposed to."

...tattoo artists have similar hands, u know.

...Back to f/t work today and bartending tonight, STILL sick.  Good news is that i'm better today than i have been for the past week.  Colds come and go, yes.  But damn, they suuuuuck.

...working on the ink for Kerouac, coming along nicely...

Onward, bitches.

CHI.

2

1.1.12

Year of the Dragon.  I've said it a lot the past few weeks.

It doesn't OFFICIALLY begin until the 23rd of the month, so while it does justify my ever-blossoming desire to procrastinate and do things at my own pace at any cost - i'm not going to post a drawing of a dragon UNTIL the 23rd.  ...guessing strongly that there'll be a lot of dragons drawn, and tattooed, this year.

What else?  Hm.  No real conflict to offer at this time.  Keeping mellow and focused, spending time with my family and working through the shitty-bunghole of a cold!!!  Arrrrggghhh!!!!


So, onward into the new year.  No reflections needed, I'm appreciative of the now.  No emotional projections seeded, either.  All will come and go.

Excited for 'the hobbit' and 'les miserables' movies this year.  Guessing that 'hunger games' will own a strong sense of culture, that Adele will win every grammy she's nominated for, and that mumford & sons will release a new album at year's end - maybe u2, too.

Alright....gotta keep working on Kerouac commission, laundry a bit later, clean the tree fort, tub, shave the head, and keep all engines running...gunna be a nice night.  :)

CHI.

1

12.30.2011

Drawing Jack Kerouac, the healing of an owl tattoo (that's missing hyphens on the words wise guy".) Have more of a cold than I'm allowing affect.

Feeling good and bummed inside.  Good because i've patched up some wounds-o-the-heart, and it
feels nice to be focused and true.  Good because i'm surviving (so far!), the workload i've placed on
myself.  The outcome is worth the time and energy, but it's a lot - not bitchin, just gets tiring is all ...still, the $$$ is worth it.

New Year's Resolutions.  I have 3, and they're gunna be hard to complete:

1) Charlie the Bee (stop-train focus)

2) Zodiac Dragons (ongoing)

3) Shit or get off the tattoo artist pot.

#1 is a necessity, really.  Stoopid NOT to have it finished.  Has potential to be commercially successful. May issue PREVIEWS and SAMPLES via facebook - make sure there's a DIGI copy for nooks and kindles. Who to do the audio?  Hmmm...

#2 is a work in progress.  I have the sept/oct slot at TISANE this year, or oct/nov, i forget - but....for
the show I'm going to draw/paint ALL the signs of the zodiac, with dragon(s) infused throughout.  Looking forward to that - will just kinda go free.  Lady Yellow is helping me with the thematics.  :)

#3...Fuck.  Fuckety fuck fuuuuuuuuck.  Ahh, better.  NO CHANCE. to say i'm frustrated on this matter is an understatement.  Feel black-listed, like i pushed too hard, and paid handsomely.  Still do, and will continue to draw everyday...with or without tattooing.  I feel a lack of direction and kind-of an 'incomplete circle' at play so far as this entire subject matter is concerned. One truth is i love tattoos.  Having them.  They feel right.

In talking with a buddy awhile back, he observed that i'm 'gleaming' from tattoo art, and applying it back to my own sense of things.  ...thought that was an interesting thought.  In general, i kind of go with the tides in the arts - tattooing and the dream or desire or unobtainable fantasy or destined profession; whatever; is one element.  ...that i continue to be drawn right-back-into.

All-in-all, i'm fighting off the neg vibes, putting stock and faith into responsibility and family, while keeping the antenna up and the right hand moving.  ...playing piano and singing every now and then helps, too.

"Oh I'm a lucky man, to count on both hands the ones i love..."

2011 has been a good year for 'the rabbit'.  2012 brings 'the dragon', the emperor.  Need to investigate, and LIVE, the totem further.

CHI.