WEARABLE ART: THE QUEST TO COLLECT TATTOOS
Some people collect stamps. Others collect comic books, cars or creepy dolls. Some collections take a lifetime to create; some can be bought at the click of a button, and some require effort and patience. Some collections can fetch a small fortune, and some are only of value to the collector. There is, however, one collection that cannot be bought, passed on or exchanged. A collection of carefully curated wearable art, truly authentic and unique, beautiful and reflecting the essence of the holder. A collection that carries incredible value and whose gathering is, by its very nature, a quest. The quest to collect tattoos.
Collecting tattoos is a special ambition. It requires patience and consideration, time and tolerance. Where collecting art and other items into an assortment that can be refreshed, changed up or sold, gathering a selection of chosen pieces etched into one’s skin is a lifelong pursuit. Most collections consist of things. They're made up of items we gather and treasure before losing interest and dropping them off with an ungrateful nephew or drinking the entire assemblage away. Not tattoo collections, however. They're jealously guarded, and those who hold them, can spend a lifetime creating them.
But why do people collect tattoos? And what does it really mean to be a tattoo art collector? We check out the essence of collecting tattoos and look at why doing so is more of a quest than anything else.
The collector in all of us
For millennia, people have been collecting things. From the first evidence of our cave-dwelling forebears collecting seashells, to people storing hordes of wine in dusty cellars for decades and wealthy petrolheads collecting priceless cars, the quest to collect drives many. In fact, we've created global institutions to house these collections in the shape of museums.
Collections give us something to feel proud of. They provide an opportunity to gather up different items we cherish and to build something nobody else has. Whether it’s kids collecting baseball cards and Pokémon Go! characters, or connoisseurs collecting expensive wines from around the world, from stamps, suits and antiques to books, shoes and even teeth (yes, we had to go there), collections abound.
Art – The king of collections
Art is among the most popular of vices to collect. Art carries value. It can be traded, gifted, exchanged and hoarded. Some collectors curate private collections to be enjoyed by a select few. Some collectors display their prizes, proudly exhibiting on the walls of galleries and museums for all the world to see.
Art is unique. It is interpretive, it is appealing, and, like music, the love people have for the countless styles and types of art changes from person to person. That’s what makes art so special. The unlimited possibilities of the different shapes and manifestations that art can take make it truly peerless among potential collections.
The global art market is valued somewhere in the region of $65 billion. That makes it one of the most valuable commodities - that anyone can own or access - in the world. But not all of us can afford to start putting together a collection of 16th and 17th-century masterpieces.
So where can we turn to build something special?
Why people collect tattoos
Tattoos are art – wearable art. Tattoos can also be collected. Together, different tattoos can make a stunning compendium of colour, context and wonder or look like a messy patchwork of badly drawn sketches and blotted ink. That’s what makes collecting tattoos a quest. Get it right and you’re a veritable Indiana Jones. Get it wrong, and you’re just another idiot who’d be better off collecting stamps.
So, why exactly do people choose tattoos as the object of their collection ambitions?
Because you can’t exchange tattoos
Unlike most pieces of art, tattoos can’t readily be exchanged. Since they’re etched into skin, selling, gifting or trading tattoos is pretty much impossible (unless you’re of the Hanibal Lector persuasion). This makes tattoo collections unique and somewhat permanent. Even fads have a place in the tattoo universe. Anyone seeing your collection will immediately understand the commitment and effort that’s gone into creating this compendium of beauty.
Because your body is a gallery
Tattoos go with you wherever you go. That means anyone sporting an attractive tattoo collection is a walking, talking art gallery, with free admission for others to enjoy your curation. Of course, those not-so-obvious tattoos can always be reserved for a select few to enjoy an “after-hours” viewing, and – if you’re not in the mood to thank people for admiring your collection – you can always cover up and close your gallery for the day. As a tattoo art collector, you’re in charge of your own wearable art gallery.
Because it’s awesome & can be enjoyed by everyone
Nobody’s going to want to see your stamp collection - ever. And unless you’re planning on sharing a bottle or two of your most prized wines with grateful drinkers or taking a jealous colleague out for a spin in your one-of-a-kind Lamborghini, your tattoo collections can be enjoyed by all and sundry. From a stranger’s compliment in public to friends and family admiring your latest piece, tattoos are awesome collectables that can be enjoyed by everyone.
Creating your wearable art gallery: Types of tattoo art collections
Where paintings and sculptures can be hung on walls or positioned strategically on the floors of galleries, tattoos are different. Think of tattoo collections like painting the art directly onto the wall or carving a sculpture into the stone of the building.
Like most galleries and art museums, tattoo collections usually comprise pieces that share a common theme, style or story. Of course, some tattoo collections are the result of years of impulsive decisions (sometimes making for the most compelling assortments), but a good collector always understands the greater, long-term plan.
Here are some of the types of tattoo collections most collectors base their anthologies on.
Style collections
This type of tattoo collection involves putting tattoos of similar styles together. Some collectors opt for a uniform style across their entire body, while others group tattoos of similar styles with each other, with different styles for different areas.
Here are some of the more popular styles we’re seeing lately.
- Blackwork & tribal – Still going strong among collectors as popular style options. Includes neo-traditional styles as well as more contemporary looks.
- Minimalist designs & realism – Always popular as a simpler, cleaner option or more complex representative type of tattoo.
- Linework & geometrics – More recently, a top choice for collectors, with designs ranging from small, detailed elements to large, complex, bold creations.
Colour collections
Raise your hand if you’ve seen a good-looking mix of greyscale and bright, full-colour tattoos in the same body area. No? That’s because collecting tattoos of similar colours, tones and palettes instead of contrasting ones works.
These colour collections almost always work better together.
- Greyscale – Two-tone and simple. Greyscale is always a winner.
- Bright, contrasting colours – Whether going for realism and likeness or looking for an explosion of colour and texture, colourful collections can make for incredible viewing.
- Similar colour tones & shades – Green, blue or red? Tattoos with similar colour spreads can make a collection and complement your chosen style and layout.
Placement collections
Tattoos can be collected in various areas of the body. This is a popular option for the hardcore tattoo art collector looking to add different levels to their wearable art galleries. By grouping tattoos into close proximity across various areas of the body, not only will you save on valuable skin real estate, but you’ll keep the door open to mix and match things up in the future.
These general regions and areas of the body allow collectors to group their inkwork without it clashing with other 'sub-collections'.
- Arms & legs – Tell a story, group your favourite rock artists, or strive for a full sleeve, arms and legs are perfect for showcasing tattoos.
- Backs, butts & chests – Big piece-collections thrive on your big blank-canvass areas.
- Hands, feet & necks – Great for detailed collections of smaller, more intricate pieces.
Theme collections
For the early tattoo art collector, the chance to pick a theme for their tattoos can be hard to resist. While there’s nothing wrong with collecting different tattoos, if you’re able to find a general theme that appeals to you and stick with it, your collection could quickly develop into a famous spread.
There are countless tattoo theme ideas out there. Here are a few of the more popular ones.
- Cultural themes - Music icons, sports, movies, brand logos, even food. Cultural themes work, making for a rich, vibrant collection.
- Text & writing themes – Matching fonts, the words to a riddle or lyrics to your favourite tune, word theme tattoo collections can make for compelling reading.
- Symbols & symbology themes – From religious symbols to political iconography or simply ancient marks that hold special personal meaning.
The random collection
Every now and again, patterns emerge from the chaos that are hard to ignore. Whether it’s the tattoo art collector who possesses dozens of varied, unrelated tattoos that somehow all come together to tell a compelling story, or an indifferent gatherer of tattoos representing a series of bad decisions, the random collection sometimes actually works.
- Random & unaffiliated collections - Years and years of spontaneous, unrelated tattoos that eventually come together can make for a story of the ages.
- Chaos collections - A chaotic patchwork of big pieces, small tattoos and space-fillers. If you look closely enough, you’ll eventually see the order emerge from the bedlam.
- Chronological collections – From that Blink 182 album cover artwork you got in your teens, to your mid-20s barbwire arm wrap and, eventually, your kids’ names, this timeline of your life pays cute homage to your story so far.
- The “Dare” collections – Why not run with those bad ideas of wearable art you already have? You know, the face of your best mate bum-cheek tattoo or the intentionally misspelt phrase that was funny for a day before it wasn't but that you've still come to love. All can be lumped into a collection you can be proud of.
The bespoke tattoo artist collection
Imagine having a Van Gogh, a Da Vinci and a Monet in one art collection. With tattoos, you can. Collectors are getting inked by the most famous, well-known tattoo artists around and can build a special collection to be proud of.
Here’s what you can look for if you’re planning on getting work done by a collection of top artists either locally or around the globe.
- The up-and-comer artist – Has a bright future and will likely make a big name for themselves in future. Get tattooed by them while you still can.
- The “I once tattooed Dave f*@#ing Grohl” artist – With them having been around for a while, getting tattooed by an artist who also tattooed an icon can be great for your collection.
- The big name artist – These tattoo artists are famous for their quality, creativity and pure talent. They’re the ones whose tattoos represent the limited edition Ferraris, 200-year-old bottles of wine and Mona Lisas of tattoo collections.
The True Blue Quest to Collect: Tattoo artists
While many a tattoo art collector embarks on a quest to collect tattoos, at True Blue, we’ve taken on another quest to collect something bolder and more enduring – artists. For more than a decade, we’ve been curating a collection of people who all share a common ambition: To become the very best at what we do, unrivalled and unchallenged.
Our latest addition to an impressive collection
Meet Keegan - one of our newest 'people-pieces'. Keegan joins us with a fresh take on big, bold, beautiful artistic expression. As our latest addition to our collection of bespoke tattoo artists, we encourage you to check out his impressive portfolio here.
While some tattoo artists have come and gone, our most cherished and recognised talent has remained, adding to our vibrant gallery of humanity, each one offering a unique ingredient to the palette that makes True Blue one of the top professional tattoo studios around. And while we do appreciate regular art (just take a look around our house), we believe that the essence of our tattoo wearable art is best showcased on the very flesh of our own.
So come check out our collection. You won’t be disappointed.