Tattoo Etiquette Lesson 1: Previewing designs UPDATE

I'm not sending any more designs via email unless I'm paid in full as a graphic artist for a one of a kind custom piece.

My thoughts were confirmed today when the person who stole my design and got it tattooed "cheaper" somewhere else emailed me again today. Despite my email telling him that it wasn't cool that he did that because he only left a small deposit that didn't sufficiently pay me for an original design, he asked me to draw him another design for a small and insufficient fee. After reading my response, I now hope he understands what he did was wrong. I can't believe how rude and inconsiderate some people are. This guy has to wear this design the rest of his life perhaps knowing that he ripped someone off?! Someone suggested that I sell the design on a tattoo flash website so that other people can have the same one tattooed on them if they pay the fee. Therefore I'd get paid the full amount for my hard work. I'm sorry he ruined it for everyone else who wouldn't even consider doing this.

Graphic artists charge anywhere from $50 - 150 per hour to do design work for their clients. I'm unsure if they charge for research and consultation work or supplies used to draw the piece. I'm willing to draw designs for people if they pay the proper amount, and they can get it tattooed by someone else if they desire. If they get it tattooed by me, I waive the drawing fee unless I spend more than 4 hours on a design or they change their minds to a totally different design.

The aforementioned person paid me on the lowest pay bracket for 1 hour, yet the design I drew for him took me about 3 hours.

This is my only professional job. I have a family to support. I'm a busy pregnant wife and mother who has tons of housework, errands, and child rearing on top of drawing for people and tattooing them. I don't deserve to be paid for a fraction of what I deserve to do drawings for people.

Please be considerate and don't copy other people's designs. Have your tattoo artist come up with something unique, and be original!!!!!!!

To the rest of my clients:

If you must see the design beforehand, you can make a drawing review appointment with me at your consultation to come to the shop the day before to preview it if I'm working. No pictures can be taken with your phone so bring your loved ones if they are interested in seeing it in advance.

Sugar Skull

I attempted Day of the Dead sugar skull make up today with supplies from my make up kit. Now that I made the first attempt, I'm interested in trying it again next week. It reminds me how much I love doing make up.

Falling for fall

This week was indulged in taking some time off to experience fall. We did some Halloween decorating, went to a ghost researcher lecture, and took a family trip to an island off the Chesapeake Bay. I feel great after a week of relaxing and refilling my inner battery.

Today has been filled with home work. Between cooking and doing some serious house cleaning, I've also been doing research for upcoming tattoos. It feels like the cleaning is never really finished. Once one area is cleaned, you move onto the next. Another meal is made, and the kitchen is a disaster or my son has made his presence like a tornado storming a neighborhood. I suppose I feel the same way about drawing too! After my husband's slumber from working the night shift, I sent him to IKEA to grab some organizational furniture. We've got to get this place into somewhat of a functioning home. The upstairs is in purgatory since we're ridding an entire home office and making it into big brother's room. A mom's work is never done. Later tonight the drawing will commence. It's been a productive yet exhausting day, and it's not even over.

Here's an awesome and easy recipe I made from aging apples. I never want to buy store bought applesauce again!!

INGREDIENTS:
4 apples - peeled, cored and chopped
3/4 cup water
1/4 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
DIRECTIONS:
1. In a saucepan, combine apples, water, sugar, and cinnamon. Cover, and cook over medium heat for 15 to 20 minutes, or until apples are soft. Allow to cool, then mash with a fork or potato masher.

I omitted the cinnamon since I feel as if it's over used. The apples I used were honey crisp. mmmmmmmmm!

Now onto making some pumpkin bread with hubbard squash instead of pumpkin. Here's the link to that recipe just in case you want to try it. http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/downeast-maine-pumpkin-bread/detail.aspx

Nightmare Before Christmas

This was such a fun sleeve to do. I wish I could more like this!! Come and get it. I've had numerous people rescheduling lately, and I especially have time to fit you in during the week. Please email me for a consultation at tegan@teganink.com

OWS

Repost from comments under this online CNN article:

According to the I.R.S.;

There are 235,413 persons earning $1,000,000.00 or more a year.

8,274 earning $10,000,000.00 a year or more.

1,470 worth $100,000,000.00 or more.

959 billionaires.

These people own 80% of all publicly traded stock and make 40% of all the money annually.

...and half of the United States doesn't earn enough income to pay taxes. 1 in 3 children live in poverty. 1 in 6 adults live in poverty. 40% of households are receiving some form of government assistance. 46 million adults are on food stamps.

308 million people never get bailed out when they make a bet and it doesn't pay off.

308 million people don't get loans directly from the Federal Reserve.

308 million people don't get free health care, guaranteed pensions, government backed insurance on business deals, government back loan guarantees, tax subsidies, government financing, legislation protecting markets. The current Congress and Senate are the richest in the nation's history with 90% of them in the top ten percent of wealth. The news media finds nothing wrong with this, your government can't figure out what is wrong with this, the rich feel like they deserve free tax payer bail outs, loans, guarantees because that is what capitalism is...free money for those who already have more than they will ever need. America has failed as a democracy

MMMM Brownies

I've made this super easy recipe a couple of times with great success so I figured I'd repost. There's really no reason to buy boxed brownies when this is sooooo easy. Not to mention, it's WAY more delicious.

INGREDIENTS:
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x9 inch baking pan.
2. In a medium bowl, mix together the oil, sugar, and vanilla. Beat in eggs. Combine flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt; gradually stir into the egg mixture until well blended. Stir in walnuts, if desired. Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan.
3. Spread chocolate chips on top and slighty push in.
4. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the brownie begins to pull away from edges of pan. Let cool on a wire rack before cutting into squares.