The Biggest Tattoo Misconceptions, As Told By Tattoo Model Jeff Morawski
Jeff Morawski has traveled the U.S. hitting conventions, getting inked, and modeling for some of the best photographers in the industry.
With over 30+ tattoo pieces on his body, he’s run into his fair share of scrutiny, both in his community and outside of it. And it’s common, surprisingly, even though tattoos are becoming vastly more popular in this day and age, there are still many people who have ideas or misconceptions about tattooed people.
Public Opinion
“I think it’s come down to people always have to judge a book by its cover,” says Morawski. Though tattoos are more common, people still think that because someone has a lot of ink that they are a “bad person,” or a “dangerous person.” Far from it. “I think certain places and certain people will never accept tattoos, and that’s okay – that’s their choice. But looking at someone different than you and treating them poorly or not giving them a fair shot is upsetting. Some people can be so closed-minded on styles and the way of living.”
Work Ethic
Many places still have rules and regulations when it comes to tattoos being shown. Even Starbucks had banned the showing of tattoos in certain areas (the ban has since been lifted according to The Huffington Post). But it is still a huge stigma, especially in a business atmosphere. Jeff says, “We should be given equal chances no matter what we decide to put on our bodies. It doesn’t change our work ethic or behavior – it’s just our life, our canvas.”
Where To Get Your Tattoos
This one is a toughy, because of the fact that everyone has a different opinion on what “good tattoos” are, or how to take care of them. Morawski says that “With me, I chose to be tattooed by all my friends because I think though they may not be the ‘World’s Greatest Tattoos,’ they are from people who are close to me. That means more to me, getting tattooed by someone that is actually in my life rather than some artist that doesn’t care about anything else except to tattoo you and take your money.” He does note that if you’re searching for a good artist, and you are looking to get something specific, to make sure that you love the way they do their artwork, and that you get a “good vibe” from the artist you’re talking to. Many times, you’ll find that you have an artist who doesn’t budge once they create a design, or doesn’t take your ideas into consideration. Which – it would be one thing if it’s a horrible idea, or not doable, but if you’re doing a large piece that’s going to be with you for (presumably) the rest of your life, you want to make sure that your tattoo artist is willing to collaborate with your look.
He does note that if you’re searching for a good artist, and you are looking to get something specific, to make sure that you love the way they do their artwork, and that you get a “good vibe” from the artist you’re talking to. Many times, you’ll find that you have an artist who doesn’t budge once they create a design, or doesn’t take your ideas into consideration. Which – it would be one thing if it’s a horrible idea, or not doable, but if you’re doing a large piece that’s going to be with you for (presumably) the rest of your life, you want to make sure that your tattoo artist is willing to collaborate with your look.
If you want to check out more of Jeff’s Ink and some of the great photography that he’s taken a part in over his career, you can check out his Facebook Fan Page or Instagram at the links here.
Amy Cooper has quite a few tattoos, and most of them are Harry Potter related.
