Walking Portfolios

'Chris Weiss, another fan of my 'Tribal Tattoo' artwork.'

For the past three years I've received emails out of the blue from people who have stumbled upon my tribal tattoo art and liked it so much they made a lifetime commitment to it. Meaning, they pull it off my web site and get it tattooed on their body in not so subtle ways like Claude Montreal.

I have two emotions in response to such emails. I am obviously flattered someone likes my art this much. I know personally I could never commit to my art to that degree, I'd get sick of it and regret doing it. A few moments later a feeling of irritation takes over that someone didn't even bother to ask permission and thus I can't help but view it as "Flattering Copyright Infringement."


'My Original Artwork.'

I am glad Chris liked my art to the degree he does and I am more than happy to grant permission to others who may want to get a tattoo based on my work. All I require is that you simply just permission to do so first.

Not everyone however uses my art with out permission. An advertising agency guy named Ruben Salavert not only liked my work, he went out of his way to commission me to illustrate the original tribal bat tattoo.


The inset pic is another example of someone using my art without permission.

I'd like to think that only good looking people would snag my art off my site and have it tattooed on their body, but clearly that isn't always the case. Obviously my art looks better when it's found in context of a well-proportioned, toned body type be it male or female. ;-P

My tribal bat tattoo art has really taken off of sorts. So much so a popular tattoo web site reported on it here.

I still think a good story line for a law show could be written about this type of situation. Some artist sues a person who took their art and tattooed it on their body and now has to get it surgically removed. Maybe a Hollywood weasel trolling for ideas will read this last paragraph and rip that off?