blog

Increaseing popularity.

Fri, 07 Jan 2011 20:49:39 +0100

Urban Edge has been open for a year now nearly and our popularity is increasing. The work of the Artists Rob, Paul and Mark is steadily drawing more and more clientele to the shop. Apart from a few upsets during the year mainly jealous or envious individuals trying to put a dampners on our focus: we aint stopping studying our Art for nothing. We are enjoying our Art so much that the results showing on the skin. With Paul Russell taking on the ever increaseing popularity of 'tribal' and black work, Rob White covering all manner of designs with black and grey, with most of the designs custom drawn from his own brain, and Mark Chaldecott mainly working jap colour work, Celtic and basically anything that comes his way.
Although we can't forget the shop admin Fern. Without Fern helping the Artists with their admin and wot not well oiled cogs would not be so well oiled. Recently Rob has teamed up with Neil (our graphics designer) to promote the 'Serious Signs' part of Urban Edge. Serious Signs will put anything or any funky designs on your shop windows, cars, work vans etc, in a way that no other sign writing company does. His designs are original one offs. And originality and one off designs is where Urban Edge is different. We take YOUR ideas straight from your heads and either stick em on your skin or on your windows.

A question of ART.

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 11:18:13 +0100

According to the Royal Academy of Arts there are three Art forms; Painting, Sculpture and Architecture. Recently they have introduced Photography as a fourth. Now we all know that Tattooing is an Art form; and the reason (or most probably the reason) why the R.A doesn't see it as such is that tattooing has not yet been introduced in the halls of the R.A. It has not been observed there; at all.
It's a good point because if tattooing IS an Art form (and we know that it is) then to diverse to it from another art form is quite within the rules of ART. The old school taboo rules that say you can't diversify into tattooing from another form is crap and soon to become extinct. These people that say this, are not Artists in my opinion.
The reason I think this is because Art is constantly evolving, it never stands still, it is malleable and ever changing. Creative Art is constantly coming up with new things. It never stops at the wall of one form either.
The other point I want to express here is; An individual either likes what they see or they don't. So when one produces a piece of Art, it is liked or it is not liked, simple. I suppose in the case of body art in the form of tattooing, a fully healed tattoo should be observed before any judgement is made. Like an Oil Painting it is not judged unless it has finished. If the piece needs more work, then it needs more work.
Moreover; a very important factor to a practitioner of any Art is that one develops ones own style in whatever form they choose to study. There is no set rule to say that one should 'conform' to the majority way of doing things. For another Artist to hinder or suppress the practice or learning of another is not the way the world of Art operates. I have observed many many times; and from highly competent individuals on the highest prongs of the ladder (R.A's even) that 'encouragement' and positive advice is best suited. Artists that hinder anothers progress are more often than not envious of the others abilities.

Portraits.

Sun, 18 Jul 2010 13:19:51 +0100

'Cameron'

Everybody knows that Portraits aint easy to produce in any medium. The Urban Edge team of Artists have drawn them, painted them, caricatured them in some form or another for years. But putting them on skin is a different ball game that we all realise. Although we realise this; we're prepared to flow with it if that's what people want from us. We'll perform our best in this category of tattooing, if we three think that we can not re-produce the said portrait then we won't do it.
The one you observe above, 'Cameron', was the first attempt for a walk in client; once I saw that he understood that this would be my first, and that hewas still happy for me to tattoo it; I did.
The result is as you see. Although I'm the first one to realise that nothing is perfect; I also am a great believer that striving for it is an integral factor of Art. So the team and I will be producing more in time. If the clients are patient and flexible; we may be able to accomodate.
The rules for these Portrait works can be heard fully at the shop but generally they will be set prices for these depending on size, detail, manor of complication etc. The elements of any Portrait Art is always best conducted through face to face consultation.