Wednesday, November 30, 2011
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, or Men Who Hate Women as the name is when translated straight from Swedish, is Stieg Larsson's first novel. It is also the first part of his The Millennium Trilogy. Millennium is quite small magazine that is owned by journalist Mikael "Kalle" Blomkvist and his "occational lover" Erika Berger. Millennium is published in Stockholm, the beautiful capital of Sweden.
In the beginning of the book, Mikael Blomkvist gets sentenced to prison for three months for libeling of well-known Swedish business man Hans-Erik Wennerstrom. Mikael had been accusing Wennerstrom for many kind of white-collar crimes, but in the end all the evidence falls to pieces for some reason. Mikael pledges for revenge since he thinks the sentence was underserved. Soon he seems to get a change for it, when another business-mogul Henrik Vanger approaches him with and interesting and appealing offer. Vanger wants Mikael to solve a mystery that has become an obsession to Henrik Vanger: what happened to his niece Harriet Vanger forty years ago when she just disappeared without a trace. And if Mikael succeeds, Vanger will give him Wennerstrom's head on a plate. Another job for Mikael is to write a book about Vanger-family and its history. Mikael agrees to take the job and spend a year in Vanger-family's hometown, a little town Hedestad. 300 km north from Stockholm.
Mikael starts his job by inspecting the family history, and soon he finds out that there are skeletons buried in almost every closet he opens. It seems that almost every family member hates each other. There are a lot of weird characters in the family tree and only Henrik Vanger seems to be normal one. Mikael notices as well, that not every family member is keen on the fact that Mikael has started digging the secrets of the family.
While seeking material for his book about Vanger-family, Mikael starts to solve the weird disappeareance of Harriet Vanger. It happened 40 years go, when the whole family was gathered together. In the early afternoon Harriet just disappeared without a trace and nobody had a glue where she had gone. Everything happened in a closed island Hedeby near Hedestad. It's famouse so called "closed-room scenario". Due to car accident, roads out from the island are closed for a day, and during that time Harriet disappears. Nothing points that a crime has happened that can't be ruled either. The whole island is searched through several times but no sign of Harriet is found. Years go by but Harriet's case remains unsolved.
Finally, after working hard for many months, the secrets starts slowly unfold itself. Mikael also finds out that he needs help because there are so much things that need to be researched. Henrik Vanger's lawyer and good friend Dirch Frode tells Mikael about Lisbet Salander, who have been helping Frode and Vanger earlier as well. Lisbet is an extraordinary young woman with a lot of piercings and, a dragon tattoo. Lisbet is a genious with computers and is able to make them anything for herself. She, of course, has her own closets full of skeletons. Through her short life, Lisbet has been dragged from institution to institution. She is used to solve arguments with other people with violence and has emotional problems as well. But she's not stupid, nowhere near...
Excellent Chinese Dragon Tattoos
There are four primary Chinese dragon tattoos in symbolic form which are widely available. The first one is the "Horned Dragon" tattoo. The person who wears this form on their body chooses to be mighty in words and deeds. Another symbol is that of the "Earth Dragon." This dragon is the ruler of the Earth. It represents a connection with the earth and land for the person who wears it. The "Yellow Dragon" is the hornless dragon which is a representation of scholarly knowledge. The person who wears this symbol wants to be associated with the power of his or her intellect. Lastly, there is "Celestial Dragon." This dragon is the Protector of the Gods. People who desire to confirm their spiritual path, or who have strong spiritual convictions, tend to prefer this symbol. The Chinese dragon tattoo is becoming more popular because many people are wearing them.
Of course, actual belief in the dragon of folklore is quite sporadic. The worship of the Chinese dragon may be ingrained in the culture of China. However, very few people consider dragons to be real creatures. Cultural traditions like Chinese New Year celebrations often feature the dragon in a parade. For most people, dragons are just representations of qualities people aspire to have. Regardless of the legends, Chinese dragons make excellent tattoos for all these reasons. They are personal representations placed on the human body. They represent qualities like power, strength, intellectual ability, good fortune, and authority which are universal in their appeal. The Chinese Dragon is a big part of being truly "Chinese!"
Japanese Dragon Tattoo Designs and Meaning
In the Greek language, dragon is sourced from draca, which means serpent.
Like the angel, the Japanese Dragon also has the meaning of guardianship, providing a protective force over those it was associated with. Other meanings associated with the Japanese dragon is strength and power. In Japanese culture the dragon is associated with supernatural powers, and amazing wisdom.
There are six forms of the Japanese Dragon. They are:
Sui-Riu is the king Dragon and is in control of the rain. Therefore in this day and age of drought he is all powerful!
Han-Riu has many stripes on his body and is up to forty feet in length. One of the biggest dragons.
Ri-Riu dragon is a rare breed that is not well understood. However, it is known that they have amazing eye sight.
Ka-Riu is a brilliant red color, and a petite dragon in comparison with the others.
Fuku-Riu is a favorite dragon of many people as it is the dragon of luck.
Hai-Riyo is known as the dragon bird, and the most advanced form of dragon. It evolved out of Chinese mythology.
The colors of the dragons have special significance, which are based on their parents. For example a dragon with a black color means their parents are very old and wise. Green dragons are smaller than average, but are representative of life and of the earth. Gold colored dragons are special because they have many special attributes such as wisdom, kindness and the ability to face challenges head on.
Yellow dragons represent the east. They are great companions when you need a hand, but can be self absorbed at times. Blue dragons are from the west. They are forgiving and compassionate, but on the negative side can be lazy and uncaring when it suits them.
Finding the right Japanese Tattoo Design for you can be quite daunting. Check out all the free sites on the net to get as many ideas as you can. Just remember that many other people have done the same thing to get ideas. For example, last month, over 41,000 people searched for dragon tattoo designs on Yahoo. Apparently, roughly 8 times that amount check out Google for the same search term. Then there is MSN and the other search engines. So a huge amount of people see the same free designs as you. If you want original Japanese Dragon tattoo designs, it is recommended that you check out books or other sources of tattoo designs that are not freely available. I have checked out three Japanese dragon tattoo galleries on the internet that have from 3,500 to 6000 different designs, so you will have no trouble finding what you want.
Monday, November 28, 2011
How to Find a Good Tattoo Artist
The process to start a tattoo parlor isn't rigorous. Tattoo artists must complete a course on contagious disease transmission and then are awarded a license. Their businesses aren't subject to inspection afterwards.
Be careful. Don't just pick the first place you see. Take the time to learn about the tattoo artist before letting them permanently mark your body. Practically anyone can get a tattoo parlor license and set up shop.
Take a look around when you enter a tattoo parlor. Check out the spray bottles and brushes on the shelves. They should be in sealed packaging. The staff should be conscientious about hygiene and maintain a professional atmosphere.
Be sure to ask plenty of questions about the sterilization process they use. Don't be shy about it. The autoclave sterilization method is recommended. If they don't use it, walk away.
If you take the time to find out about their sterilization methods you can get a feel for how reputable the tattoo parlor is and how serious they are about preventing the spread of disease. Quality tattoo parlors use EPA approved disinfectants to wash their hands and clean the area to be tattooed.
If the parlor doesn't use safe practices or is hesitant to answer questions, then take your business elsewhere. A safe tattoo artist won't mind answering your questions and showing you around. They will have nothing to hide.
Definitely ask to see some previously drawn designs and a few customer references. This will give you some indication of their ability and whether past customers were satisfied with the services they received.
Mastering the Art of Tattooing
Today's tattooists must learn how to use equipment, including tattoo machines, needles and ink. They also must become familiar with modern sanitary procedures for tattooing.
Mastering this knowledge will make someone a proficient tattooist, but becoming a tattoo artist requires another level of skill. A successful tattoo artist must have a good understanding of basic artistic concepts like proportion, perspective and the use of color. The ability to draw well is another important skill for a tattoo artist. Much of this comes naturally to people who are born with artistic talent, but that doesn't mean that a dedicated tattooist can't learn and develop artistic skills. With time and practice, you can master the art of tattooing
Color Theory for the Art of Tattooing
The color of a tattoo is one of the first things that gets noticed. The use of color can make all the difference in the success or failure of a tattoo design. Gaining an understanding of how colors work together is an important step in mastering the art of tattooing. If you've never been exposed to color theory, enrolling in an art class at a community college is a great way to get started. You'll learn how the primary colors (red, yellow and blue) can be mixed to form all other colors, and how a color wheel shows which colors work well together.
Use of Contrast in Tattoos
One of the most important aspects of color in the art of tattooing is the use of contrast. Color contrast is what gives a tattoo design depth. The contrast can be in the amount of lightness and darkness (such as the contrast between white and black) or it can be in the colors themselves (such as the contrast between warm colors like yellow and orange and cool colors like blue and green). Contrast in colors will make one shape stand out from another or make a shape stand out from its background.
Composition and the Art of Tattooing
Composition refers to the flow of the design elements in a tattoo and how well they fit on the body part where they're tattooed. A client may come to a tattoo artist with a fixed idea about the design and placement of a tattoo. A good tattoo artist will know if the proportion of the design will work in the desired location. If it won't work, the tattoo artist must be ready to offer some alternative ideas. This may mean changing the scale of a design with a photocopier machine or cutting and pasting elements of one or more designs to create something new. A talented tattoo artist understands that the most successful tattoo designs mimic the flow of the body part where they're applied.
Perspective and Depth in Tattoos
Applying the artistic theories of perspective and depth is what gives a tattoo a 3-dimensional quality. In tattooing, perspective and depth are achieved through the use of contrast, outline and shading. Being able to create the illusion of reality with depth and perspective is what sets a tattoo artist apart from a tattooist. These techniques can be learned in an art course or from an art book and practiced with pencil and paper. Unless you're a natural born artist, practice and experience are the only way to master these techniques.
Besides taking art courses and practicing, a beginner tattooist should spend time studying tattoo magazines and becoming familiar with the work of established tattoo artists. Tattoo magazines are an important resource for beginning tattooists. They showcase the finest designs that the world of tattooing has to offer. By reading tattoo magazines, aspiring tattoo artists can learn about the leading tattoo artists, become inspired, decide who they want to emulate and begin to create their own style.
How To Become a Tattoo Artist
The rising popularity of the tattooing all around the world as a way to decorate the body has opened up the way for many people to get a new and demanding career as a tattoo artist. In this article you can find information on how to become a tattoo artist.
The art of tattoo is not something that can be learned in a short time. It requires some drawing and painting skills, patience and a lot of practice which may take years to develop. Because as an artist, you draw and paint on the bodies of your clients permanently. During this process, in the case of a slightest mistake, there is no chance for return and deletion. This art requires the drawing and painting of the designs on the body without any mistakes with complete perfection.
In order to become a tattoo artist, exercising drawing and painting skills will be a good first step. You can get assistance from books, courses and other tattoo artists. The more you develop your drawing skills, the more successful you will be in your new career. Starting from easy designs to relatively difficult ones, practicing how to draw until you develop your own style will help you in your career in the future.
It is not something that can be learned through schools or courses. There are not institutions devoted for the educations of tattoo artists. From time to time some courses can be opened by some parlors but of course it is hard to become a tattoo artist in such a short time with just the basic tattooing information they provide.
Traditionally they got their skills through apprenticeship which is a great way to get intense training about how to do tattoos and valuable knowledge about the tattoo business. You can ask the tattoo artists in your neighborhood that you want to work with them for free. Once accepted to work with them, you can get your first step to the world of tattoo business and learn everything about tattooing in the stage.
There are some difficulties of the free intense training; you will not get paid and you can be asked to do things like cleaning and dusting rather than tattooing. Indeed the performance you show on these type of work will give clues about th dedication and motivation you carry. A test upon how eager and hard worker you are to do things necessary for success. This is how the mechanism of apprenticeship works for thousands of years!
As you continue to prove yourself, you will learn many skills from the master artist, such as how to safely clean your equipment, how to operate a tattoo machine, how to adjust your power supply, how to protect yourself and your clients from disease, and most importantly how to correctly apply a tattoo. You are not limited to only gaining knowledge from your teacher; you can also spend time learning from other artists as well.
