ON AMERICAN TRADITIONAL
Marshall, Jack, and Nicholas on what American Traditional means to them, and why they just keep going back.
Nicholas
What’s your name?
Nicholas Cordero.
How would you describe American Traditional to someone who doesn’t know what it is?
I would say it's really simplistic ideas in an artistic fashion. On skin. It's like, it's like playing on a canvas, but the canvas is going to age. So you have to make something last.
When did you first start getting tattooed?
I was 14.
What drew you to American Traditional tattoos?
They've been doing American traditional tattoos for a long time and it's, you know, as everyone says, bold will hold. And just the stylistic nature of it. One, I really like the bold thick lines and the skin breaks and it's meant to last. The way they tattoo you is so when you age, you'll still have the same image, if not a similar image. We know it lasts forever, we’ve seen it.
Did you start with American Trad or is it something you found later?
I found it and committed to it a bit later. I started getting tattooed and I got up to [my forearm] and then that was all I had. And then after that, I got my whole leg done and it was all in American traditional and all color. And then I kind of slowly gravitated towards more like just black.
How is your interpretation of American Traditional unique to you?
I don't know. My brother is a tattoo artist and he brought me around a lot of shops at, like, a younger age and kind of understood what was cool and what wasn't. Not just that, but being able to find your own little space, knowing that you just began this journey and for a lot of people, this is religion to them, especially tattoo artists.
Do your tattoos relate to your personal style or story?
A lot of my clothes have paint on them and it just feels like I got paint on my body too. So it's like another canvas.
Which is your favorite?
Yeah, it's the back piece.
Do you regret any of your tattoos?
No! I mean I have some really dumb ones but I don’t regret them. I get a tattoo every couple weeks, maybe more. I have over 100.
Do you plan on stopping?
I’m never going to do neck or face. But I’m going to do my head though. I’ll never stop.
Have any meanings changed over time?
Sometimes. Sometimes they don't have a meeting and sometimes they get one later. Everything's just like a timestamp. I know when I got it, where I was, who I was, what I was doing, why I got it. I guess there's always meaning, even if it's not something that's significant.
Which symbols or motifs resonated with you the most?
Back in Boston, my friends used to call me cowboy. That was my nickname. I like the Western cowboy-esque things because they're all fake. Cowboys weren't real. All the cowboys that we know of are Hollywood cowboys. And it's just like being in a city, being a cowboy and having all these like things on you. It's the same thing.
Do you feel like having these tattoos says anything about you?
I don't know. I just don't care what other people have to say about it, I guess. I get more looks than maybe other people do. I don't mind showing them. I got them for the reason that I like them. And if you don't, that's cool too.
What are people’s reactions to your tattoos?
A lot of people stare. Oh yeah. I get a lot of stares. I'll get up and down. I don't know. I don't really care. I kind of like it. Yeah.
What’s your next tattoo? Will it also be American?
Yeah, I'll probably get an American tradition or like just some nonsense that I draw.
So what, you draw something and then bring it to the artist and they interpret it?
No, it's not, if I just drew it and I want someone to do it, I usually try not to put that on someone else because it's like, I'm a painter. If someone drew something and was like, “can you paint this for me?” I'd be like, No. Please don't ever ask me that again. It’s people who are open to just doing tattoos, or they're friends of mine. I'll say, “do whatever you want on me and then do this one that I drew”.
Any closing statements?
It's bold, bold, bold. We know what traditional tattoos do after time. We don't know what hyperrealism looks like. Don't go to Bang Bang Tattoo. It's a waste of your money. You'll spend $3,000 on something this big and it's going to disappear in 10 years.
Marshall
What’s your name?
Marshall Brockley
How would you describe American Traditional to someone who doesn’t know what it is?
I would describe American traditional tattoos as a style of tattoos that has a lot of history. They're a very consumable type of style, it's a very popular style. Very common. It's got quite a bit of legacy.
When did you start getting tattoos?
If we're counting terrible stick and pokes that I did myself when I was like 16, then I suppose I started when I was 16. But actual tattoos? I probably started later, more like when I was 21.
What drew you to American Traditional tattoos?
It has a lot of appealing, simplistic looks. There's a lot of things inspired by American traditional tattoos. There’s a lot of styles on my body I think some people wouldn’t consider American traditional, but they are inspired by designs that were meant to be.
Did you start with American Trad or is it something you found later?
I started just wanting black and gray fineline. But then, I found artists that I liked. Some were American , some were doing other things.
How is your interpretation of American Traditional unique to you?
It’s unique in the sense that I just found artists that I really liked. Um, mostly on the internet. I kept following their work, seeing things that inspired me. And once I saw a tattoo that inspired me, I would go to that artist and be like, I really like this one, but have your way with it. Do whatever you want, make it your own piece. Um, and I'm sure it'll come out good. And so far they did.
Do your tattoos relate to your personal style or story?
I would say that I almost just put my trust in the artist that I liked and then that sort of became its own style. I really like color tattooing,but don't have any color tattoos because I started with the black and gray and then I just kind of stuck with it. I think that they, they've worked out nicely
Which is your favorite?
I would probably say my back piece is currently my favorite just cause it's the most recent and I'm the most excited about it. It's not finished, but it's got to be up there.
Do you regret any of your tattoos?
I wouldn't say that I regret any of them. Maybe the ones that I got when I was very young that I did myself or if I had friends do at parties and that was either like a drunken decision or just something silly. But again, I don't think I regret them. They're just a part of the process, I guess.
Do any have meaning?
Sure, yeah. One of my first ones was this Statue of Liberty inspired tattoo on my right arm. And I guess I would say that that was probably just an inspiration from living in New York and growing up in New York. It's not that it has any real deeper meaning other than that I'm, I just like the way that they looked, but, you know.
I can't separate New York from myself or one in the same. So I just really liked that design.
Which symbols or motifs from American Traditional resonated with you the most?
I've always liked nautical themes. So any, anything with sailors and ships, I have this sort of Marie Antoinette inspired tattoo with ships in her hair and that kind of imagery has always worked really well for me.
Do you feel like having these tattoos says anything about you?
I think that they just say that I'm a fan of the art.
What are people’s reactions to your tattoos?
They ask; did it hurt? Yes, fuck yes. I mean, I think in the beginning when you're starting to get tattooed, you want to seem like you're tough and you stick it out, but the truth is, that shit sucks, and it's painful.
How do you decide on what to get?
I would always just go based on the artist, right? So if there's an artist I like, I'd see something that they did that I liked, and I would go to them and just be like, listen, I have this huge spot here, have your way with it. I like your work. I like your art. Basing it from an artist standpoint is probably the best way to get some really good work.
Any closing statements?
My only advice would be, I've said it a couple times already, but find an artist you like. Find an artist you like, trust the process, let them have some freedom with their art. You know, even though it's on your body, I think it's just important to find an artist that you resonate with and then don't control them too much.
Jack
What’s your name?
Jack.
How would you describe American Traditional to someone who doesn’t know what it is?
Noticeable. Recognizable.
When did you start getting tattoos?
About a decade ago?
What drew you to American Traditional tattoos?
They were just the only tattoos that I saw that I thought were cool.
Did you start with American Trad or is it something you found later?
No, I started with it. Um, like I said, it was just, I didn't want to get tattooed otherwise.
When did you decide to commit fully to the style?
Uh, it was never a thought out decision. Just sort of happened organically. Just hanging out with certain friends of mine who, you know, pursue the craft of tattooing.
How is your interpretation of American Traditional unique to you?
There's a lot of humor and a lot of them are lighthearted. I don't know. I just don't take myself too seriously. Just try to be a kind person, so, I don't know, just try to reflect that.
Do you have a favorite?
Uh, no, to be honest.
Do you regret any of your tattoos?
Nah.
Have any meanings changed over time?
Nah, I think it's just, just is what it is, a collection of art.
Which symbols or motifs resonated with you the most?
The first animal I ever got was a panther. So, panther.
Do you feel like having these tattoos says anything about you?
You just have to get to know me. It’s superficial.
What are people’s reactions to your tattoos?
People are generally pretty hyped.
How do you decide on what to get?
Sometimes I have an idea but a lot of times I let my friends pick something they’re hyped on doing.
What’s your next tattoo? Will it also be American?
No clue!
Any closing statements?
Be yourself. Be kind. Let things go, try to not hold onto resentments. Don’t be afraid of being vulnerable, and treat everyone the same and try to show love.