Profile: Fip Buchanan

::: Artist Name::  Fip Buchanan

::: Media:::  Primarily skin and ink (tattooing), also watercolor and acrylic

::: Website::: www.fiptattoos.com

::: 1 ::: When did you first realize you were an artist? Did you draw as a kid? Color outside the lines?
I’ve been drawing all my life. My mother still has art I did when I was about 2 years old. I never liked coloring books much, I reperred to draw my own pictures.

::: 2 ::: Why did you become a tattoo artist? Do you consider it an art form? Do you have a sketchbook to work up ideas? How does the design process work?
I became a tattooist because I thought it would be a fun way to do art and interact with people. I talk to the customer to see what they have in mind, and draw the design up from there.

::: 3 ::: Could you tell us some more about your paintings? How does your "canvas" affect your design? Which of your tattoo designs is most important / personal to you? Why?
My paintings are really done for myself, because when I tattoo each piece of art is a private commission. Painting gives me more freedom and it’s a much looser art form than tattooing.

As far as tattooing, the placement on the body affects the design as it has to fit the body right.All my designs are personal, as each one contains a lot of me in it. Through the years I’ve developed a style that my clients are attracted to, and each client is important to me.


::: 4 ::: How did you become a tattoo artist? Where did you receive your training? School? Apprenticeship?
I went to the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, Pa. from 1982-1984. While there I met Red Schuster and Duke Miller, local tattooists, and I was helped a lot by them. Other than that, I learned mainly through observation . I always watch closely when I get tattooed, and I have learned also by looking at photographs of others artwork and tattoos.

::: 5 :::  Tattooing has become very mainstream recently. How has that affected your designs?
I wouldn’t say it’s really affected my designs at all, but it has increased the demographic of our clientele.

::: 6 ::: What famous artists have influenced you, and how? (could be other tattoo artists, painters, pop culture, etc)
Ed Hardy, Jack Rudy,Greg Irons and Bob Roberts were my earliest and most important influences in tattooing.


::: 7 ::: How have you handled the business side of being an artist?
You get tattooed you pay me. Pretty simple, right? Actually, the paperwork and other business aspects of tattooing are the least fun for me. I really just like doing artwork, and for the most part, the business takes care of itself.


::: 8 ::: Has the Internet helped your career as an artist?
Yes, my website helps tremendously,and other reviews, blogs, etc. also help spread the word.

::: 9 ::: What’s the best and worst parts of being a full time, working artist?
The best part is working for yourself, and the independence that brings you. The worst part is probably the uncertainty of your income. Some days you may do real well, and the next day, nothing.


::: 10 ::: What advice would you give to an artist just starting out?
Work hard at what you do. Just because you’re an artist doesn’t give you a license to be a slacker. Also, you have to learn how to take constructive criticism well. I’ve had people ask what I thought of their artwork, and when I give them my honest opinion ,they sometimes get mad about it when I’m not patting them on the back. If you’re going to ask me or anyone else whose opinion you respect, don’t get all hurt when the answer isn’t what you were hoping for. Take the advice and better yourself. It’s very hard to be objective about your own artwork.