I’ve posted Mandy (iam:kitten, cut by Dave) a few times before, but the reason I’m posting her today is that I saw a rather disconcertingly similar piece recently — which I should mention that the wearer insists was planned separately. It’s a really pretty design, so I suppose it’s no surprise that it would be duplicated eventually, but independent of debates about “plagiarism” versus “inspiration” versus “great minds think alike”, I like them both and hope that people are able to walk away without hard feelings on either side.
Comments
174 responses to “Scars by Dave Gillstrap”
I’ve never understood why some people seem to be shocked that others will copy their tattoos, brandings and such. Do I think it’s a very cool thing to do? NO. But, in the art world (even body art), everyone is biting somebody else’s style, if not exact work. I mean, look how many times the Pieta has been tattooed, drawn and painted, much less photographed. We should all strive to place less importance on out material things in life (this includes our decorated bodies). This is a life of impermanence, and we should look to more important things in life rather than worrying that someone might be marked in a similar way. Just my 2 cents
I’ve never understood why some people seem to be shocked that others will copy their tattoos, brandings and such. Do I think it’s a very cool thing to do? NO. But, in the art world (even body art), everyone is biting somebody else’s style, if not exact work. I mean, look how many times the Pieta has been tattooed, drawn and painted, much less photographed. We should all strive to place less importance on out material things in life (this includes our decorated bodies). This is a life of impermanence, and we should look to more important things in life rather than worrying that someone might be marked in a similar way. Just my 2 cents
With the exception of obviously deeply personal work, I tend to agree with Polonious on this, especially when the work is built on common motifs.
With the exception of obviously deeply personal work, I tend to agree with Polonious on this, especially when the work is built on common motifs.
PS. I’ve painted a couple Pietas!
PS. I’ve painted a couple Pietas!
I think is not THAT important to “copy” or “inspire” on some other tattoos or scars. Some people that have tattos on their bodies are artists as well, ok, but many others aren´t. So it´s hard to find a creative way of leting out the ideas and the feelings, maybe you are watching some images or tattos and something goes *click* on your head. Unless you claim the idea, drawing and everything IS yours, I think is fine, and in some ways a praising of other´s work and creative manners. I think the perfect way should be giving the tattoo artist the idea or motif and let him add his talent, so it should not look like a “copy”.
PS: sorry for the poor english.
I think is not THAT important to “copy” or “inspire” on some other tattoos or scars. Some people that have tattos on their bodies are artists as well, ok, but many others aren´t. So it´s hard to find a creative way of leting out the ideas and the feelings, maybe you are watching some images or tattos and something goes *click* on your head. Unless you claim the idea, drawing and everything IS yours, I think is fine, and in some ways a praising of other´s work and creative manners. I think the perfect way should be giving the tattoo artist the idea or motif and let him add his talent, so it should not look like a “copy”.
PS: sorry for the poor english.
I get the personal side to this, I really do. But, as having been copied myself, I’ve just learned to live with it.
I’ve also done my fair share of Pieta tattoos and paintings. She’s neato.
I get the personal side to this, I really do. But, as having been copied myself, I’ve just learned to live with it.
I’ve also done my fair share of Pieta tattoos and paintings. She’s neato.
Eh, I left a bit of a snark about it on nae’s entry earlier today, and now it’s turning into a big old free-for-all, which was inevitable, I suppose. I think my main issue with the whole thing is the proclamations of innocence from the artists involved and the wearer of the art, all of whom freely admit that they have seen kitten’s/Dave’s piece well in advance of planning or performing this cutting, and all of whom claim that nae’s is totally different. It looks pretty much the same to me, albeit not going quite as far down the body and not having as nice of a flow!
Eh, I left a bit of a snark about it on nae’s entry earlier today, and now it’s turning into a big old free-for-all, which was inevitable, I suppose. I think my main issue with the whole thing is the proclamations of innocence from the artists involved and the wearer of the art, all of whom freely admit that they have seen kitten’s/Dave’s piece well in advance of planning or performing this cutting, and all of whom claim that nae’s is totally different. It looks pretty much the same to me, albeit not going quite as far down the body and not having as nice of a flow!
it’s a sakura, how original can you get with it?
it’s a sakura, how original can you get with it?
Regardless of the controversy, she’s smoking hot, and that’s a beautiful piece.
Regardless of the controversy, she’s smoking hot, and that’s a beautiful piece.
it is so beautiful
it is so beautiful
When I look at both pieces, I think ‘you both have cherry blossom scars.’ It never ever crossed my mind that one would be a copy of the other. I don’t know, it must just be me, but I see about as many similarities in these cuts as I do with the thousands of skull-oriented chest pieces. Why don’t we get on those peoples asses? I think both scars are very beautiful, in their own way. They are fucking cherry blossoms. How original can you get with them?
When I look at both pieces, I think ‘you both have cherry blossom scars.’ It never ever crossed my mind that one would be a copy of the other. I don’t know, it must just be me, but I see about as many similarities in these cuts as I do with the thousands of skull-oriented chest pieces. Why don’t we get on those peoples asses? I think both scars are very beautiful, in their own way. They are fucking cherry blossoms. How original can you get with them?
It’s cherry blossoms, some losing a few petals. This isn’t a terribly original idea to start with, although it is *beautifully* done. I’d give the benefit of the doubt as far as this is concerned.
It’s cherry blossoms, some losing a few petals. This isn’t a terribly original idea to start with, although it is *beautifully* done. I’d give the benefit of the doubt as far as this is concerned.
I don’t think it’s shocking, I think it’s disappointing, and even more so when it happens within the IAM community. Yes, cherry blossoms are an extremely common motif, but Mandy’s are extremely distinctive in their stylizing, not to mention that if you look through the bme scar galleries, the 4 petal flowers with the falling petals are fully unique to Mandy’s design and found nowhere else.
So when another cherry blossom scarification done with the exact same stylizing and 4 petal flowers/falling petals shows up – and the placement is exactly where Mandy’s is, it’s very hard to believe a claim of independent thought and design.
I think everyone understands that when you make photos of your modifications accessible over a public medium such as the internet there is always the possibility of someone taking that and using it for their own purposes. but the fact that it was done by another member of the IAM community shows a complete lack of respect and disregard for both Mandy and Dave. and I think that’s whats more disappointing, that the design was stolen from within a community of people who you think would know better (or at least have more respect for someone) than to rip off a custom design.
also [to Polonious], I think it’s a somewhat offensive to automatically assume that just because something might be a simplistic design that it doesn’t have meaning to the wearer. I’m not saying that’s necessarily the case for Mandy, but without knowing the significance something holds for someone, you can’t presuppose how they’ll be affected by someone else taking something that has personal value from them.
I’m not saying you should spend your time fixated on whether your work has/will/or might be copied, but why shouldn’t someone feel violated or hurt by the theft of something that’s [now] a part of them?
I don’t think it’s shocking, I think it’s disappointing, and even more so when it happens within the IAM community. Yes, cherry blossoms are an extremely common motif, but Mandy’s are extremely distinctive in their stylizing, not to mention that if you look through the bme scar galleries, the 4 petal flowers with the falling petals are fully unique to Mandy’s design and found nowhere else.
So when another cherry blossom scarification done with the exact same stylizing and 4 petal flowers/falling petals shows up – and the placement is exactly where Mandy’s is, it’s very hard to believe a claim of independent thought and design.
I think everyone understands that when you make photos of your modifications accessible over a public medium such as the internet there is always the possibility of someone taking that and using it for their own purposes. but the fact that it was done by another member of the IAM community shows a complete lack of respect and disregard for both Mandy and Dave. and I think that’s whats more disappointing, that the design was stolen from within a community of people who you think would know better (or at least have more respect for someone) than to rip off a custom design.
also [to Polonious], I think it’s a somewhat offensive to automatically assume that just because something might be a simplistic design that it doesn’t have meaning to the wearer. I’m not saying that’s necessarily the case for Mandy, but without knowing the significance something holds for someone, you can’t presuppose how they’ll be affected by someone else taking something that has personal value from them.
I’m not saying you should spend your time fixated on whether your work has/will/or might be copied, but why shouldn’t someone feel violated or hurt by the theft of something that’s [now] a part of them?
I’m curious exactly what the personal meaning is behind these pieces aside from how pretty they are before I even think along the lines of someone copying someone else’s private piece. If say, someone drew their own Phoenix, had it tattooed, cut, etc, and it represented something very important/spiritual/etc in their life, I’d be more inclined to think the original artist was within her rights to be upset. (of course, everyone has a right to be upset, justification is different.)
Then again, a phoenix does mean growth, so that comparison might be a bit off. (;
I’m curious exactly what the personal meaning is behind these pieces aside from how pretty they are before I even think along the lines of someone copying someone else’s private piece. If say, someone drew their own Phoenix, had it tattooed, cut, etc, and it represented something very important/spiritual/etc in their life, I’d be more inclined to think the original artist was within her rights to be upset. (of course, everyone has a right to be upset, justification is different.)
Then again, a phoenix does mean growth, so that comparison might be a bit off. (;
This is gay….funny thing is keylan drew prolly 50 different cherry blossoms for this piece over the last week.
And she picked those out and I helped with the placement…and the fallen petals!
There was lots of talk about what section was gonna be removal etc…and that is the layout and way they were done they ended up going with.It wasn’t like anyone tried to trace and copy anything.
Cherry blossoms are almost as common as logo’s….
Maybe kitten does have “the original” and that is awesome
Is every new cherry blossom scar on ribs a rip off now from kitten in the future?
So if it was on her thigh it would be o.k??….shit I have saw a few of those all ready also.
As far as I knew Nae was planning getting her other side done the same as well….
You know how many dudes I have run into in the last 10 years with a misfits skull tattoo on there right arm?….dozens.
Im just sayin’.
I put cherry blossom tattoos around her nipples,now that shit is unique…If I saw another set of those I would feal ripped off though….hahahaha
This is gay….funny thing is keylan drew prolly 50 different cherry blossoms for this piece over the last week.
And she picked those out and I helped with the placement…and the fallen petals!
There was lots of talk about what section was gonna be removal etc…and that is the layout and way they were done they ended up going with.It wasn’t like anyone tried to trace and copy anything.
Cherry blossoms are almost as common as logo’s….
Maybe kitten does have “the original” and that is awesome
Is every new cherry blossom scar on ribs a rip off now from kitten in the future?
So if it was on her thigh it would be o.k??….shit I have saw a few of those all ready also.
As far as I knew Nae was planning getting her other side done the same as well….
You know how many dudes I have run into in the last 10 years with a misfits skull tattoo on there right arm?….dozens.
Im just sayin’.
I put cherry blossom tattoos around her nipples,now that shit is unique…If I saw another set of those I would feal ripped off though….hahahaha
I agree with #8. I expect it was a tough decision for Nae to decide to get this piece, knowing this was the kind of reaction she’d get. How original can you make a scar of a cherry blossom, which has a distinct shape? If she really is telling the truth, then I think she had a perfect right to get a piece she had thought up, despite seeing another had been done that looked very like it. But who knows…
I agree with #8. I expect it was a tough decision for Nae to decide to get this piece, knowing this was the kind of reaction she’d get. How original can you make a scar of a cherry blossom, which has a distinct shape? If she really is telling the truth, then I think she had a perfect right to get a piece she had thought up, despite seeing another had been done that looked very like it. But who knows…
I wish you guys could see how insanely distressed I am right now. Never once have I ever had any goal of ‘ripping off’ someone. I personally am an art major and completely understand the idea behind personal work. This is not a finished piece. I am planning to have a matching left side completed once I’m healed. I love that Kitten’s embraces her entire side, that’s cool, that’s not my thing. I’ve had plans for this for a long time, and was really shocked, frustrated, and a bit upset when I saw her’s because I knew I would want it too and I knew that if I even put one picture up, someone would get pissed at me. No matter where you put a cherry blossom, it’s going to look relatively similar to every other one out there. I purposely didn’t submit the photos on my page to BME because I didn’t want them in the state they are in now to get confused with Kitten’s. I have more plans to add on to them, but I need to heal, and once everything is finshed, then feel free to judge me. But as for now, it’s not completed.
I wish you guys could see how insanely distressed I am right now. Never once have I ever had any goal of ‘ripping off’ someone. I personally am an art major and completely understand the idea behind personal work. This is not a finished piece. I am planning to have a matching left side completed once I’m healed. I love that Kitten’s embraces her entire side, that’s cool, that’s not my thing. I’ve had plans for this for a long time, and was really shocked, frustrated, and a bit upset when I saw her’s because I knew I would want it too and I knew that if I even put one picture up, someone would get pissed at me. No matter where you put a cherry blossom, it’s going to look relatively similar to every other one out there. I purposely didn’t submit the photos on my page to BME because I didn’t want them in the state they are in now to get confused with Kitten’s. I have more plans to add on to them, but I need to heal, and once everything is finshed, then feel free to judge me. But as for now, it’s not completed.
I’m sorry, that came out wrong. I knew I had wanted it too. Not would want it too.
I’m sorry, that came out wrong. I knew I had wanted it too. Not would want it too.
Well, it’s not “a scar of a cherry blossom”, it’s a whole bunch of cherry blossoms placed exactly the same way in exactly the same part of the body, really. If I were Nae and I’d thought of the piece and knew of another piece done by a high-profile artist and published on Modblog, I would’ve modified it and done it on a different part of my body (or on the other side of my body, or whatever).
Well, it’s not “a scar of a cherry blossom”, it’s a whole bunch of cherry blossoms placed exactly the same way in exactly the same part of the body, really. If I were Nae and I’d thought of the piece and knew of another piece done by a high-profile artist and published on Modblog, I would’ve modified it and done it on a different part of my body (or on the other side of my body, or whatever).
And my comment was in response to #10 – I was obviously typing that as Nae was typing hers.
Well, Nae, I can understand that you’re upset by the response, I suppose. But you knew this is what the response would be. If I were you, I wouldn’t have posted any pictures of it at all until it were completed, if the finished project is going to be so wildly different. And I have a sleeve I’ve been working on for a couple of years that I haven’t posted any pictures of yet, so I can honestly say that. 🙂
And my comment was in response to #10 – I was obviously typing that as Nae was typing hers.
Well, Nae, I can understand that you’re upset by the response, I suppose. But you knew this is what the response would be. If I were you, I wouldn’t have posted any pictures of it at all until it were completed, if the finished project is going to be so wildly different. And I have a sleeve I’ve been working on for a couple of years that I haven’t posted any pictures of yet, so I can honestly say that. 🙂
I really don’t see what the probably is. I know about 20 girls who have cherry blossom tattoos on the backs of the necks, I know another 20 who have one loosing petals on their feet…
Scarification is becoming more widely practiced as people are gaining a better understanding for the procedures and care. Of COURSE there’s going to be overlap of something like a fucking flower. It’s an aesthetically pleasing object. It’s going to end up on people’s bodies.
I really don’t see what the probably is. I know about 20 girls who have cherry blossom tattoos on the backs of the necks, I know another 20 who have one loosing petals on their feet…
Scarification is becoming more widely practiced as people are gaining a better understanding for the procedures and care. Of COURSE there’s going to be overlap of something like a fucking flower. It’s an aesthetically pleasing object. It’s going to end up on people’s bodies.
or…..
she went with what she originaly wanted and didnt change it based on the opinion of someone else.
i just think its funny that the people who are making such a big deal of it, really should’nt concern them selves with it at all considering it has NOTHING to do with you.
or…..
she went with what she originaly wanted and didnt change it based on the opinion of someone else.
i just think its funny that the people who are making such a big deal of it, really should’nt concern them selves with it at all considering it has NOTHING to do with you.
I really think a side-by-side comparison would show that they’re not really the same…..the placement of the blossoms is not congruent, and as she stated, Nae’s blossoms have a different movement on her body (moving toward the inner-thighs as opposed to down the leg). It’s going to take a lot more than cherry blossoms with some petals falling off to make this a copycat piece – as it is, they’re just similar motifs (and, considering how well the placement works, how can you blame them for having that similarity?).
I really think a side-by-side comparison would show that they’re not really the same…..the placement of the blossoms is not congruent, and as she stated, Nae’s blossoms have a different movement on her body (moving toward the inner-thighs as opposed to down the leg). It’s going to take a lot more than cherry blossoms with some petals falling off to make this a copycat piece – as it is, they’re just similar motifs (and, considering how well the placement works, how can you blame them for having that similarity?).
that is beautiful. nothing is original now given we as a species have been around so long and had so much time to think about everything. Doesnt mean it carries any less artistic merit or meaning though.
that is beautiful. nothing is original now given we as a species have been around so long and had so much time to think about everything. Doesnt mean it carries any less artistic merit or meaning though.
cherry blossoms are not an original idea. how many folks have cherry blossoms with pedals falling done as tattoos. i don’t understand why this is an issue.
cherry blossoms are not an original idea. how many folks have cherry blossoms with pedals falling done as tattoos. i don’t understand why this is an issue.
“that is beautiful. nothing is original now given we as a species have been around so long and had so much time to think about everything. Doesnt mean it carries any less artistic merit or meaning though.”
couldn’t have said it better myself.
For those of you who think you’re original, you’re not. I do 2000+ tattoos a year, and if they only knew how much their “original idea” was just like someone else’s, they’d probably be some sad people. We are constantly influenced by what we see, and more often that not, moved to emulate that which appeals to us. It’s no biggie. Get over it.
“that is beautiful. nothing is original now given we as a species have been around so long and had so much time to think about everything. Doesnt mean it carries any less artistic merit or meaning though.”
couldn’t have said it better myself.
For those of you who think you’re original, you’re not. I do 2000+ tattoos a year, and if they only knew how much their “original idea” was just like someone else’s, they’d probably be some sad people. We are constantly influenced by what we see, and more often that not, moved to emulate that which appeals to us. It’s no biggie. Get over it.