Breaking Ground

It seems that most great artists have the good fortune of being born at the right time and the right place. 









I am convinced that unless someone recognizes and respects talent early, there are those that never stand a chance to further their artistic endeavors.

Born in Bordeaux France in 1822, Rosa Bonheur certainly was hit the lottery with her family. She had the great good fortune of being born to an artistic (and rather eccentric) couple. Her father, Oscar-Raymond Bonheur, was an artist, art teacher and ardent supporter of independent thought in his children, while her mother was a music teacher. 

I love her work and the painting above in particular.  She understands how to use light to bring forth an almost too realistic rendering in her work.  She loves animals and like many artists I have talked about before, she painted what was literally in her back yard.

Rosa was unable to attend art school due to her sex and was as a result educated by her father, a famous landscape painter. She had a great love for animals and drew her inspiration from the acclaimed English animal painter Sir Edwin Henry Landseer. 

Her most well known work is “The Horse Fair” which she exhibited to Queen Victoria on a visit to Scotland. It was also during this visit that she made her sketches for “A Scottish Raid” and “Highland Shepard”. Marie Rosalie Bonheur was the most famous female artist of her time and perhaps more so nowadays for appearing in men”s garb, claiming it was the more logical option for her work with animals.   

She is regarded as one of the early feminists. Rosa also worked in sculpture, casting bronzes (of animals, of course) early in her career. Rosa was a hit with the public, and exhibited yearly at the Salon beginning in 1841. Her sales were brisk due partly to the fact that everyone had heard of her. She was outspoken and earned a living as an artist, won awards, smoked in public, wore overalls (she needed a special license to do so) and visited slaughterhouses to study animal anatomy. In short, she was a notorious woman. Her non-conformity was outrageous for 19th-century Paris but, because she was so successful and independently wealthy, she forced many to reconsider the "role" of women artists.

For centuries, the tattoo industry has been dominated by men, both as artist and canvas but over the last decade or so the body art industry has definatley undergone a modern renaissance. The men have a rival in the form of female tattoo artists and plenty of "old-school" tattoo artists do not like it.  I read on a website for a local tattoo shop, "We are the real deal... no bored housewives."  I have not met any bored housewives that took up tattooing.   I have a feeling that was directed toward female tattoo artists in general.  I have become somewhat of a cynic and have a hard time giving some people the benefit of doubt.

Female tattoo artists had always been lone wolves but a lot has changed. They are no longer relegated to the reception desk. They own shops and run successful businesses. More positive perceptions of female tattoo artists is owed to the sea change the industry experienced when Kat Von D graced millions of TV sets as a cast member of the reality show Miami Ink, starting in 2005. It is more open now, but it’s still a man’s world for the most part. I never really hear negativity about women tattoo artists from other women. I hear it plenty often from the men. I hear how they hate Kat Von D, criticize her work (when their own art is nothing to write home about) and how women should not own tattoo shops. Jealous much? Say what you will but she's a very successful business woman that has diversified with a lot of income sources besides tattooing.  

More and more women are taking leadership roles within the industry.  In my neck of the woods, Kari Barba is a great example of a woman taking matters into her own hands. She started tattooing at age 19 in 1979. Since that she has won over 500 awards including Best Tattooist 3 times and a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011. She is the only known artist to have won 1st place in every category at a single convention. In the 70's, 80's and early 90's only one convention took place in the US per year. It showcased the best of the best in the country/world. In 1991, Kari Barba won 1st place in every category at that National Tattoo Association Convention. This has never been accomplished by any other artist.   She has owned several shops and has the respect of many.  

Kari may be a modern version of Rosa Bonheur in changing the standards of the industry.  She didn't play by the rules but seems to respect the traditions.  She was going to do what she wanted to do and no one was going to stop her.

I never considered myself a feminist but plenty of people have described me that way.  It never occurs to me that I should not do something because of my gender.   When it does pop up in my life, it hits me as unexpected as a 2x4 across the forehead.  I don't respond well and I can carry a grudge for along time.  I am working on that.

I applaud those that came before me.  The strong women that took matters into their own hands.  The women that blazed the trails in both fine art and tattoo art.  They are my heroes.

By: Renee Bangerter