PATRICK KABALE

DRAWING THE IDEAL ROSE

@patrick.kabale

I've always been that cliché kid who was constantly drawing. And honestly, I embrace clichés. They exist for a reason, right? And even if it's just about breaking the stereotype.

When I was 16, I first thought about becoming a tattoo artist. My mom wasn't exactly thrilled about that idea, so I took a detour into the creative industry for a few years. But eventually, in 2016 I came back to the initial idea.

When I started drawing my first tattoo designs, I approached traditional tattoos from a graphic perspective. I wanted to create something that wouldn't look off in a few years. Every design and style imaginable has been done a thousand times over already, so instead of chasing trends, I aimed to capture the essence of a design. In the Western world, tattoos often mean panthers, roses, or skulls. Some might call it kitsch, but I don't see that as a bad thing. I still strive to draw the “ideal” rose tattoo, capturing its essence.

I approach every Medium differently and with tattoos, i like when you can instantly recognize a drawing as a tattoo. It's like a white T-shirt, a Cartier Tank, a Buzzcut – you could have worn it 40 years ago and still wear it 40 years from now. But of corse our aesthetics are shaped by so many things, and the increasing individualization of society just amplifies this effect. So I think the best way to find a tattoo artist is to choose someone whose aesthetic vibes with yours and, even more importantly for me, someone you wouldn't mind hanging out with for a few hours.

As a kid, a friend i used to draw with told me I had a talent for making my sketches look really dirty and shitty, but in a cool way. I also still have fun with that and try to incorporate this ignorant approach and other influences into my work and simply just play around, because i don't want to limit my style too much. I believe that every type of art has an essence that best suits each circumstance, whether it's a tribal tattoo, a punk song, or an Art Nouveau interior. My goal is always to bring that essence to light, whenever i create.

Today, I don't believe anything is truly timeless because tattoos will always reflect the era they were made in. But that's part of their charm. There's no authority on what makes a good design, and I'm definitely not claiming to be one. Theres no Accounting for taste. I’d just do what you want and have fun.

I don't regret my "out of style" tattoos; they capture moments in my life, help me learn to live with my decisions, and remind me not to take Things too seriously.

shot by @neongrain