Hey, Hive community! 👋
Today, I want to share a story that, over the past few days, managed to amuse, outrage, and deeply motivate me all at once. It's about my most complex work yet, taking a leap onto a new platform, and, inevitably, facing some serious online drama.
🇩🇪 Tattoo as Therapy: My German Journey 🎨
For those who follow my blog, it’s no secret that tattoos came into my life not long after I moved to Germany. They appeared when the homesickness and depression began to fade. Tattooing became more than a hobby; it was a form of therapy and a powerful means of self-expression. After two years of dedicated practice, I can proudly say I've achieved some great results. My work is finally looking the way I always dreamed. So, I decided it was time to share it not just on Instagram or TikTok, but where the truly strong international tattoo community lives. My choice fell upon Reddit. 😬
😈 15 Hours of Hellish Work: My “Baphomet” Piece
To make a statement, I chose to share one of my most difficult pieces—a highly detailed portrait of a goat (Baphomet) on the back of the head. The motif is dark and intense, and I absolutely love this style! 🔥
This piece was a true marathon:
• Two large sessions, each lasting 6 hours. 🕰️
• A third session for final details and touch-ups, taking 3-4 hours.
Total work time: Over 15 hours!🥵
I was thrilled to share the result, and the post quickly gained a ton of positive feedback... but, as is tradition online, there was a big "but."
🥊 The Reddit Battle: “You Stole That Work!”
🤯 Amidst hundreds of compliments, one commenter launched an absolute barrage of negativity. His reason? He accused me of the work not being mine!
"It’s impossible for someone to learn to tattoo at your level in only two years! You have so many styles on your page, all done at a high level. I’ve been tattooing for 7 years and I’m still stuck where I started!" 😡 I tried to explain that time doesn't matter! What counts is practice, dedication, and constant self-improvement. But he wouldn't listen.
When I posted process photos and screenshots from session videos—proof that couldn't be faked—he turned to his last "argument": "Why do you have sketches on your page that are clearly generated by AI?" 🤖
🎨 AI Sketching vs. Real Craftsmanship
This is where the situation got truly hilarious! 😂 I want to be clear: I have sketches on my Instagram page that I draw completely myself from start to finish. My drawing skill is 100% real. However, sometimes there are complex, detailed ideas I'd love to execute, but I'm not sure if the many hours spent on drawing the initial draft from scratch will be justified. In those cases, I use AI generations as a source of inspiration and a time-saver. I see it as a modern tool for artists.
Before:
After:
But there is a huge chasm between an AI image and a finished tattoo:
- I take the AI image, but I manually refine it, adding details and adjusting the composition to create the perfect stencil. ✏️
- Most importantly—I execute it on the skin! That's 15+ hours of incredibly difficult, complex manual labor that has nothing to do with clicking a button. 💪 I felt sorry for this guy. Instead of focusing on his own growth, he wasted energy on baseless accusations and even resorted to insulting my personal photos.
✨ The Main Takeaway: Motivation Boost! 🚀
This whole situation turned out to be the best compliment and a huge source of motivation. I realized that if my work generates such a strong reaction—even a negative one—it means I'm doing something truly amazing.
I am here on Hive to share my genuine, human art. And to that guy, I wish him luck spending the next 7 years on practicing instead of hating! 😉
❓ Question for the Community: Do you consider using AI generations for finding tattoo ideas "cheating," or is it simply a modern tool that allows artists to save time and explore new concepts?
Thanks for reading my story! Follow for more of my tattoo work! ❤️
P.S.:
Want the full drama? Here’s the link to the original Reddit post: 🔗 BaphometInReddit
If you just want to support my tattooing journey, check out my Instagram here: KsenaMorf_Instagram