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That bear tattoo just makes me think, "Ms Rad by name, Ms Rad by nature", haha. Here's a new one from me! This was done just yesterday, so my arm is pretty swollen. It's by Thomas Morgan, who is just finishing a guest spot in Inkslingers in Newcastle. I think he told me he'll be in Paris next, so if you live near there, I'd recommend getting some work from him! Oh yeah, and I kind of thought this was obvious (I'm sure it will be to you guys), but since a couple of friends have asked me- the gypsy head isn't from yesterday- Ian Parkin did that, and it looks FAR better when my arm isn't at a funny angle :P Anyway, here you go, sorry for the bad picture. I never did put that picture of my tattoo from Charlie on here, did I? If anyone wants to see it, I'll gladly put that up too :)

Here: Fallingapartart "Fall Out: San Francisco '11"

You got tattooed for nine hours straight in your dining room by someone who doesn't work out of a shop? You should have read some threads and watched some interviews here before posting... But by all means, since you ask, bring on the pictures. I'm sure I'm not the only one who's curious to see this.

Often times people resist, ignore, or fight back without a solution to a problem except in hopes of extinction or wanting change without offering another alternative route. This can have its strengths and opportunities for changes. So in response to the new thread on TLC's new show, Spike TV spamming LST with their new show, and all the other talk that has occurred in the short life of LST we have come up with an idea...... We understand those shows are going to do what they do but how about using your social networking sites to show those new to tattooing and/or unfamiliar with tattooing outside of what the media feeds them some other options? We noticed some people were blogging, tweeting and/or status updating LST instead of TLC (which was a nice compliment, thanks) so people saw an alternative. Also we noticed people on here saying they would not give these networks and/or production companies their time. Also we saw what we believe a large amount of people were doing, posting/tweeting the hell out of mentions of fighting these companies. It was insane to see how much resistance was to this new show and seemed like every second or third news feed mentioned this. Which what this does is make it viral and it is free press causing more "trainwreck" material for the network, show, and production company fueling their venture. There is no right or wrong way to fight this as you need to do what you believe in. We, LST, have come up with a few motos that we have been using on our networking sites to post rather than give them any more of our time and thought we would publicly put it out there for anyone else who wishes to try a alternative route to showing the public what tattooing is really like (thanks for the RT & Repost by the way already). LST was developed and continues to be developed to try to help build a real, positive, and helpful bridge between tattooers and customers both long time and new, so REAL conversations can happen hopefully equating to better tattoos and more informed respect and perspectives on tattooing. We believe in the less than a year we have been around we have done an alright job but continue to work on making it better and could not do any of it without all of you, so thanks! Below are some of the mottos we are status updating, tweeting, etc and if you feel inclined please use some of the below and/or make up your own so we can try to take back some of the power large tattoo tv has been given.... Fuck TLC and Spike TV SUPPORT LST, Tattoo Artist Interviews http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/6-tattoo-artist-interviews.html Get your Tattoo TV Sanity & support LST, Tattoo Artist Interviews http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/6-tattoo-artist-interviews.html Take back the power from large tattoo tv & SUPPORT LST. RT & show the public what U really support!! http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/6-tattoo-artist-interviews.html RT so the people can see real reality tattoo tv! Don't give Spike & TLC your time or energy!! http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/6-tattoo-artist-interviews.html +plus other variations but the point is to try and get people to see real talk from tattooers in the tattoo artist interview area (or if you have another area that you think is informative have at it). Thanks for your help, continual support and participation with us to try and make a better resource on the internet for tattooing! This site is nothing without all of you & your positivity, respect, and passion for tattoos!

Mel's given the best advice on this one for sure! I wish I had someone tell me that when I started getting tattooed

My boss has a neverending supply of Ed Hardy/Christian Audigier shirts. He also drives his "lambo" (lamborghini) to and from work each day. He also has no tattoos, but "has designed some" for friends. He also doesn't know anything about the actual Ed Hardy. At first, I thought, "Oh, maybe not a douchebag indicat––– oh.. yeah. Yeah, it is. Always. Without fail."

I got this Baphomet head from Tim Lehi last month. Why? Easily my favorite tattooist, and I think he understands what I am going for. He has tattooed me a few times and always gives me suitable tattoos for me, like he knows me, ha.

hahahahah

This and Failblog.org are some of the only things on the internet that make me cry with laughter.

Here is mine I got done 3 years ago, Adam Shrewsbury flash

Keep us updated on the healing? This is going to sound odd out of context, but it worries me that it didn't hurt. I know everyone's pain tolerances are different, but if done 'correctly' (loathe as I am to put it that way) it should hurt. If it was just done as a 'normal' (loathe as I am to put it that way) tattoo, there's a good chance it's not going to stick. So if you don't mind checking in with healing updates, I for one would be interested to see the progress. Oh, and I'm going up to NY on 08/03 to have Hooper do my fingers and light touchups on two spots on my right palm. Sadly, I know it's going to hurt.

FIRST OFF, thank you for resurrecting SQUID PANTS/SLACKS. Echoing, here, it's totally normal, especially the longer healing process. I freaked out the other month when I had my other wrist tattooed -- hand swelled up like a goddamn softball and then figured out it was totally normal! Didn't expect that. Always forget that it's your body's response to TRAUMA -- then when I remember, it all makes sense.

I remember a post from a tattooer friend on facebook where he and his girlfriend were having dinner with Ed Hardy and she posted the picture and one of her friends commented something like "you mean the guy from the clothes" and Doug Hardy saw it and posted something like " I didn't think Ed Hardy was a real person, I thought he was a figurehead like Sara Lee". Maybe it was funnier to see it in person but I still smile about it today.

What I found helps is first finding someone really great you can be tattooed by- then you'll probably realise why you like them, by thinking, "yeah, that guy does a great snake", or "she does a wonderful dagger"- then you could ask them to do something like that, while filling in the space. Worked for me anyway, just today! :)

Just got back last night from a trip to Chicago. Got tattooed by Mario Desa (skull with butterfly wings). Saw Archers of Loaf play. Ate at Chicago Diner. Weekends away don't get much better than that. I don't have any decent pictures of the tattoo yet, but there are a couple up on Mario's facebook.

I just want to remind everyone of our #1 agreement for this forum- You agree that you will not: 1. use the Site to personally attack, threaten, stalk, defraud, incite, harass, or advocate the harassment of another person, or otherwise interfere with another user's use of the Site; So sometimes we all can't get along, but we can be civil and respectful. Please always try to contribute to this forum in a helpful way, we're still a young forum and we want to grow in a positive direction. Posts and exchanges written in haste and anger or with the intention of inciting a negative response can escalate quickly, and that doesn't serve anyone. If a situation comes about where you absolutely cannot get along with another LST member, you have the option of going to their profile page and clicking on "Add to Ignore List." Please try to work out any issues with the other member whenever possible and only use this as a last resort. The rest of our rules are here, if you'd like to read them: http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/bugs-issues-how-navigate-forum-questions/57-last-sparrow-tattoo-forum-rules.html And thanks again to everyone for being a part of this community, dispite the occasional growing pains, Dari

Mel, all your stuff is really nice!

Guessing a bunch of people have seen it already, but I hadn't. Had to close it because by page two I was giggling like a little weirdo at my desk: Damn You Auto Correct! - Funny iPhone Fails and Autocorrect Horror Stories

I am glad I found this place, I met a few local artists but didnt really know what I was looking at. The gang at LST pointed me in the right direction locally and gave me some good options if I wanted to travel

I am seriously considering going. It will be my first time to SF and hopefully first tattoo from a quality artist

TRUE STATEMENT. You also lost me at "computer"... but I'm glad you've actually been able to start poking around and getting a feel for what's out there. If you're happy with your tattoo (and I didn't see the photos) then that's what matters. Get it done and hopefully it'll lead to many more. And dude, there are few better places to be than in NY. If there's not someone here you want to get tattooed by then chances are, they'll come through town at some point. Happy to see your enthusiasm!

Toilet = best place for tube scrubbing. I mean at least you can sit down, you don't have to keep the sink tap running and you can just flush all away instead of disinfecting the sink and counter when you're done!

I love Lagunitas so much I got one of their logos tattooed on me. The attached tattoo done by Mike V at Mr Tattoo Portland. Picture was from when it was freshly done.

thats super pretty mel

Yeah I don't really know him that well either. My boss knows him from back in the day. I walked into tattoo city on a trip to San Francisco just to look around and it just so happened Doug has just got back from Aloha Monkey and was doing walk ins that day so I got tattooed and hung out with him for a little bit. But for the most part I know him on the internet like you and he seems damn funny and a good sport.

watched beer wars this evening and it was pretty good! makes me feel good about drinking yuengling

I understand you weren't trying to be an asshole, I was just responding as a spokesman for the generally misinformed masses. No matter what you are a master of now you were once naive and ill-educated in the beginning; something I feel everyone forgets from time to time. This I feel is universally human in nature. As to my current and future tattoos, they are already making me feel more comfortable in my own skin for the first time. Weird as it may sound to some but I would be more at ease looking at a skull and demons on my skin then the bare skin itself.

Well I do have to say I was not that well informed until recently (I have read every post here and have been researching on my own). With all of the horrible, shit, backwards advice or knowledge that a lot of people have out there it is hard for someone that knows nothing to sort through the garbage. The world of tattooing and being tattooed is one that (at least to me and a lot of people I know) is very "mysterious". To sum up this thread (since I do not care to return to it) I will sum up with a long-winded analogy. Which goes as follows: It is easy to say "Wow what bad choices, wrong guy, wrong style ect. when you know the industry. I myself like I am sure a lot of customers are not well informed either through anti-tattoo propaganda, shitty references (dood my guy is DA BEST EVER!), and general secrecy around the industry itself. To compare I will say this. I work in the computer industry, but not as 95% of the population knows it. For me to say to you "Wow you didn't know what a beowolf-cluster was? Holy moly you dont understand Change Management relating to business application impact modeling?!" would be similar to saying the quote above to someone who has little knowledge of the tattoo industry. People like me need to be more informed. It is extremely overwhelming to go for that first tattoo (hell I've been trying for years) when you are thrown into a foreign world as I was. You not only do not know your options but sometimes get derailed by a few tough guys or bad timing! As to bubbleberry, I do NOT regret my decision to get this piece done. I am not going to laser it off. I have stared at it day and night since I got it and am starting to like it a lot more. It may not be the greatest tattoo in history but it is a part of me now and I like it. The only tattoos I would have ever regretted would be the ones (thank god I didn't) I would have gotten when I was drawing on myself in middle-school high-school (mostly band logos and a cross [atheist now]). Overall I am very happy at the information and advice I have seen or been given so far on LST and am extremely grateful for all of it (thanks everyone!). I feel much MUCH more informed in the area (by no means an expert) but love the art I have seen, and am so glad all you tattooers put in all that work to continue this amazing style of art! Also thank you whoever reads all of this, as it was a bit long-winded.

maybe, but maybe not. depends on the agreement which was signed. my primary job at the museum is rights and reproductions, and while i don't usually work with tattoo artists, we do work with artists on a fairly regular basis (and own the collections to a few who have passed on). while sure, for a publication such as Tattoo Life, you're welcome to send in your image, unless you sign a contract giving them full publishing disclosure, if they are posting your image anywhere outside of the designated issue/web publication that you have agreed it, it IS illegal and against copyright law (unless the image was published pre 1978 here in the states, as copyright laws do not apply to any sort of work that was not registered as being copyrighted beforehand, and international rules are slightly different.) Also, usually magazines approach artists (again, not consumer contributors) to ask to use their work (or an estate/gallery that is in charge of their works and any legal ties to them). Once it has been confirmed with an artist that a given work may be used for a specific article, technically the magazine would need to re-apply for permission again for web use, unless the negotiated contract specified otherwise (and a broader range of distribution). if you ar sending in your work, the publication knows who the creator or contributor is, and therefore can't technically claim ignorance or "due dilligence", which can be claimed for a lot of found, anonymous works (think fliers and snapshots). So what does this mean for tattoo artists? GET EVERYTHING IN WRITING. number one thing i can't stress enough. if you get asked to have your work published in a book, magazine, website, whatever, don't agree on a verbal contract, and rather negotiate terms through email. at least then it's dated, time stamped, and in text. never, again NEVER, sign a contract without completely reading it. you may agree that someone can use your image to make millions of dollars (as with Ed Hardy), and not even realize it, and there is very little retribution to be gained once a contract has been signed (it is a legal binding document). if you want only one image to be used, at a small size, in one blog post, or one article, then tell the magazine that; the same can be said for 20 images. this is your right as an artist. just make sure you and the publication are on the same page. while i'm not a copyright lawyer (THANK GOD), this has been my job for the last 3.5 years. here's a great quick reference to copyright laws in case you are interested as well. Also, the safer bet is anything created before 1923 is public domain, anything after that is questionable.

Release the kraken...

Well, its kinda funny you mention that, my Dad is going to go in with me to get a new tattoo (first since 1957) pretty soon and he is 74...so maybe I will end up with at least hands...I could get knuckles that said AARP LIFE or something...

I'm also wondering when people who are "Liking" these Facebook pages will start turning on each other. I've clicked some of these people's pages out of curiosity and I wouldn't be in line to throw any stones if I were them.

There is now a boycott petition, but I can't take anything serious that has so much random capitalization. Artist and Collectors Boycotting TLC's Tattoo School

got this from Ben Grillo last month...

I'm getting tattooed by Robert Ryan on Monday and Deno on Tuesday. Both are in hellish (inner thigh and armpit) spots that I expect to leave me crying like a wee baby. This whole painting myself into a corner thing was dumb. I should have started with the shit spots and ended up 36 years old and making appointments for my forearms.

all i can say is thank you....for reminding me how awesome this job is..and for bringin your a-game with these videos, the cholo don knotts cracked me up. then came the knit tie stage....wow.

That is a goatee.

Thanks to scottyb, I'll be throwing up highlights from Dave Lum's Heavy Duty tattooing tomorrow or Sunday! I lost the master files to that and the Corbin/Higgs footage, and instead of making me recapture everything, Scotty has been a champ to get the files I gave him back to me. Woo hoo. The Lum one is GREAT. "I wouldn't mind tattooin' a big ol black panther with a big ol pink dick on some gal". Classic.

When Higgs talks its with much emotion and conviction -"spiragraphed symbolic snot " .Nice one Shawn ,thanks mate

Caught this in LA when I was there in September, pretty awesome. Ed was there and spoke a little bit and I got to meet him after -- also pretty awesome! Then I wrote him a letter when I got home and I think I scared him

That's rad Bill, R.I.P. Sonny. I got mine from my buddy Adam Paterson who broke me into the business. I had just read Tattootime "Tattoo Magic" and thought it was so awesome, I had to add it to my magic. Got it across the top of my right hand, just below my wrist. Noticed recently that Stell has it in almost the exact same spot. I feel the same way, being nice is such an under-appreciated virtue in this business, I can't believe that in this day and age, in a service job, there's still so much bad-attitude pseudo tough-guy posturing going on. It's honestly why I don't have many tattooer friends. Some people just dont understand that you don't have to be a dick to be cool I guess. I mean look at Paul Rogers, of all the things he is remembered for the foremost two are, he was a exceedingly kind, and an incredibly hard worker. That's the kind of legacy I want to leave. A jerk who can tattoo is still a jerk.

Absolutely. I mean, don't get me wrong, I love letting it out there when someone let's me, or asks for that kind of thing, but even on those weeks where I do a ton of custom cool shit, I get burnt on it and just want to do kanji. Something I don't need to analyze and think through the whole time. I guess a great situation is where you get a good variety. Cool concept shit, old flash, ultra common stuff, random client drawings, old stand byes...etc. Pays the bills, keeps you on your toes, helps build the portfolio and keeps you humble and grounded.