jacoboxsi

I get asked about my blackout all the damn time.
"But why would you want to just get the colour black? I mean, did you just run out of ideas?"
"Are you just trying to look dirty?"
My favorite one: "But what happens when you get old? You're just going to have a black leg."
The second I tell them that you can tattoo over it, that spawns a whole new era and stupid questions. Don't even get me started on my ears....

i see a huge number of "nope". i'm all for it. really want my face done. if anyone is into xmen, I really want the mutant M that was made popular during dofp and x-cutioners song. feel such a strong connection to being labeled "different" or "mutie" that it just feels natural to one day bare that for the rest of my life. i get the social stigma of facial tattoos but sometimes people should open their minds to other's choices. such a cliche ass post but it all depends on that person and whether or not they mind the stares. i do hate all these young kids wanting to be hard with a face tattoo and no body ink. seems weird. just like the gauging phase, they'll get them removed. already know about 6 people who've had their ears sewn shut. let's just say i see them a lot differently. still rocking plugs 6 years and 2 inches later. still working on them too.

This dingleberry I went to high school with came to me for a lion. Told him I don't do realistic but I can stylize it with heavy linework and dot work (this was about two years ago) said he was all in. Tight. Then asked how much. When I told him 150, which is a fucking steal, he got upset and said his cousin said he'll tattoo it for a 12 pack of beer. Nothing good can come after this.
A few days later this is whats up on facebook with the caption, "Can't tame the beast in me." Let the laughs begin.

I find that I keep talking about my blackwork as of lately but it's been so relevent as of late (even two years into process). But I decided to add to this little politically correct anarchy symbol on my knee cap with what's derivative of mursi tribe's scarification, mostly dots and lines that resemble the skin of the crocodile. It shows your strength as a warrior and spiritual dedication, around that we've begun to blackout from there down to my ankle. I've got a LONG way to go but at one point, I let two people (who sadly no longer tattoo) work on me at once and man, what a spiritual journey that was. I found myself at peace in ways I've only had during a cool down in yoga. My entire body was relaxed and felt my face melting right off my skull. Most surreal shit ever. Following this, I found myself obsessed with blackwork, swastikas, pagan spirituality, lots of introspection. Always questioning what is the peaceful way of thinking. How can I handle this situation in a way that will bring love to myself and those around me.
It's really odd but I used to cover my legs and arms at all times. Now, the more blackout work I get, the more I want to wear hot pants and cut up my band shirts to show the world my confidence. I always have people ask me about them as well and the answers I give feel to me like I'm spreading that love. It's def some hippie shit but I was going through some emotional struggle with my wife, sat down with my machine, and began blacking out my arm with a frosty beer. right when I called it a night, I just wanted to hold her and tell her how special she was to me. It's things like this that inspire me to become a better artist and to continue to get tattooed. Granted, I've got inverted crosses and pentagrams everywhere so I guess I can additionally show people that just because I look like I'd sacrifice your cat, I'm more likely to hug you and tell you how beautiful your smile is today.
Sorry for the fucking new age bullshit. I get carried away on this topic.

I find that I keep talking about my blackwork as of lately but it's been so relevent as of late (even two years into process). But I decided to add to this little politically correct anarchy symbol on my knee cap with what's derivative of mursi tribe's scarification, mostly dots and lines that resemble the skin of the crocodile. It shows your strength as a warrior and spiritual dedication, around that we've begun to blackout from there down to my ankle. I've got a LONG way to go but at one point, I let two people (who sadly no longer tattoo) work on me at once and man, what a spiritual journey that was. I found myself at peace in ways I've only had during a cool down in yoga. My entire body was relaxed and felt my face melting right off my skull. Most surreal shit ever. Following this, I found myself obsessed with blackwork, swastikas, pagan spirituality, lots of introspection. Always questioning what is the peaceful way of thinking. How can I handle this situation in a way that will bring love to myself and those around me.
It's really odd but I used to cover my legs and arms at all times. Now, the more blackout work I get, the more I want to wear hot pants and cut up my band shirts to show the world my confidence. I always have people ask me about them as well and the answers I give feel to me like I'm spreading that love. It's def some hippie shit but I was going through some emotional struggle with my wife, sat down with my machine, and began blacking out my arm with a frosty beer. right when I called it a night, I just wanted to hold her and tell her how special she was to me. It's things like this that inspire me to become a better artist and to continue to get tattooed. Granted, I've got inverted crosses and pentagrams everywhere so I guess I can additionally show people that just because I look like I'd sacrifice your cat, I'm more likely to hug you and tell you how beautiful your smile is today.
Sorry for the fucking new age bullshit. I get carried away on this topic.

The worst thing you can do to a tattoo is to put a cigar out on it.

This dingleberry I went to high school with came to me for a lion. Told him I don't do realistic but I can stylize it with heavy linework and dot work (this was about two years ago) said he was all in. Tight. Then asked how much. When I told him 150, which is a fucking steal, he got upset and said his cousin said he'll tattoo it for a 12 pack of beer. Nothing good can come after this.
A few days later this is whats up on facebook with the caption, "Can't tame the beast in me." Let the laughs begin.

oh definitely. that's one thing i've always been really closed mouth about. thanks to everyone for the insight. haha

Didn't think about it that way at all. I know if I'm eating some spaghetti with a fellow artist it's a lot different. thanks for the insight. I can be pretty ignorant to the fact that there are folks out there that may not know what they're doing and try and emulate what others do. Wouldn't want someone out there to get fucked up by using a method that may be particular to that artist. thanks guys!

i think im understanding what you're unhappy with. the trees do kind of look like they were just placed there but maybe try and add on to it. it looks a little bare but it's a well done tattoo and i really dig how heavy some of the shading is. really hard to pull that off while still keeping it legible. i'd recommend adding on to it. more trees maybe? maybe even sharper edged on them? user pref. but i think it's pretty dope.

Didn't think about it that way at all. I know if I'm eating some spaghetti with a fellow artist it's a lot different. thanks for the insight. I can be pretty ignorant to the fact that there are folks out there that may not know what they're doing and try and emulate what others do. Wouldn't want someone out there to get fucked up by using a method that may be particular to that artist. thanks guys!

I find that I keep talking about my blackwork as of lately but it's been so relevent as of late (even two years into process). But I decided to add to this little politically correct anarchy symbol on my knee cap with what's derivative of mursi tribe's scarification, mostly dots and lines that resemble the skin of the crocodile. It shows your strength as a warrior and spiritual dedication, around that we've begun to blackout from there down to my ankle. I've got a LONG way to go but at one point, I let two people (who sadly no longer tattoo) work on me at once and man, what a spiritual journey that was. I found myself at peace in ways I've only had during a cool down in yoga. My entire body was relaxed and felt my face melting right off my skull. Most surreal shit ever. Following this, I found myself obsessed with blackwork, swastikas, pagan spirituality, lots of introspection. Always questioning what is the peaceful way of thinking. How can I handle this situation in a way that will bring love to myself and those around me.
It's really odd but I used to cover my legs and arms at all times. Now, the more blackout work I get, the more I want to wear hot pants and cut up my band shirts to show the world my confidence. I always have people ask me about them as well and the answers I give feel to me like I'm spreading that love. It's def some hippie shit but I was going through some emotional struggle with my wife, sat down with my machine, and began blacking out my arm with a frosty beer. right when I called it a night, I just wanted to hold her and tell her how special she was to me. It's things like this that inspire me to become a better artist and to continue to get tattooed. Granted, I've got inverted crosses and pentagrams everywhere so I guess I can additionally show people that just because I look like I'd sacrifice your cat, I'm more likely to hug you and tell you how beautiful your smile is today.
Sorry for the fucking new age bullshit. I get carried away on this topic.

Loose lips sink ships, including your own.

The issue is that this is a public forum built for tattooers and enthusiasts alike, most of us simply love getting tattoos and want a place to talk about our passion and have a place to check out new artists and discuss the radness of others work. We don't discuss the technical aspects of the craft because for a majority of the forum it is irrelevant to our discussion, and, being public, should we talk about the technicalities of tattooing, any jerk-off scratcher can come along, read what was discussed and attempt to use that knowledge in butchering their friends.

This dingleberry I went to high school with came to me for a lion. Told him I don't do realistic but I can stylize it with heavy linework and dot work (this was about two years ago) said he was all in. Tight. Then asked how much. When I told him 150, which is a fucking steal, he got upset and said his cousin said he'll tattoo it for a 12 pack of beer. Nothing good can come after this.
A few days later this is whats up on facebook with the caption, "Can't tame the beast in me." Let the laughs begin.

^ this.
Tattoos have taught me a lot about being comfortable in my own skin, and comfortable with being myself in relation to the outside world. It's not so much an act of rebellion (which I think has kind of been taken away, to a degree) but an act of intentionally altering your appearance, in a way of your choosing. Making that choice is the liberating part to me.
Also, like everyone else said, the number of super cool people I've already met through tattoos in some way is awesome. People from all walks of life, whom I wouldn't had made that initial connection with if it weren't for tattoos.

I had to look up crust kid and went down a rabbit hole of web pages - welcome!

Welcome dude. So where are you at now? Are you done with tattooing or are you trying to find a shop or what? I'll take a Dos Equis in the meantime..