Mel Noir

Rockelman, that all sounds good on paper, but I think maybe you haven't taken into account the fact that those taking on an apprentice are also doing their jobs at the same time. It's fine saying, "yeah, we should do a certain amount of time for each thing, an hour on this a week, five on that, etc.", but pretty much every day is different in a studio, so you honestly don't know how much you'd be able to get done. Besides, who would test the apprentice at the end? If they're not a good tattooer to begin with, they'll probably pass the apprentice, even if everyone else can see they're bad. I see what you're getting at, though.

Brilliant stuff- thanks Captain (can I call you Cappy? Too much. Okay), I wouldn't have actually thought to even look otherwise, haha. Off to stream it now :)

I thought about doing this, obviously with the help of a tattoo artist friend since I'd miss loads myself. Been waiting for someone to upload the show to the internet, but I haven't seen it yet. I think there are a few people trying to make that happen so they can do this.

I thought about doing this, obviously with the help of a tattoo artist friend since I'd miss loads myself. Been waiting for someone to upload the show to the internet, but I haven't seen it yet. I think there are a few people trying to make that happen so they can do this.

I got a load of footballs.... and some weird things- what the hell are they? They look like rugby balls, but for girls. :P

I think mine was between 3 1/2 and 4 hours. Until then I don't think I'd had a tattoo that lasted more than 2 hours, so it really hurt in comparison!

Yeah I don't think it matters either! Animal tattoos are cool anyway, I want a gazelle! :)

I don't know how I missed that post, I think it's great. Question, though: I'm all for everyone wanting to do something about the "schools" in their area- but what if it's a crap tattoo studio charging for two week courses? That's the one that's local to me, where do I stand with that?

Can someone please make Captain Canada's wishes come true? I would LOVE that. Right now, every lad around my age that I meet dresses like a 15 year old and is a total girl. Us girls would appreciate a Man Camp! Your website isn't good enough, Pat- it isn't mandatory, hahaha.

Gentleman's Tattoo Flash can take hours away from my time, even when I don't have the money to buy one book. It's great. Philadelphia Eddie has some canny books out, that I think are really cool. Other than that, Stewart's pretty spot on, especially with Stoney Knows How and Memoirs of a Tattooist. If you're really into Japanese tattoos as well, I'd say Japanese art books would be a no-brainer. :)

Oh no, I missed this? I'm actually disappointed, I'd have liked to hear it. I just came out of uni doing a counselling course, so the psychology stuff really interests me, especially since we didn't really do much on the course about that (so I'm not sick of it, haha!).

Steve, that annoyed me there and I knew you were joking! Reminds me of being in high school, and the way charvers would talk to you- I'm a young'un so MSN and MySpace were huge in school. Oh dear. I've been called a "tradish lass", I didn't realise there were other stupid people who said stuff like that! Some kid with a stupid cap said to me, "I like your art" on the bus before, and I don't get why that annoyed me.

Haha, he is really awesome. If it helps while you're looking him up, Charlie is Bob Roberts' son, and works in Spotlight Tattoo with him. He's a really lovely guy and a great tattooer- one of those people who always has a smile on their face, that's Charlie!

How come I didn't see that voicemail video when I put up Joni's trailer? That is brilliant. That's the kind of theatre owner I would be. I'd go one further and put people in stocks if they were irritating. You could throw crap at them on the way out.

Yeah, it is pretty popish- they could have done something with it though, the lyrics in the verses were always cool. Just sounds like it was though really, haha. More from the Good Mourning album would have been really great. Or some from Maybe I'll Catch Fire that they've never done acoustically.

Wow Kyle- that wasn't the one I was thinking of, but that is immense! Nicky's is too, it's beautiful that mate. :) Here you go Alanna! Y'know, I don't even like horses but I look at this tattoo on my arm all the time. Sorry if this is kind of big, I don't have the picture saved to my computer so I swiped it from my site.

Someone here has a really really awesome one of those on this very forum. Right now though, after work stuff frying my brain, I can't remember who it was. Damnit! Can I post my Charlie horse here then? I just like showing it off. ;)

Just echoing everyone else here really- it should be fine, but go to somewhere great. Also, I've noticed from covering my BCG scar that some of the colour might not sit well the first time- you should be able to go back to the studio and give it another hit with the needle though after it's healed, then you'll probably be fine. Can't remember exactly why that is now, I think something to do with the texture of the skin there.

Ursulas advice = ridiculously sound. Every stretch mark will be different, so I think you should take this advice. :) I think people like to ask questions online because it's not intimidating, but to be honest most tattoo studios aren't either, so just go to one you think looks great and see what they have to say, you'll be sorted in no time :)

Joined it. My name on it is "jellygnome". "Meliscool" was already taken.

Schwiiiiiing, I'm off to find you all then! Cheers Daniel!

Actually, Googled it. I'm sure that's where I subconsciously got the leather bound books comment from too. Damnit brain, you've foiled me again.

Quick, tell me what film that's from before my brain explodes!

Not that I think some flash stuff from time to time isn't bad by the way- if someone wants something from a flash book you own, I wouldn't think any less of anyone for wanting to do it, as long as they're humble enough to admit it's from someone else's drawing. :)

That's a pretty good start! I think it might be beneficial to put something short in there about the actual designs and pictures of tattoos that are online, telling those who are new to tattooing that if you like something, you should want your own version of that from a good artist, instead of taking pictures from this site to see who'll copy it. From what I've heard from tattooers I know, that's an issue that seems to be worse at the minute. Considering some people I know are sometimes surprised that tattooers don't just trace things from a load of books (or, good ones, anyway!) all day, I get the impression that those who are brand new to tattooing think that they can only get a limited amount of subjects and styles on them- just look at the thread that inspired this, the guy wanted a copy of a picture he saw online. I think it might be a good idea to remind people to state not only where they're from, but also how far they can travel and a vague idea of what they're after, before asking for recommendations on studios. Some just say, "where's good in the UK?", and you're left thinking, "how do I answer that?!".