aaronkicks

I think some people mistake tattooing efficiently for tattooing fast. If you know what you are doing and how to do things properly everything goes alot quicker. Just because an artist can rock out a piece that would normally take someone 3 hours in just 1 it means he's efficient AND confident.

I think some people mistake tattooing efficiently for tattooing fast. If you know what you are doing and how to do things properly everything goes alot quicker. Just because an artist can rock out a piece that would normally take someone 3 hours in just 1 it means he's efficient AND confident.

One thing to think about, get tattooed because you want the piece. Not just because that person happens to be doing a style that's currently in the spotlight. That is why so many people end up with a huge mix and match of work when they originally started off wanting all one style. They get caught up in the now and who's the big name. Get work because you like it, not because you see it all over blogs, magazines, and the internet. Would you have wanted that same style of work if you had never seen Thomas Hoopers tattoos? I say this because there are other artsts out there who excell in the same sort of work.

Here's some cool ass pieces, some of you may know him. His name is John Chance. He's got a 30 year old back piece with work from Jack Rudy but mainly Ed Hardy just thought I'd share!

Here's some cool ass pieces, some of you may know him. His name is John Chance. He's got a 30 year old back piece with work from Jack Rudy but mainly Ed Hardy just thought I'd share!

Here's some cool ass pieces, some of you may know him. His name is John Chance. He's got a 30 year old back piece with work from Jack Rudy but mainly Ed Hardy just thought I'd share!

Here's some cool ass pieces, some of you may know him. His name is John Chance. He's got a 30 year old back piece with work from Jack Rudy but mainly Ed Hardy just thought I'd share!

When I got into tattooing all my friends were either punk/hardcore/skinhead scene (non racist scene) and a few of my most influential friends got tattooed at this local biker tattoo shop. The artist did awesome tattoos, very new school style so of course I went to him for my first one. I've never been afraid to speak my mind or tell people how I feel or what I feel and that is one of the main reasons why me and the artist hit it off so well. I wasn't afraid to talk shit to him when he'd dish it out first. So after me getting a few tattoos I told him how I was going to art school (originally american academy of art in chicago) and expresed how i wanted to be an art teacher in inner city schools. Needless to say he talked me out of it and asked if I'd pursue a career in tattooing. The rest is history. It's been ups and downs, depression, happiness, loneliness, joy, every emotion possible. Tattooing chose me. I learned the hard way, the extremely hard way. To this day I still have repercussions as to who I worked for, why I worked for him, and what I'm still doing running his shop but overall I don't give a fuck. Tattooing chooses you and not the other way around. I'll never respect someone who paid 5 grand to learn how to tattoo. Fuck that, paying for an apprenticeship is easy, but EARNING one that's a different story.

It's my theory that the pain does intensify with each tattoo that we get. I'm a tattooer though, not a scientist.It's just a theory.
When you experience pain , the body's instinctive reaction should be to remove itself from what is causing the pain. Since we willingly submit to the pain the bodies reaction, when it experiences the same pain - is to increase the intensity of the pain - as a warning or a survival mechanism, whatever---- so that you remove yourself from what is causing the pain.
So I think whether you get many tattoos in a short time or over a period of years- the last one will hurt way more than the first one or two.
I don't enjoy getting tattooed at all and since coming up with this idea - and believing it- it's difficult for me "to get away" from the pain.
The only thing that helps lately is to get in a sort of meditative state and to change my perception of the sensation.

bob baxter is a piece of shit.

I take around 1500 mg's of vicodin and at least 3 or 4 strong imperial I.P.A's when I get tattooed by my friends. I'm also a scumbag though so don't take my advice.

My town is a town of about 25-30 thousand people just outside of the chicago metropolitan area in Indiana. There are over 5 shops just in my town alone and if you go 10 miles over there is another 7 shops in the next town. Yeah it sucks but if you do good solid tattooing you won't have any issues. Hell, one of the shops that opened two blocks from where I work has a lady working there who is a photographer for Skin and Ink and goes around taking pictures of huge name artists and it still doesn't help their business one bit because my shop has been here for over a decade and quality will always beat quantity. People spread rumors, get into price wars, yet we keep our heads down and stay tattooing and things work. We tattoo every day all day and just added a 4th artist to the shop so as long as you keep on staying positive good things will come your way! The greedy may temporarily be rewarded but it never lasts. Case in point, another shop that opened up two blocks from us in the other direction is closing down and moving locations because they can't seem to make any money.

ps- andrew stickler is the best kept secret in IL. he is an amazing painter/tattooer and the zeis style still resonates in rockford today through andrew. he is also one of the nicest people i have met in the industry. i am honored to call him my friend.

One thing to think about, get tattooed because you want the piece. Not just because that person happens to be doing a style that's currently in the spotlight. That is why so many people end up with a huge mix and match of work when they originally started off wanting all one style. They get caught up in the now and who's the big name. Get work because you like it, not because you see it all over blogs, magazines, and the internet. Would you have wanted that same style of work if you had never seen Thomas Hoopers tattoos? I say this because there are other artsts out there who excell in the same sort of work.

Kids are stupid. Teenagers are even worse. Most adults are pretty fucking stupid too. Why give someone an extra shot at being an idiot? Let them make that choice on their own once they turn 18 and magically learn all of life's true meaning over night.

Alot of people forget that there are many different types of roses all having unique styles and characteristics to them along with unique color patterns, stems, and blossoms. They all generally look the same and some people tattoo them not knowing it's actually a rose they're tattooing. Some roses don't look anything close to what is generally accepted as a rose or "hybrid tea" as its technically called. Carnations are pretty sweet though. I think any flower would look good as a tattoo if it's done right and standard roses get pretty damn redundant after awhile.

Alot of people forget that there are many different types of roses all having unique styles and characteristics to them along with unique color patterns, stems, and blossoms. They all generally look the same and some people tattoo them not knowing it's actually a rose they're tattooing. Some roses don't look anything close to what is generally accepted as a rose or "hybrid tea" as its technically called. Carnations are pretty sweet though. I think any flower would look good as a tattoo if it's done right and standard roses get pretty damn redundant after awhile.

What ever Chad Koeplinger does next

See that was the point though. He was trying to find my breaking point. Me being a chill guy I was just like "eh whatever" and ate the sandwich/food anyways. It takes the fun out of the prank if you don't respond to it.

Alot of our business comes from people with fucked up tattoos. So yes, if you got a fucked up tattoo and want it to look good, I'll gladly do it. I don't care who's name is attached to it. If they did a shitty job, then shame on them for not living up to their reputation.