Blackcloud

This new friend came to live with me today. Siamese pirate 'Werm'. Totally kickass.

Had a great time at the convention this weekend. It was nice meeting and talking
with @Scott R, @Reyeslv, @Stewart Robson, and @Valerie Vargas. My wife was super
excited about coming away with this from Valerie:
Sorry for the crappy iPhone pic and my lack of ability to take good pictures.

That's because your back is weirdly sensitive. Ever asked someone to rub your shin? Nope. But back rubs are awesome because your back has a million sensitive spots, all of which feel super fucking awesome when getting tattooed, especially the lower back. You already know that tattoos hurt, and you seem to be acutely aware that the back will hurt, too. You also know that you're already on this path (didn't you just get your hand tattooed?) and that the back is the ultimate canvas. you just need to figure out what you're getting and who's gonna do it, although something tells me that you have more than a few ideas in mind.
While I did find the process to be painful (and expensive), I have no regrets at all about doing it. It was so exciting to see it come together, session by session. There's something about having a full back piece. It's something that I've always admired, but for years, I didn't think I'd be able to make the physical/financial/mental commitment to go through with it myself. Completing it was a big milestone for me, and I have a beautiful souvenir of the experience that I get to wear for life.

...you take a picture of your new tattoo ASAP so you can show it off on LST

Finally uploaded a few of my tattoos to my gallery so here's my favourite, my foxy lady head by the very talented Valerie Vargas.

Dan Gilsdorf @ Blackheart Tattoo.

Tattooed by Rose Hardy at Good Times, London.

Nope. The whole "tattoo acceptance in the workplace" movement (or whatever it is) rubs me the wrong way. Sure, I'd prefer someone judge my work performance on its own merit and not pass me over for a promotion because they know I have tattoos, but i certainly don't expect them to cater to me. Want me to keep my arms covered at work? Cool, you got it. Don't want to hire someone with a throat tattoo? Cool, I'll keep that in mind and weigh how much I want a position with Company X vs. how much I want to tattoo my throat. And when people call it discrimination and compare it to being denied a job due to race or gender or orientation, it REALLY pisses me off. To me tattoos are supposed to be tough and somewhat unaccepted, and every special snowflake expecting to be catered to drives me nuts. It's awesome if you have a job that is cool with your tattoos...my current one happens to be, but if my boss ever asked me to keep my sleeves rolled down, it wouldn't be an issue.
Also, it seems that most of the people clamoring for "tattoo acceptance" have absolute shit tattoos and most people with quality work don't mind covering up when needed.

I'm getting both my feet tattooed tommorrow. I prefer the matching look, so I'm getting a shishi and a baku.

I saw that on his Instagram yesterday. It's fucking awesome, and you are a BEAST for sitting 7 hours on your goddamn chest.

Yeah the week after labor day. Getting tattooed at Spider Murphys on Wednesday and Blackheart on Thursday.

Vargas

Man. I knew he had cancer, but jeez. Totally bummed about this. Always been a big fan of the Beastie Boys.

My sleeve by Scott Sylvia is finished. So I'll enter it into the April contest. Thanks Scott!!!

Here's a piece done by Aaron Coleman of Immaculate Tattoo.

My sleeve by Scott Sylvia is finished. So I'll enter it into the April contest. Thanks Scott!!!

done by david bruehl at think ink in norman ok soon to be tattooing at Red Letter 1 in Tampa
I already bought a shirt a vote for me means someone gets mine if I win, Although champion sounds good everyone wants to be a winner(contest winner)

Haven't posted in a long time. Some rad tattoos in here guys. Here's my entry. Finished by Nikko Hurtado a couple weeks ago at Black Anchor Collective. Shitty camera phone pic doesn't do it justice..

Stewart robson
kings avenue massapequa new york

Steve Boltz

I'll throw my hat into the ring this month...

Oliver Peck!

UGH. For some reason instead of talking to people who are actually tattooers and trying to explain himself to them, the clown from Skin Candy sent me a Facebook message. Today. Little late on that one bro... Anyways. Here it is.
Skincandy Bloodline
hi Ursula, Im the piece of shit you were talking about on the Dick Blick blog, nice to meet you, I see you never met me or know who I am so maybe i should introduce myself before you judge me, my name is August, I've been making ink in the tattoo industry 16 years, started out making powders and worked my ass off to get where I am, every ink i make i test in my own skin before i ever sell it to the public, I have never screwed anyone in the business and love what I do, I would love to get you a sample of my Bloodline before you judge it or me, please call the office 818-567-1848 to request, id be happy to speak with you as well and maybe diffuse my shittyness and what a piece of shit I am.. that you speak of, lol, thanks August owner Skincandy/Bloodline
Here's my reply.
Ursula Thomson
A) I'm not a tattooer
B)I'm far from the only person who thinks your a piece of shit for making this deal with Dick Blick
C) I still think you're an asshole for selling to Dick Blick
D) If you're really that great you'd know why everyone thinks this dick Blick thing bad.
E) I've heard your ink is trash anyways.

no one does a better rose than scott sylvia.

My sleeve by Scott Sylvia is finished. So I'll enter it into the April contest. Thanks Scott!!!