DavidR

I felt a great disturbance in the force, as if millions of hipsters suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced. I fear something amusing has happened.

I felt a great disturbance in the force, as if millions of hipsters suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced. I fear something amusing has happened.

I felt a great disturbance in the force, as if millions of hipsters suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced. I fear something amusing has happened.

I felt a great disturbance in the force, as if millions of hipsters suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced. I fear something amusing has happened.

If by that you mean you're done with this forum, I hope you'll reconsider. I think you make a positive contribution and I think the forum would be a poorer place without you. As far as your English is concerned, it had never occurred to me that you were anything other than a native speaker and I am one, and a grammar nazi/language snob to boot.
As far as owning tattoo machines is concerned, I see no difference between that and owning any of the other tools you list. If anyone says otherwise, then that's their opinion and they're entitled to it but that doesn't make them right.
As far as how to go about that, I would never expect an artist to give you one and I'd be very dubious of an artist that would agree to sell you one. I would certainly advise against ever asking for one or asking to buy one; I think that would permanently sour your relationship with the artist. Of course you could buy one off the internet but I doubt that would mean anything to you. I don't really see a way forward but keep your eyes open and you may one day get lucky.
Whatever happens, I do hope you'll stick around.

I grew up in a country whose language, laws, system of government, architecture and God knows what else (see what I did there?) were forged on the anvil of Christianity. I'm atheist to my core but those Christian influences go to my core too. If everything else in my life is influenced by Christianity, why shouldn't my tattoos be? I can't imagine anyone would think me Christian just because I had a panther head wearing a crown of thorns on my arm any more than they'd think me Christian because I said "bless you" when they sneezed.

I grew up in a country whose language, laws, system of government, architecture and God knows what else (see what I did there?) were forged on the anvil of Christianity. I'm atheist to my core but those Christian influences go to my core too. If everything else in my life is influenced by Christianity, why shouldn't my tattoos be? I can't imagine anyone would think me Christian just because I had a panther head wearing a crown of thorns on my arm any more than they'd think me Christian because I said "bless you" when they sneezed.

I grew up in a country whose language, laws, system of government, architecture and God knows what else (see what I did there?) were forged on the anvil of Christianity. I'm atheist to my core but those Christian influences go to my core too. If everything else in my life is influenced by Christianity, why shouldn't my tattoos be? I can't imagine anyone would think me Christian just because I had a panther head wearing a crown of thorns on my arm any more than they'd think me Christian because I said "bless you" when they sneezed.

As other have said, take some time to plan and definitely consult with your artist or even seek out those whose work you admire. If you are into nautical themes and traditional style work, the history of modern tattooing is deeply rooted in that imagery. Check out classic stuff by the forefathers like Cap Coleman, Paul Rogers, Bert Grimm and Sailor Jerry (to name a few).
As an old guy...my advice would be "pace not race". You have a damn nice start, but if you enjoy getting tattooed, what's the hurry? Use your travels to the advantage of getting work by people you admire around the globe!

Don't ya just fucking hate that!

Tattoo #5 is in the books. I'm 8 months into my apprenticeship and did my first tattoo about a month ago. This was, by far, my biggest piece. It took me about 3 and a half hours. My teacher wouldn't normally let me do something so ambitious this soon, but it was on a good friend that I did my second tattoo on (the smaller tree, outer calf). I'm pretty stoked on it. It was a good lesson in getting in over your head, breathing, staying focused and just getting the job done. Thanks for looking.

I just woke up and saw an alert on my phone about the earthquake. My first thought was the Nepal Tattoo Convention, so I'm checking in here to see if anyone's heard anything? I hope everyone is okay. Everyone, not just the tattooers obviously.
- - - Updated - - -
Via @briangeckleart instagram: "we are all okay! they claim the earthquake was a 7.9! many people were tattooing when it happened..myself included. we vacated the hotel safely, aside from a few injuries..but for the most part, everyone is fine. lots of devastation and not much information else wise. much love!"
The hotel the convention is at is apparently extremely well built. Glad to hear reports of people being okay. How scary! Can't imagine tattooing/being tattooed when something like that is happening. Also - earthquake bacteria. Yikes.

To balance out Matt Arriola Jesus, I'll throw in my Theo Mindell devil. Finished a few weeks ago at Spider Murphy's in San Rafael Ca. Photo stolen from his instagram

Don't ya just fucking hate that!

Feathers!

Don't ya just fucking hate that!

Feathers!

Feathers!

I'm going to be this thread's poster child when I get famous. Suck on my future dickkkkkkkk
Edit: I guess I got drunk and went on the internet again.

Lol.
Does this crack tat make my butt look big?

Favorite quote:


"...over time I learned how to draw and tattoo a koi fish without it looking like a chopped off penis with a human eye and sprinkles, or a dragon so that it didn’t look like a barfing sock puppet, or a woman’s face so she didn’t look like a man, or lettering that didn’t look like it was done with your foot!"
I feel so bad for someone when I see one of those koi penises.

"Fear of a flash planet"
http://tattooartistmagazineblog.com/2012/08/01/jojo-ackermann-fear-of-a-flash-planet/
It's been posted before, but reposting it is easier than rehashing the argument about the role of flash in helping people get good tattoos. And Jo Jo Ackerman makes it better anyway :)
Classic or modern flash that is tattooed however many times (that army of crawling panthers) just isn't the same as someone copying what is clearly intended as custom work...

Hooray for new jobs!
I just completed and submitted a 100 page manuscript to my publisher for inclusion as a chapter into the next (30th!) edition of a very famous engineering book. Publication later this year. I will be the very first woman contributor in the book's 100+ year history.

Mors Tattoo
Here's one I snagged off his Instagram:

I'm glad to see tattoo pics being posted in here again. Thank you. I'm itching for a one shot this Friday so hopefully I'll have something small (antiquated and cheap like me) to contribute :)