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David Flores

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  1. Like
    David Flores got a reaction from Syntheticfish in For TATTOOERS ONLY, what's your biggest pet peeve?   
    I thought of one, but it doesn't always annoy me in a bad way.
    I hate when people come in and tell you how much they are into tattoos or that they are going to be a tattooer, but can't remember anyone who tattooed them. Much like a one night stand, if someone is going to tattoo me I am going to make sure and catch their name. It would be hard for me to forget who tattooed me. I guess I just don't think you can really be into tattoos if you don't know who is who. I guess a couple scenarios that stick out.
    Hanging at a buddy's shop a couple on vacation abroad walked in wanting a couple small tattoos, they had a few tattoos, but none very exciting, but being a good guest my buddy asked who did their tattoos and he struggled for the name but came up with Filip Leu as the guy who did their wedding band tattoos. We were both kind of floored, you were able to somehow catch Filip Leu with some spare time and well I guess it's a meaningful tattoo to them, but imagine what could have been.
    When I was at Spider Murphys recently a guy was getting tattooed by Matt and in this scenario I will say this guy was definitely into tattoos, he certainly liked talking about the Dragon Ed Hardy put on him in the early 90's. He was getting a rose next to an existing tattoo of one of picassos paintings. Like a good host Matt asks him who did it, and the guy says Ed was busy and he had one of the other guys in the shop named Dan do it. Asked what year and he said 91-92, holy shit Dan Higgs did this tattoo on him, which is cool in itself, but would have been cooler if it was something he had drawn up.
    Anyhow most of the times it's more annoying people with less interesting stories that annoy me, the above scenarios were kind of cool, but I think I have rambled on enough.
  2. Like
    David Flores got a reaction from Gpots in Superstitions and Tattoos   
    @Delicious I would add that just because people love you and our on your side, doesn't mean they know what is right for you. At some point I think we just have to gain the confidence enough to disagree with our family and understand that their preconceived notions of what society deems appropriate is not going to determine your happiness, only you can do that. And disgreeing with them doesn't mean you love them any less, just that you have become your own person.
    Their is that old saying, you live under my house, you follow my rules. Well I have my own house and I say fuck rules.
  3. Like
    David Flores got a reaction from Kingdomhearts25 in Latest tattoo lowdown.....   
    Matt Howse did this on me yesterday at Fortune Tattoo here in Portland and yes it is right up in my business.
  4. Like
    David Flores got a reaction from polliwog in slang terms that make you cringe?   
    Playing Devil's advocate I think there are a lot of people that travel all over the united states to get a tattoo , when there are a lot of good people locally that could do the same tattoo. I am all for getting tattooed on a trip, but I have never traveleld somewhere just to get tattooed. I am getting tattooed by Mario Desa in a week in Chicago but I have a birthday party to go to on Saturday there so it works out. I guess to some degree I might be more likely to visit a place like San Fran because in the back of my mind I know I can get a tattoo, but there are so many people in Portland that I stilll need to get work by. Don't get me wrong I know there are a lot of people who travel a long way to get good tattoos, I know Iwar is coming from Norway and getting tattooed by Grime, Scott Sylvia, and Tim Lehi and I think that is bad ass.
  5. Like
    David Flores got a reaction from tay943 in A Customers PErspective of Some Pet Peeves   
    I usually think of kids as children below high school age. I usually say is it safe to bring one extra person along with you, but leave the entourage at home, but again there are times when Mom and Dad and Uncle, and Grandma, all stroll in with someone on their 18th birthday video camera in tow, and we don't kick them out, we just make fun of them later after they leave.
  6. Like
    David Flores got a reaction from TattooedMumma in Advice for Getting Tattoos on Your Feet   
    Maybe you just discovered an untapped market.
  7. Like
    David Flores got a reaction from PopsBdog in A Customers PErspective of Some Pet Peeves   
    I usually think of kids as children below high school age. I usually say is it safe to bring one extra person along with you, but leave the entourage at home, but again there are times when Mom and Dad and Uncle, and Grandma, all stroll in with someone on their 18th birthday video camera in tow, and we don't kick them out, we just make fun of them later after they leave.
  8. Like
    David Flores got a reaction from PopsBdog in 1st "Big" Tattoo   
    When you are with someone you have to accept them in all their greatness and their flaws. Similar to what @HaydenRose said, I think we are really quick to voice our opinions about what are significant others are doing, and sometimes you have to just politely but firmly let them know that some things aren't up for discussion and they remember that you were a package deal and realize how insignificant the whole thing is the scheme of things and life goes on.
  9. Like
    David Flores got a reaction from sophistre in Latest tattoo lowdown.....   
    Little Jammer inspired by an episode of Ancient Aliens.
  10. Like
    David Flores got a reaction from bongsau in Native American tattoos / designs   
    A Native American client put it in perspective the other day. She was looking around the shop and stopped at a sheet with some Pacific Northwest Native Designs. I asked her if she was interested in getting that type of tattoo, because I have a lot more reference in the back of that stuff. She replied "Anyone who takes a look at me can tell I'm Indian, I don't need a tattoo to say it, I want to get a Unicorn or a Pegasus, do you have any of those?" I told her we could draw one for her and she said "I've never been in a tattoo shop that didn't have a Pegasus or a unicorn on the wall." Fast forward, she leaves stoked with her bitching new tattoo.
    First of all I want to know what shops she's been hanging out at, cause I want to see some awesome unicorn flash. Two I guess it makes sense, while lots of people get tattoos to represent their family cultures and background, others are looking to differentiate themselves and possibly even rebel against the common perceptions. I can see how some people could be sensitive towards stuff from their culture, but with all due respect if we all got tattoos based upon exactly who we are, we would all have the same tattoos (or else we would all have to join the navy or somehow turn Japanese). Look at most tattoo designs. So many animals tattoos are loosely based upon what they would look like in the wild, but very few would be a spot on accurate representation of the species nor is it really intended to be, plus I don't think they wear funny hats or smoke cigarettes either. It's tweaking old ideas that generate new ideas and keep old ideas fresh and new.
  11. Like
    David Flores got a reaction from hogg in Native American tattoos / designs   
    A Native American client put it in perspective the other day. She was looking around the shop and stopped at a sheet with some Pacific Northwest Native Designs. I asked her if she was interested in getting that type of tattoo, because I have a lot more reference in the back of that stuff. She replied "Anyone who takes a look at me can tell I'm Indian, I don't need a tattoo to say it, I want to get a Unicorn or a Pegasus, do you have any of those?" I told her we could draw one for her and she said "I've never been in a tattoo shop that didn't have a Pegasus or a unicorn on the wall." Fast forward, she leaves stoked with her bitching new tattoo.
    First of all I want to know what shops she's been hanging out at, cause I want to see some awesome unicorn flash. Two I guess it makes sense, while lots of people get tattoos to represent their family cultures and background, others are looking to differentiate themselves and possibly even rebel against the common perceptions. I can see how some people could be sensitive towards stuff from their culture, but with all due respect if we all got tattoos based upon exactly who we are, we would all have the same tattoos (or else we would all have to join the navy or somehow turn Japanese). Look at most tattoo designs. So many animals tattoos are loosely based upon what they would look like in the wild, but very few would be a spot on accurate representation of the species nor is it really intended to be, plus I don't think they wear funny hats or smoke cigarettes either. It's tweaking old ideas that generate new ideas and keep old ideas fresh and new.
  12. Like
    David Flores got a reaction from PopsBdog in Trip to San Fran   
    It's amazing how available Dan is for tattoos in Oakland/SF. Trying to book him in Portland in virtually impossible, hence why I flew down there, even though I live less than a mile away from Atlas. I tried to get an appointment with Freddy Corbin and at the time I called he was booked for the rest of 2012, would still like to get tattooed by him, but not sure if its going to happen. Part of me just wants to go down to the bay area and see what shops I can walk into and get tattooed, I have figured out a new area I can squeeze some tattoos into, my stomach/torso area.
    I need to stop getting on this forum, because now I have ideas in my head about getting tattooed.
  13. Like
    David Flores got a reaction from polliwog in Artists who copy tattoos/styles   
    A number of years ago a tattooer here in Portland did a tattoo on one of the trailblazers. That player had a contract with a local company called Nike. Pretty soon the players tattoo was being used for shirts, and even window decals. Tattooer sued, settled out of court, for years I was behind this guy getting his money for Nike ripping him off. That is until recently when I was shown the design in a Dover Clip art book you can buy at any bookstore for $9.
    It just showed me that a lot of the times I don't really know the origin of design, and people don't really create everything they tattoo. There are definitely a few examples on this thread of people shamelessly ripping off tattoos, or at least to the best of my knowledge that is what I perceive it to be. I just think iin general I see people getting called out for stuff neither person created and people claiming stuff they didn't do.
    Do we owe the guy who did the flower exploding birds the first time royalites, what about the first script carpe diem? Even the best shops do dumb stuff that people bring off the internet, I have seen it with my two eyes. I just wonder where we stop giving credit and start. If it's a dumb tattoo or insignificant tattoo is okay? If it's not done by someone with recognition it's okay? If you can do it better it's okay? Is it okay as long as they aren't a tattooer. I don't know? But saying theft is theft is quite an understatement.
  14. Like
    David Flores got a reaction from PopsBdog in Artists who copy tattoos/styles   
    I don't condone copying people's tattoos, but I am not really digging this thread. One it's not really any of my business to call out people for this kind of thing. Second, I would be hesistant to do so, because there is so much reference material outside of tattoo realm, that I couldn't be sure that two people weren't copying a piece of art from another genre as a tattoo. Third I have never gotten a tattoo that I expected to be or thought in any shape or form would be custom. I like running into people that have the same tattoos I do, I like the look of traditional tattoos and I am under no delusion that I am somehow "special" despite what my mother told me. I don't worry when someone tells me they are going to draw something for me, and they really just go trace it from the Ed hardy flash book and pass it off as their own, because I know most people aren't familiar with the design. Even is someone does copy the tattoo you have, it doesn't change the fact that you have a badass tattoo that most people would be jealous of and want to wear and you will get no sympathy from me, in fact i might make fun of you for complaining about it.
  15. Like
    David Flores got a reaction from Beans in Pin Up Girls   
    This is a tattoo by Ross Ferrie, taken from the logo of the first shop he owned "The Pinup Parlour" in San Jose circa 1994. Chris Conn worked at the shop for awhile and created this logo for the shop. Ross has the original hanging up by his station and every once in awhile people insist on getting it. There have been different variations over the years but this is the original.
  16. Like
    David Flores got a reaction from PopsBdog in Relationships and tattoos   
    Check this out, my wife is going to a bachelorette type party for one of her co workers, but only four girls total including bride. They decided that part of the party will be for all of them to get tattooed. My wife and her friend Nicole have a handful of tattoos each, the other girl shayla has a couple poorly done tattoos from vegas and the bride has no tattoos. At first my wife and Nicole suggested our shop, because I work there and they have both been tattooed there many times and I wasn't crazy about the idea because trying to get them all tattooed in one afternoon could be a task, seeing as the one girl hasn;t been tattooed before and the other girl fancy's herself a bit of an artist and they all want different things and trying to get them all to stop in for a consult. But ultimately I agreed to make it happen, after all I had almost a month to get their ideas together and get organized.
    Fast forward a week, they decide they want it to be a true girls night out, and want to find a shop with some ladies that can tattoo them. Now my first thought is that I dodged that bullet, but after I thought for a minute there is only a few really good female tattooers in town and finding a shop for them that has two good female tattooers available on somewhat short notice is more of a task then just doing the tattoos. Making one tattooer do four custom basically walk in tattoos would not only take twice as long, and it's still going to be a tattoo shop not a day spa just because a women is tattooing you.
    At first my wife didn't believe me and told me I have issues against women, so I had to show her what I was talking about. I went through about 20 shops web sites and showed her some of the stuff people are passing off as tattoos, then pulled up some of the portfolios of good women tattooers in town and some other examples of good tattoos in general. Also I told her that some of these women are in high demand and might not be available or interested in doing something like this on semi short notice, so they should keep their options open if they couldn't book with the women I suggested. I also told her that I wouldn't be too happy if she got a substandard tattoo just because she had to get tattooed by a woman, mostly because I just don't want to give hacks our money, especially when I know so many good tattooers. Her response to me was, "well you go to businesses run by Mexicans to support Mexicans and Latinos.", my response "We are not talking about Carne Asada here."
    By the end of the conversation I think everyone got what I was saying and understood that I just want them to get good tattoos but it was quite exhausting in the process.
  17. Like
    David Flores got a reaction from PopsBdog in Rotary vs. Coil   
    It's always weird cause everytime you get tattooed it feels different so it's hard to say what hurts less. I really don't have a clue. Coil does sound more aggressive for sure.
    In regards to the getting through the pain.I have much respect for people who sit through long tattoo sittings, I wouldn't say I have a high threshold for pain, but I guess if I want to get a tattoo I have to find a way to get through it. The best advice I have ever been given is to sit there and take it. You can take pain killers, rub cream on there, or whatever ritual you have, but the only answer is to accept the pain and try to relax, at times it sure sucks, but to me that's part of the accomplishment.
  18. Like
    David Flores got a reaction from ElizabethBee in the so called "worlds worst tattoo" fixed   
    In all fairness, dude probably isn't in to tattoos just wanted that one for his wife. It's not like he was going to cover it with a dragon or a panther. Even considering that the tattoo couldn't get any worse, I think the outcome was pretty good for the guy. To paraphrase Joe Dirt, It's not about you, it's about the consumer.
  19. Like
    David Flores got a reaction from joakim urma in the so called "worlds worst tattoo" fixed   
    In all fairness, dude probably isn't in to tattoos just wanted that one for his wife. It's not like he was going to cover it with a dragon or a panther. Even considering that the tattoo couldn't get any worse, I think the outcome was pretty good for the guy. To paraphrase Joe Dirt, It's not about you, it's about the consumer.
  20. Like
    David Flores got a reaction from ironchef in post thigh pieces!   
    Here is a pic of mine right thigh. This was about two years ago and I have since pretty much filled this leg with other animals . Not sure what to do on the other side thinking of dragon.
  21. Like
    David Flores got a reaction from 21stNow in Artists who copy tattoos/styles   
    I don't condone copying people's tattoos, but I am not really digging this thread. One it's not really any of my business to call out people for this kind of thing. Second, I would be hesistant to do so, because there is so much reference material outside of tattoo realm, that I couldn't be sure that two people weren't copying a piece of art from another genre as a tattoo. Third I have never gotten a tattoo that I expected to be or thought in any shape or form would be custom. I like running into people that have the same tattoos I do, I like the look of traditional tattoos and I am under no delusion that I am somehow "special" despite what my mother told me. I don't worry when someone tells me they are going to draw something for me, and they really just go trace it from the Ed hardy flash book and pass it off as their own, because I know most people aren't familiar with the design. Even is someone does copy the tattoo you have, it doesn't change the fact that you have a badass tattoo that most people would be jealous of and want to wear and you will get no sympathy from me, in fact i might make fun of you for complaining about it.
  22. Like
    David Flores got a reaction from Beans in Dumb Hipster Tattoos   
    That's a shame because there are a lot of women doing a lot of good things in tattooing over the age of 30. Really when you think about it, a lot of people are just hitting their stride. I don't have much use for most tattoo magazines and their perception of beauty. If most can't even tell the difference between a good and bad tattoo, I don't consider them a credible authority on judging attractiveness in general.
  23. Like
    David Flores got a reaction from TrixieFaux in post thigh pieces!   
    Here is a pic of mine right thigh. This was about two years ago and I have since pretty much filled this leg with other animals . Not sure what to do on the other side thinking of dragon.
  24. Like
    David Flores got a reaction from joakim urma in Advice for Getting Tattoos on Your Feet   
    I have one of my feet tattooed. So many people talk about how bad it hurts but it seems like the popular first tattoo for young girls so I had to find out. Yeah that shit does hurt, but now that I have one foot done, I kind of have to do the other. Shark is a good idea. My friend has a tattoo of a shark that says mom below it on his foot, because his mom got attacked by a shark when she was a teenager. They always come in and get tattooed together.
  25. Like
    David Flores got a reaction from polliwog in Non-tattooers opening shops   
    I can only speculate, but I doubt Frith Street was started so someones 18 year old son could get an apprenticeship..
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