slayer9019

Living within a community of artists I feel that a large portion of at least the younger generation (>30) feel they know WAY more than they do about web design. The problems usually arise when the pencil hits the paper (in web design its the fingers hit the keyboard) and they usually fall flat. I myself have devoted a large portion of my life to the skill of programming and have talked much on the topic to my other artist friends. I relate it like this....Anyone can hack at a skill with little knowledge and produce something that is OK, but to get something that looks amazing takes the years of trial and error, working under someone and blood/sweat/tears to get a solid outcome. (I guess that relates much to tattoo from what I gather). While I gather no traction in the field of creativity, when my fingers dance on the keyboard I make my own art form in my opinion of code. It is much harder than most people realize to make something that works.

As a customer I think that studios/artists that have an attractive site make the art look a bit better. Just as you can't polish a turd, you also have to "frame" your work in an appealing way. The mona lisa would look better in nice frame in a gallery, then hanging in my bathroom!

Also I tend to gravitate to a cleaner site to showcase the work instead of crowd it with other frivolous decoration. That's just me though.

Just another side note, that the linked site above is obviously not the "style" I would assume most would go for, it is more of a technical preview. I will possibly do some free sites just to build my own portfolio and to help some people out if they would like.

Send me a PM if you are interested in some free work

Funny thing is I actually know someone who recently "graduated". Shaky lines at best, and I don't even have an artist's eye for it!

Ok, just to start off tell me if I cross a line or am wrong on ANY point and I will kill the thread. Now that's out of the way....

I have been crawling through portfolio and portfolio for some time now and found that some are a bit boring, outdated or non-existent. This parallels much into the art world that I know quite well (advertising or illustrations or more "mainstream"). Most of my family works in the art world in one way or another and most if not all have nice portfolio sites as it is how you get work. I am pretty good at developing sites and would like to see if any tattoo artists would need my expertise. While I know in the world of designers they sometimes take a big offense to asking if they want their site remodeled since that is very close to what they do for a living.

So just asking if their are artists that would like to get this done (for MUCH less than what most agency will charge and I think that some artists' sites are not a good showcase for their work. Just my opinion.

http://kristiandmaggie.com/

^^ Above is the last site I just finished. Loading times may take a second since they wanted super high resolution pictures ^^

You want to know, Honestly?

Yes absolutely.

This thread makes me laugh, in an uneasy, nervous way...

Why is that?

Yeah hindsight is always 20/20. The guy is not the best tattooer but certainly not the worst, but I doubt you will find many people at these shops suggested who want to take on a huge almost outlined leg tattoo and the tattooer who does may not be any better and then what. But I would have to agree there are plenty of good tattooers in New York and if you have some money to spend I would try to seek some of them out in the future.

While I am going to seek out other artists for the rest of the open space I would not trade off my current outline to someone else. I think he is doing a pretty good job right on it now.

I wouldn't take that statement serious about being one of the best tattoo shops in NYC.I think years ago they had a better line up of artists.I wouldn't have wen't with that artists for an illustrative leg sleeve.It looks like in his portfolio he does a lot of one sitting tattoos.I would have wen't with Simone,or Darren.I think Toxyc is a much better tattooer than this guy.Your probably going to pay a lot more at Dark Images.What were you thinking of getting from him?

I always laugh when I see "best at ..." or anything related. At the shop he does have a bit more larger pieces than what is online (i think there are better in his physical portfolio than what is online). I checked out a few shops, but being as new to the subject as I am, I apparently went to all the "wrong" shops. Google was my friend and turned up a lot of garbage (places I walked in, then simple walked out). Only more recently have I found a few shops that are definitely in my lineup to go check out and most probably get more work done at. (To name a few Invisible NYC, Last Rites). The only problem I am finding with my current artist is lack of availability due to the shop being high volume. My roommate told me about his tattoo being done in an appointment only shop and said the experience was much smoother as there were less people milling around, and it was a more one-on-one situation (he is signed up currently to get a tattoo at NYC Invisible).

As for what I want to get from Toxyc is a bit hard to describe in words, but very much along his style. I heard somewhere he is around 300ish an hour, correct me if I am wrong.

Which tattooer is working on you from this shop? I took a quick look at portfolios and seems as though there are at least a few people there that can put on a clean tattoo.

I think it depends on what you want out of your tattoo experience whether you should have two people working on you at the same time. If you want to have a comprehensive sleeve that flows together and has a consistent look you might have only have one tattooer work on one limb but feel free to get tattooed by as many people as you want. Personally I get tattooed by as many people as I can all the people who work on me have no problem with it because they like to get tattooed as well. But I really am not going for a sleeve look I just want to have fun and get tattooed.

It would be the other leg. I was going to stick with this guy (Palino) for the current leg. My arms will have to wait till I feel comfortable with wearing long sleeve shirts for the rest of my professional life. :(

Being honest, it still sounds like a drag... Six hours for two hours of tattooing sounds pretty shoddy, and all the previous posts about artists preparing the night before were obviously not applicable.

I find it hard to see why he would need four hours to prep this piece, especially if he is experienced?

I would urge a huge lump of caution prior to letting this guy tattoo your whole leg, why not post some photos of his work and get the opinion from some of the artists here before you go any further.

New York Tattoo Parlor | Rising Dragon, One of The Best Tattoo Shops in NYC

^^ Found a gallery ^^

While it was a bit of a drag to sit at the shop for the majority of the day I still am happy so far with the outcome. I have already left a lot of shops to this one because of their lack of enthusiasm. Their shop is really busy (NYC in summertime) so I can see why it took some time, plus he seemed like he was making sure it was exactly perfect since he was extremely interested in what I wanted. I am going to stop by Last Rites to see Toxyc in the next week or so to get started on another piece (who the hell knows how long that will take). (A side note, is it taboo to have too different people/shops working on you at once?)

Please remember I am a bit naive to the world of tattoo outside of enjoying the art from afar for a long time. The process behind it is still much of a mystery to me.

That sounds much better than the original statement, it made it sound like you paid for six hours worth of work and that's what you left with. So when do you go back for second sitting? Does he think he can make a bit more progress on the next sitting now that its all arranged and outlined?

Yea from here on out it will be a much faster process. I'm getting the shading done on the current outlining (next session is August 27th :( ). I'm waiting for this to get done so I can see how I am going to continue up/around my leg, since until it's finished I don't know what else would look right with it.

Ok, not wanting to be an ass, but what do you mean by "3 hours to draw it".

You arrived at the shop he spent three hours drawing either on your leg or on paper, then your total tattooing time was 3 hours?

Does this tattooist have a website?

It was 3 hours to start from scratch the design, build an original in pieces. Questions back and forth. Then applied the stencil to my leg, modify it on my leg with some time in between to dry, food, smoke ect.

I haven't found a website for him yet. I know I was only charged for under 2 hours for all the work. We were also talking about where we are going further since the design will be going up my leg further (about ankle to my waist)

It took about 3 hours to draw it (the outline is still not finished) and close to 3 hours to outline. Smoke breaks and food time included

It came out far beyond what I had expected! While it was not for me to be there for 6 hours, I'm sure it was much worse for him, and I have great respect for his ability to stick it out till almost midnight.

Well about to leave now. We will see how it turns out. If all goes well I will be posting up a picture of what gets done today.

And as a client I like to think that my tattooer is so committed to my project that they carry it around in a special brief case hand cuffed to their wrist till my tattoo appt------ but as a tattooer I find it interesting that clients assume that as soon as they make their appointment- i'll be working on their tattoo non stop - till they're in my chair-

This isn't directed at anyone who posted--- just a side note.

I know what your talking about, in my job I deal with a lot of clients that always assume that THEY are the number one priority in my life, which is not the case almost all the time. At the same time I personally would feel like a idiot if I completely forgot everything altogether. I have been trying to be understanding about the situation it is just a bit scary especially since it is my first tattoo and I do not understand the norms of the process. I still feel that at the end of the day it is a business and if I am not going to be even partially satisfied I will take my money and go. I have gotten a much better response from the other shop I stopped by while talking about the other piece I am getting done at the end of the summer.

Granted he is kinda busy (new york city) but seriously? I do not know what to expect since I am scheduled late in the day (6pm) and am getting a bit nervous. I have been waiting a month and have 1500 waiting. I have come to the decision if I show up and he is completely unprepared I will flip a shit and ask for my deposit back. For a large custom piece at 200 an hour I feel at least a little bit entitled to some respect. I can take my business elsewhere. I know and respect a lot of artists out there but if you do not respect me enough to remember ANYTHING, I am not letting you near me. I would rather pay 500 an hour for a honest professional than 5 an hour for a half respecting artist. I am already asking Toxyc at Last Rites to do my next piece and I might bail on my current artist. I would say this current artist is good but not "gifted" in the craft.

I got a strange call today. My appointment is in two days and my artist called me and asked me what I was getting again. He had no recollection of anything we talked about and apparently had lost all of my references. After he asked me if I was getting a custom tattoo or flash (i am getting the majority of my leg done) he hung up...

Is it normal to be completely forgot about, especially on a relatively large custom piece? I am a bit nervous now since I feel he is completely unprepared for me to come in, and will have no idea until I show up. Should I be worried?

I don't know the exact address,but it's off 6th avenue.not sure about the peep booths.You may have to stick whatever body part you want to get tattooed through a glory hole though-you know- for anonymity.It gives me an idea for when you get an obnoxious customer.......a ball gag!I think the place is called pricks & pricks,I know it's off 6th ave. but I could be wrong about the name though.

Crazy Fantasy Tattoo

Just start covering your chest. Unless you work at a Wall St. branch where you have to be shirtless W/O tattoos.

That would look ridiculous if that existed.

Im almost always in a 2 or 3 piece suit (suit with a vest). I could probably go everything but hands, face and neck but I do like to roll up my sleeves so i would probably stick with 3/4 sleeves. Oh yea everyone on Wall St. rocks shirtless.

It mores goes that I travel globally for my job (consultant) and need to look "normal" under their definitions.

Never believed in the whole "small starter tattoo" deal. How about those people getting full bodysuits by Horiyoshi III? I am sure some of those people had no work to begin with and commited to heavy coverage from the get go. If I could do it all over again, thats what I do. Have one tattoo and one only!

Personally I have a strong opinion against smaller tattoos. I like very large pieces and plan probably having a bodysuit with 3/4 sleeves (job :( ).

To start off as of right now I have no tattoos. I have been trying to get a tattoo for awhile but money or other issues have cropped up. Two weeks ago I got in touch with an artist and signed up for a leg piece. (starting at the foot to the knee filled in completely. My friends said that was "too much for a first", but the funny thing is I am already looking at getting another huge piece started by a favorite artist, and the possibility of sleeve by the same guy by next year. Although the sleeve is a bigger step since I work in a VERY Conservative field (Wall St) and will need to think more about that.

Am I going way to fast? I personally don't believe so