smiling.politely

The only times I've heard the term as a negative was in reference to people who seem to think they know more than the tattooer, simply because they have tattoos themselves. In the end, it all comes down to your own mentality. That being said, pretty sure there are a few folks out there who are just collectors who probably do know more than a lot of tattooers out there. Maybe not technically, mind you, but about some of the other aspects.

the company's website has a men's version, as well as a few shirts with the same photo of a Dringenberg machine.

Very cool to see. We actually had a few girls around the 20 year old mark come on one night a little bit before closing, wanting to get something small (bro tats, I think), and they mentioned they got tattooed on a trip the summer before. We were expecting what most people would expect, but they each had a mantra on the back of the neck from a trip to Thailand. I don't know if we were more surprised by that, or they were more surprised by the fact that we knew what they were and where they got them.

To build upon what Stewart JAllen said, getting tattooed and being willing to do the crappy jobs are more important than the drawing aspect for sure. Belief in the craft/respect for others' work and willingness to do any task can't be taught, and if you don't have those, someone else will. I'm currently an apprentice, but I'd known my mentor for about five years before I was even allowed the chance to come clean toilets and answer phones for a year before we actually started my apprenticeship. Once you turn 18, start getting tattooed and hope you can earn someone's trust.

Draw anything and everything. From normal to ridiculous. Whatever you want to draw, draw it.

Newest tattoo, as well as the second tattoo I've done on myself. Testing out the feel of my first set of machines (I had been using some of my boss'), and decided to keep it straight edge, to go with the Minor Threat coil wraps. Many thanks to Kevin Riley for making such a great set of machines. Side note... we'll pretend that lettering is super clean. I need to work on tattooing in yoga positions for these occasions.

"SLOW DOWN" would be a good idea...

I've started buying a few here and there from antique shops, with plans for the future to try and restore them as best I can, then set up to use them. Thankfully, with a background in fine art sculpture, I know a lot about finishing steel and honing blades... casting new scales in various resins would even be pretty simple. I also made a sculpture of one from cast aluminium and birch plywood that opens to be 12 feet long.

Update: appointments with Stefano C. and Jordan Teear are made. No way out now...

Terrible Instagram photo, but I left my camera at work. Finished this 16"x20" sheet that I've been working on for a week or so today.

Currently planning a trip to see my fiancee in Limerick, Ireland, with plans to spend a week in London so we can see friends and go to Frith Street. Going to book in with Stefano next week, as well as Jordan, hopefully. Also, going to try my best to get in to see Lal Hardy on a Saturday, but we'll see how budget plays out.

There's another with a guy named SoTatted Sharky, of the SoTatted Crew. It's equally horrendous. I hate myself for having watched any bits of the videos... they go from funny to depressing quickly. It's like Tatted Out, without the auto-tune.

Saw some more about that Scott Sparks kid recently... apparently, he's a trust fund kid from Ohio, got lots of tattoos to try to fit into the Cali hardcore scene, bailed after he finished a tattoo apprenticeship, and is now trying to be a swagtastic rapper who's all about weed, money, and girls who may or may not be ratchet. Thankfully, no one in the rap game knows who Judge or Earth Crisis are, so his face won't bring up awkward questions... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQ8FJ-PE4mA

someone could be coming in to just get an estimate, actually get tattooed, see about an appointment, take walk in time, buy a t-shirt, (depending on the shop) get a piercing, or in some cases be asking for directions or to use a bathroom. they may even be trying to sell you a product of some kind (some guy came in where i work selling some next level Windex stuff recently). plus, some variant on "can i help you?" is about the best way to start off a customer service conversation, which is what the counter person's job boils down to. i'd much rather have that than be ignored or treated poorly, which has happened at shops i've gone into.

@jacobyoung I think I saw Matt working on that off and on... a friend of mine was getting a rose on his hand by Albrigo, so I spent some time hovering that general vicinity. Also, I got this at the same convention, from Ron Henry Wells. Photo from his Instagram...

Details of two sheets I painted due to how stoked I was on Pure Love's record Anthems. There's a design for each track... I'll post them in full if I can remember to get better photos of them in their entirety.

Just back from the West Texas Tattoo Convention. First convention I've attended, drove 10 hours with two of my best friends to get there, then drove back the morning after into a blizzard. Totally worth it. Tattoo and photo by Ron Henry Wells (poached from his Instagram).

The first one's a few years older, but it's pretty similar to how i look now... In the other one, I'm not the bronze tiger.

I would say it'd be Lucky Devil Tattoo. Not sure if he worked there while he was around Wichita, or could have done it for them as a gift, but the BS could stand for Ben Siebert.

Booked with Ron Henry Wells for this Sunday at the West Texas Convention. One of my co-workers is as well, and one of our shop's good friends/hang arounds is in with Daniel Albrigo. Should be a great day trip!

One of my coworkers booked with Ron Henry Wells, so I'm very likely at least tagging along. I e-mailed Ron, but we'll see if there's still time when we'll be there.

ordered two three packs the other day. seriously, one of the best things i've ever seen!

always seemed pointless to me.