gougetheeyes

I grabbed this just before my flight home on Monday morning, 
Steve was great and came in early to get it done

Guess who had a cancellation today? Lunch hour tattooing is happening now ...

Since it's Tattoo Tuesday, here's a sneak peek at a WIP by Grez. The outline is done for the entire piece but only got to finish the dragon kite. In June, we'll finish the rabbit, her kimono, the moon and the background. I know that everyone thinks that their tattoos are cool but I really do think this is super amazing! Grez took my random concept and executed it to perfection. The kite is so freakin' awesome. Love this guy!

Thou shalt not receive the holding of hands, especially in regards to queries relating to: how to go about getting tattooed, how to contact a tattooer, how your new tattoo looks, how your imaginary tattoo looks photoshopped on a stock photo of an arm with that tattoo, and thou certainly shalt not receive a single response when thinking, maybe, out loud on the Internet about possibly -- one day -- starting on your imagined quarter-length sleeve (outside of arm only) and inquiring about the pros and cons.
Thou shalt be shown the proverbial door and given the holy hand grenade.

Mel, good to see you here I know your blog. Good point about the whole conversation aspect. I bore the shit out of various friends when they make the mistake of asking me about anything tattoo related. They get way too much information.

@Iwar, Scott did this one on me around January/February.

In tonight's episode of Shitty Reality Check: You got face tats, you might get strong reactions!

In tonight's episode of Shitty Reality Check: You got face tats, you might get strong reactions!

Ahaahaha @Iwar these are gems!

My 3 year old niece wants to grow up to be a badass. Tattoos by Pixar, I believe.

In tonight's episode of Shitty Reality Check: You got face tats, you might get strong reactions!

Petri, great topic with a lot to think about. That's a really good Cliff Raven quote, too! It's strange, too, because I've been thinking a little bit about blackwork tattooing lately as I've been reading up on plains Indians (this is a really fantastic book on the Blackfeet, by the way if anyone has any interest) and learning about some basic things, especially how artwork reflected their beliefs and what was important in their lives.. seeing some old photos of the men and women, and gathering little tidbits about the importance of tattoos across different groups. Which also ties in to the sun dance that the Blackfeet participated in, incorporating some serious piercing… Anyway.
I think this topic is pretty huge but I'll try keep it short. In my opinion, with tattoos, we're all struggling to apply ten million things to our bodies, most of which we’ll never fully understand. Aside from our struggle to reconcile our own mind and spirit with our physical world, we obviously latch on to art that we can identify with, be it music, tattoos, or the argument could even be made for clothing. And so much of it is ingrained in our culture and subconscious, it's tough to step outside those parameters, tattoo or otherwise. I do love blackwork tattoos and I do appreciate what those (growing) few have done and are doing by exploring different styles of the artwork. I do think it suits a lot of people but I think there's a certain... not problem, but maybe an uncertainty, when it comes to co-opting various styles and designs from other cultures. It's powerful and striking and instantly more "meaningful" or "exotic" than traditional western tattoos, but sometimes what happens is just a bunch of borrowing from other cultures. Now -- there's not necessarily anything wrong with it and, in fact, there's something very American -- and very human -- about that. We consume and incorporate and for the most part it's to understand and gain knowledge. And in that way, we create a new tattoo language, which is really exciting and maybe even necessary.
All of this is to say, I’ve had a real, growing interest in blackwork/native tattooing as I’ve gotten older. And I think it’s because I’ve made myself think about things a bit more, try to understand the whys of tattooing and expression; whys that probably won’t ever be fully answered. I think folks that exploded the possibilities for our modern times, like Leo Zulueta, and those that are building on that foundation, like Thomas Hooper, have the right idea. When I mentioned “co-opting” and “borrowing” I didn’t mean it in the negative, I think that’s just our nature because we’re all trying to understand something we can’t put our finger on. Who knows – maybe as I get older I’ll get really into black-only tattoos. I identify a lot with both Celtic and American Indian designs but maybe that’s my own subconscious connecting slivers of my ancestry to my geography to my own search for meaning. I’m glad for the renewed interest in tribal tattoos, I just keep my fingers crossed people will treat it with respect.

Can't make this shit up. Two recent conversations from the bar.
Number One!
Me: What're you up to tonight?
Girl: Well I supposed to get tattooed but my tattoo artists rejected me!
Me: What?! What happened?
Girl: (Pulls out a piece of paper with a crazy long math/physics equation and begins to unfold to show me.) Well, I was supposed to get this on my finger, but--
Me: (Bursts out laughing) Yeah, that ain't going on your finger...
Girl: He laughed at me, too!
Me: Yeah. Sorry to laugh, it's just so long you won't be able to get it that small and still see what it is. What about on your arm, or wrapping around your wrist?
Girl: Yeah, that's what he suggested, too. Especially because it's my only tattoo or whatever. But I'm a programmer and I want to look at it while I'm working at the keyboard. He also suggested that I shouldn't get it in white.
Me: White.. ink?
Girl: Yeah. Because it's for me. And I don't want anyone else to just be able to see it like that.
Me: Sounds like maybe you should think about it some more..
After that initial talk we had a pretty cool conversation about the equation and the dual reality somethingorother it pertains to. She was a super smart person in that realm for sure. I left her with the suggestion of getting a cat in a box as a much cooler design (part of this theory about a cat being in a box with the lid closed and there being two realities..) but she was pretty set on the equation.
Number Two!
The set up here.. it was late, this chick was at the bar for a while so obviously a little drunk.
Girl: Hey, you get your tattoos here?
Me: Yeah, mostly, at this point kind of all over.
Girl: Where should I go?
Me: Hard to go wrong in this neighborhood, Three kings, Eight of Swords, Adorned, Saved...
Girl: Are they open?
Me: When...?
Girl: Now.
Me: It's almost two in the morning -- no shops are open right now.
Girl: Really? None??
Me: You could go into the city and check out West 4th St. but I really encourage you to not do that.
Girl: So.. there are no tattoo shops open in Brooklyn right now is what you're telling me.
Me: That's what I'm telling you.
Girl: (Takes her drinks that I made her and begins to walk away.) Fuck this borough.
And I thought that would be the end of it! She came back and wanted to talk some more.
Girl: So, it says XXSHOPXX is right off of XXSTREETXX -- is that close by?
Me: It's not far but I'm telling you it's not open. Why don't you just wait?
Girl: YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND. My friend over there is only in town tonight and we won't be in the same city again for like maybe a couple years.
Me: Well that might work better, you can both get great tattoos in your respective cities and they'll probably be way better than trying to get it in at like 2 AM. You could get something awesome!
Girl: Nope, you don't get what I'm saying.
Me: (Past the point of patience and I can't walk away because I'm making them another round of drinks.) It sounds like you probably shouldn't get tattooed. It sounds like a bad idea is what I think you're saying.
Girl: Well aren't they all?
Me: I'm sorry..?
Girl: All of this (pointing to my arms) -- you can't tell me any of this is actually a good idea.
Me: Did you really just say that?
Girl: Well, I mean, come on.. when you're 90. They're going to look like shit.
Me: No, they're going to look awesome and I'm going to be an awesome 90 yr old with tattoos that I didn't get at fucking two in the morning. This is going to be your last round, I'll have the server bring your check over and you can still make it over to West 4th, the cab ride shouldn't be much more than $20!
Girl: Whatever.
Me: Have a good night! Good luck!
Hope I'm not sounding like too much of an asshole.. My bar persona is always ten thousand times nicer than my real life demeanor but this second girl really pushed it. I'll put up with a lot of idiots and I know how to handle plenty of bullshit but when you outright insult me in my own bar..? You're done. I hope she went and got tattooed.. everyone gets the tattoo they deserve!

Blaming @Graeme for this one since he posted his hairy man legs on instagram. I'm sure those famous legs Stuart at Spider Murphy's has filled up has given everyone the itch to do the same.. Or seeing Henning's work on those meaty thighs of @ironchef if you're going the Japanese route. But I'll tell ya, I'm real happy with how my short little legs are coming together and thought I'd get the ball rolling by saying fuck it and posting my hairy dude legs. Kinda weird, I know. Maybe I'll get weirded out and edit out the photo... Maybe (definitely) @MrsGougeTheEyes will yell at me and roll her eyes forever.
But fuck it, here's a shot of the front of mine. In the kitchen. Visible tattoos by Andy Perez (@Perez), Todd Noble, Oliver Peck, Nash Hogan, Jake Fraser, Scott Sylvia (@ I forget your LST name brother), Bailey Robinson, Sophie C'est LaVie.. There are some on the back and some on the sides that are tough to see but this will suffice for now.
@slayer9019 I know you're squidding it up slowly but surely and @else I just went back and read your intro thread. Totally totally awesome, especially with how everything's gone. (It's here for anyone who wants to take a gander.. http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/initiation/3283-changing-way-i-see-myself.html)
Now let's see those legs!! (So I don't feel so weird..)

Damn, nobody is disappointing! Got this little one from Andy Perez at the new shop Allied in Bushwick when I was back a couple months ago visiting. Bad cell phone picture, but you get the idea. First one above the collar, d'oh!

Yeah I hate helpful people, too..

Can't make this shit up. Two recent conversations from the bar.
Number One!
Me: What're you up to tonight?
Girl: Well I supposed to get tattooed but my tattoo artists rejected me!
Me: What?! What happened?
Girl: (Pulls out a piece of paper with a crazy long math/physics equation and begins to unfold to show me.) Well, I was supposed to get this on my finger, but--
Me: (Bursts out laughing) Yeah, that ain't going on your finger...
Girl: He laughed at me, too!
Me: Yeah. Sorry to laugh, it's just so long you won't be able to get it that small and still see what it is. What about on your arm, or wrapping around your wrist?
Girl: Yeah, that's what he suggested, too. Especially because it's my only tattoo or whatever. But I'm a programmer and I want to look at it while I'm working at the keyboard. He also suggested that I shouldn't get it in white.
Me: White.. ink?
Girl: Yeah. Because it's for me. And I don't want anyone else to just be able to see it like that.
Me: Sounds like maybe you should think about it some more..
After that initial talk we had a pretty cool conversation about the equation and the dual reality somethingorother it pertains to. She was a super smart person in that realm for sure. I left her with the suggestion of getting a cat in a box as a much cooler design (part of this theory about a cat being in a box with the lid closed and there being two realities..) but she was pretty set on the equation.
Number Two!
The set up here.. it was late, this chick was at the bar for a while so obviously a little drunk.
Girl: Hey, you get your tattoos here?
Me: Yeah, mostly, at this point kind of all over.
Girl: Where should I go?
Me: Hard to go wrong in this neighborhood, Three kings, Eight of Swords, Adorned, Saved...
Girl: Are they open?
Me: When...?
Girl: Now.
Me: It's almost two in the morning -- no shops are open right now.
Girl: Really? None??
Me: You could go into the city and check out West 4th St. but I really encourage you to not do that.
Girl: So.. there are no tattoo shops open in Brooklyn right now is what you're telling me.
Me: That's what I'm telling you.
Girl: (Takes her drinks that I made her and begins to walk away.) Fuck this borough.
And I thought that would be the end of it! She came back and wanted to talk some more.
Girl: So, it says XXSHOPXX is right off of XXSTREETXX -- is that close by?
Me: It's not far but I'm telling you it's not open. Why don't you just wait?
Girl: YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND. My friend over there is only in town tonight and we won't be in the same city again for like maybe a couple years.
Me: Well that might work better, you can both get great tattoos in your respective cities and they'll probably be way better than trying to get it in at like 2 AM. You could get something awesome!
Girl: Nope, you don't get what I'm saying.
Me: (Past the point of patience and I can't walk away because I'm making them another round of drinks.) It sounds like you probably shouldn't get tattooed. It sounds like a bad idea is what I think you're saying.
Girl: Well aren't they all?
Me: I'm sorry..?
Girl: All of this (pointing to my arms) -- you can't tell me any of this is actually a good idea.
Me: Did you really just say that?
Girl: Well, I mean, come on.. when you're 90. They're going to look like shit.
Me: No, they're going to look awesome and I'm going to be an awesome 90 yr old with tattoos that I didn't get at fucking two in the morning. This is going to be your last round, I'll have the server bring your check over and you can still make it over to West 4th, the cab ride shouldn't be much more than $20!
Girl: Whatever.
Me: Have a good night! Good luck!
Hope I'm not sounding like too much of an asshole.. My bar persona is always ten thousand times nicer than my real life demeanor but this second girl really pushed it. I'll put up with a lot of idiots and I know how to handle plenty of bullshit but when you outright insult me in my own bar..? You're done. I hope she went and got tattooed.. everyone gets the tattoo they deserve!

THIS THREAD WAS SO FUN! I've missed so much.. Lil panther guy by Mario Desa on my right, and on my left I've got a sleeve-background-skin triangle where a little "Mom" heart lives. That actually says, Ma. No photo of that one though.

THIS THREAD WAS SO FUN! I've missed so much.. Lil panther guy by Mario Desa on my right, and on my left I've got a sleeve-background-skin triangle where a little "Mom" heart lives. That actually says, Ma. No photo of that one though.

THIS THREAD WAS SO FUN! I've missed so much.. Lil panther guy by Mario Desa on my right, and on my left I've got a sleeve-background-skin triangle where a little "Mom" heart lives. That actually says, Ma. No photo of that one though.

You will look no more "ridiculous" with tattoos than anyone else! Get tattooed, get what you want, fuck the world. I don't tattoo so I can't answer your questions about working with skin and placement but I can't imagine it's that much of an obstacle.
@Shawn Porter posted a video a while back on his OV blog, an awesome awesome Dave Lum video, where his shop helper -- a woman -- was talking about how she hated her legs and her butt. How she was self conscious and never thought she'd get tattooed there, but once she did get some coverage on those areas, she loved them. Maybe the only big folks you're seeing with a significant amount of work have some not-so-great tattoos.. or maybe you're just freaking out cause you've only got one so far. But if you've got the itch, you've gotta scratch it, and everyone else can go to hell. Truly.
Apologies if this was too strongly worded.. I had the night off, some beers were consumed. The only people I don't like with a lot of tattoos are dickheads regardless of their tattoos.

Damn, nobody is disappointing! Got this little one from Andy Perez at the new shop Allied in Bushwick when I was back a couple months ago visiting. Bad cell phone picture, but you get the idea. First one above the collar, d'oh!

Damn, nobody is disappointing! Got this little one from Andy Perez at the new shop Allied in Bushwick when I was back a couple months ago visiting. Bad cell phone picture, but you get the idea. First one above the collar, d'oh!

Damn, nobody is disappointing! Got this little one from Andy Perez at the new shop Allied in Bushwick when I was back a couple months ago visiting. Bad cell phone picture, but you get the idea. First one above the collar, d'oh!

Damn, nobody is disappointing! Got this little one from Andy Perez at the new shop Allied in Bushwick when I was back a couple months ago visiting. Bad cell phone picture, but you get the idea. First one above the collar, d'oh!