Sean Rakos

My first tattoo story isn't anywhere as amazing as the gentleman I tattooed yesterday. This is his first tattoo , done 32 years ago by Capt. Jack Collidge in New Jersey and it's still amazing today.

My first tattoo story isn't anywhere as amazing as the gentleman I tattooed yesterday. This is his first tattoo , done 32 years ago by Capt. Jack Collidge in New Jersey and it's still amazing today.

My first tattoo story isn't anywhere as amazing as the gentleman I tattooed yesterday. This is his first tattoo , done 32 years ago by Capt. Jack Collidge in New Jersey and it's still amazing today.

My new flash set is up for sale.Sorry for the dull Picture but I promise these sheets are BRIGHT. $65 delivered in the U.S. $60 in person
Paypal [email protected]

A few years ago I thought I was re inventing the wheel and bought a bunch of the tattoo DVD's and was all about the "hyper realism" and no outline color work. I can't speak for anywhere else but in the Texas sun it was a poor choice. I regret all those tattoos and am bummed whenever I see one and it looks very weak and faded and much older then it is. I've argued that with enough black and good saturation they would hold but I really doubt it's possible while keeping all the color blends. Maybe alot of the art lovers that get these pieces will stay away from the sun and baby their skin to keep them alive but I know the bold will hold rule will help my active blue collar cliental's tattoos last the test of time.

My new flash set is up for sale.Sorry for the dull Picture but I promise these sheets are BRIGHT. $65 delivered in the U.S. $60 in person
Paypal [email protected]

My new flash set is up for sale.Sorry for the dull Picture but I promise these sheets are BRIGHT. $65 delivered in the U.S. $60 in person
Paypal [email protected]

My new flash set is up for sale.Sorry for the dull Picture but I promise these sheets are BRIGHT. $65 delivered in the U.S. $60 in person
Paypal [email protected]

My new flash set is up for sale.Sorry for the dull Picture but I promise these sheets are BRIGHT. $65 delivered in the U.S. $60 in person
Paypal [email protected]

My new flash set is up for sale.Sorry for the dull Picture but I promise these sheets are BRIGHT. $65 delivered in the U.S. $60 in person
Paypal [email protected]

My new flash set is up for sale.Sorry for the dull Picture but I promise these sheets are BRIGHT. $65 delivered in the U.S. $60 in person
Paypal [email protected]

My new flash set is up for sale.Sorry for the dull Picture but I promise these sheets are BRIGHT. $65 delivered in the U.S. $60 in person
Paypal [email protected]

My new flash set is up for sale.Sorry for the dull Picture but I promise these sheets are BRIGHT. $65 delivered in the U.S. $60 in person
Paypal [email protected]

You know what.... TIME shows you either know how to get it done, and you do, or you don't... Oliver is a fast tattooer, he was taught that way. besides a time limit also shows who does stuff out of the comfy zone well and who doesn't...
like the dude that could draw the Fu dog but couldn't tattoo it... I'll watch it, Oliver is family. I'm proud...
side note: pointing out problems with the tattoos educates everyones future clients.... my two cents

Thanks Stewart, I enjoyed your interview.
I am not a tattooer, but am a serious, studied collector. Also I am a creative artist having been formally educated in music theory, composition, and spontaneous improvisation. So I think I see the similarities in concept that you suggest here. I even once used the analogy and was told by a tattooer to basically jump off a bridge and that I didn't know what the hell I was talking about because I was not a tattooer.
Anyway, I get it.

Thank you for the good advice. My left sleeve is mostly Tony. I have spent many hours studying him and jason brooks work when they worked together. It just seems so natural to them and I feel I really have to work at it. I also believe the more I study the work of people like them I will improve with time. I think mr. Sylvia spoke of using a grid to help with his layouts. At five years I really don't have any business doing full sleeves or body suits but I'd like to make my layouts on medium sized tattoos more dynamic like Tony, Jason, Steve, and Grez. I'll start practicing the dissecting and rebuilding idea . Thank you again for the advice as well as a great interview.

Sailor Jerry Tattoo Drawings - Hardy Marks Publications and Don Ed Hardy Archive
Sailor Jerry Flash Vol. 2 - Hardy Marks Publications and Don Ed Hardy Archive
Sailor Jerry Flash Vol.3 - Hardy Marks Publications and Don Ed Hardy Archive
and the Owen Jensen flash book at the bottom of the page: Owen Jensen

In my opinion there are no books that can teach these things with regard to tattooing.
Most of what I learned is from some of the concepts from Art History (capitals intended) but throwing yourself into art history school won't help.
For me the keys to learning anything in tattooing are getting tattooed by, or working with people who can do what you can't, or don't understand.
Studying (not just looking at) tattoos and tattoo photos helps too.
Many concepts that apply to music help with visual composition too, such as flow, dynamics, contrast, rhythm etc.
Also alchemy: solve et coagula. Take apart what exists, understand it, then assemble it once more. In Japanese there is a similar concept: "Shu Ha Ri"
Its a long-ass road.
If your'e in Austin, see how Steve Byrne or Tony Hundahl lay out a tattoo. It can be a masterclass in composition for clarity and readability.

fuck yeah for positive discussions and appreciate responses! more of this on here!!!

Contestant:
Ink or paint flash, Build/ assemble machines, make needles, make pigment and then do a clean tattoo. In less than what ever ridiculous time constraint they give you. Then you are #1
INK MASTER !!! Until then it is just people doing there job on television. They really should have people do stuff pertinent to the trade; but not show it on television. I wonder if they made a reality show about grocery store baggers if people would watch it. Like who could bag the most items in a minute. Paper or plastic. Have not really watched the show though, I know
Shane O'neill won and that guys work is awesome. I don't think either way on this show, good, bad whatever. If any one has ever seen Louis C.K.'s stand up about "white people problems",
spending time hating what you decide to watch or not watch on T.V. could be one of them.

I still love to skate. I just got a mini in my yard recently so I hope when it's all finished and perfect I've find more time to skate so I can stop getting fatter sitting on my ass tattooing

My first tattoo story isn't anywhere as amazing as the gentleman I tattooed yesterday. This is his first tattoo , done 32 years ago by Capt. Jack Collidge in New Jersey and it's still amazing today.

My first tattoo story isn't anywhere as amazing as the gentleman I tattooed yesterday. This is his first tattoo , done 32 years ago by Capt. Jack Collidge in New Jersey and it's still amazing today.

My first tattoo story isn't anywhere as amazing as the gentleman I tattooed yesterday. This is his first tattoo , done 32 years ago by Capt. Jack Collidge in New Jersey and it's still amazing today.

Higgs is obviously a legend but the local legends of texas really influence me. tony hundahl, Jason Brooks, Oliver Peck, Richard Stell