TheCursed

I just wanted to say thanks for LST for everything it is and represents in the tattoo community. In light of the recent accident my friend Jordon Teear was involved in on Sunday, I am slowing down enough to read LST...thanks for the overwhelming amount of support to Jordan...he is out of surgery and will be spending the next few weeks to month here in the states away from home, family, and friends before doctors will clear him to fly and no doubt the community has gone above and beyond to show him it's support. Thanks again to everyone.
All my best
Aaron Finnin

I believe you are seeing things a bit out of context.
In the first place, if we say as a fact that the Third Reich ended-up killing six million assorted peoples, then how is the swastika more of a "hate symbol" than the Hammer and Sickle, the insignia of the Stalinist regime that was responsible for the death of over sixty-million people?
As for the "Black Power" movement, you should do a little research. There were a fairly large number-not in the millions, certainly, but a fairly large number, killed by those espousing it. Maybe read-up a bit on the Nation of Islam, see what their early teachings regarding the White race were...and to a large extent still are.
Azatlan...now that's a real good one. The "Reconquista". Check that out and feel the love.
Last but not least, I will reiterate two points. One is that many people used the swastika without ANY political or racial connnotations in the not-too-distant past. It was actually a very common thing for bikers, especially, to either wear it or have it tattooed on them.
The second point is that if the work was done in a prison, it was quite likely to have been done in order to survive. Whites are a distinct minority in almost every prison in this country, and there are groups such as the BGF to name but one, who would dearly love to see that nminority erased. Once inside, many Whites band together for protection, and the swastika is a very common symbol of those groups.
White Power, Black Power, Brown Power...I put them all on the same plane. A racist is a racist, no matter what color he is.

@autosdafe
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But you're right.
It's not your fault, it's someone else's. Don't feel bad about it.No, it isn't true that "Some people don't take ink" but it is true that some people don't take bullshit.

People care too much about other people's dicks/cunts.

I find it all a bit ironic considering the man didn't drink and hated cheapskates.

Here's something (sorry for the length) taken from the blog of a fairly well known and well respected tattoo artist. I think I'll omit his name for now.

"I've always found anti-social imagery compelling. It challenges ones common sense; a persons sense of decency and their idea of "Good & Evil".
It also can adversely reaffirm ones core instinctual concept of right and wrong and, if you are so inclined, bolster a persons "Fuck You" attitude about the world around them. So in this regard such "taboo" subjects prove to be different masters for different servants.
I find the hazy margin of ambiguousness an image commonly held as offensive exists in fascinating. How is it that one image is acceptable to one person while it causes another to shrink in terror or sneer in disgust? Inside this line in the sand so to speak are the real questions.A question that cuts to the core of the subject matter itself. What is right and what is wrong? If there is such a thing why can't everyone agree what it is in the first place? And more over an even deeper question arises from that as well. If we are merely animals then wouldn't the horrendous nature of such a dark symbology just be an extension of our core instinct to annihilate what ever gets in out way?
Finally where do you fall INSIDE the line of demarcation ? This taboo no mans land?
While I obviously Cringe at the idea of romanticizing Nazism in any form and just so I'm clear I don't feel the manner in which this painting was conceived does that by the way, what is it about this painting that identify with and even like? Why would I chose to spend my time painting such negativity into the world?
Perhaps it's my desire to be left alone by most people? Nothing in the world could possibly top this as a way of letting people know to stay the hell away from you. Still I feel the composition grasps on to a certain charm as rotten as the core may be.
My painting is drawn in a style indicative of 80's tattooing A period of time I view as more cut and dry compared to today's blurred line of reality and fantasy. Of real and unreal. Of scripted reality Vs. cold harsh brutal reality.Of black and white (no pun intended).
Happiness and "feeling good" is what our society is based upon here in the West after all. This belief sprung from the 1960's, flourished in the 70's, matured in the 80's and 90's. And now at the start of a new decade in a new millennium the cracks have begun to form at the base of this structure from the shear weight of all of its moral and social entitlements. And of its own grotesque vices as well....I'm Left to ponder: what are the consequence of this way of life both good and bad going to be for us all?
I feel I made this painting because I just felt like adding a few more needles to Joe camel's back so to speak. Not for some kind of pro-nationalist statement or an affirmation of some kind of bloated illogical racial idea but because I felt like saying fuck this easygoing softness in us. I want the viewer to reaffirm their commitments. I want them to think past the fleeting pathetic pre-programmed plastic knee jerk television has drummed into them. I want the viewer to connect to the painting in a manner that causes either anger and resentment or praise and adoration. And ultimately I want the viewer to emerge from the moral no man's land that so many in today's world apathetically wonder through recommitted. I want battle lines to be draw so we can bring last centuries tired arguments and the beginning of this centuries short comings and false promises to a close.
In essence I want the house of cards to fall."

to me, there is no difference between a hipster and people that must attain every douche tattoo that's hip this week by a tattooer who's the same. hipster track bike guy vs hipster steam punk guy vs hipster tattoo guy.........its all the same to me.

Is that a golfball with wings???

its good to hear im not alone. I work in the south, no one seems to know anything about history or even cares. being from northern calif. is even stranger. no one knows anybody i know. some of the names ring bells but no connections. I do agree, this biz has become very diluted.

I completely agree with @gougetheeyes and Stewart articulated it perfect. If you live the craft and respect everything involved with it, as a tattooer you would want to be tattooed. For learning, supporting tradition and respect.
To compare a surgeon and tattooer is just retarded.

Did you read the entire thread @LilMountain ??
And please be humble... Quotes like "I can't believe so many people here are so cliche-ish that they demand a tattooer conform to a stereotype" won't get you far here. Have you tried to understand why the majority of artists and enthusiasts here feel that tattooers should be tattooed, or was your mind made up before you clicked on the thread?
Oh, and comparing tattoo artists to plastic surgeons or photographers is just downright silly if you ask me...

My personal problem with this stuff is that it doesn't deal with or derive from the basic motivations of humans or society.
All the long-lasting tattoo imagery addresses or springs from some basic element of humanity. Which is why they've lasted a long time.
My opinion is that this style of work (trash polka et al) is created with the main motivation to stand out from the crowd or be 'different'.
The drive to be original, different or special, is fundamentally flawed and certainly short-lived.
If tattoo designs derive from deep-rooted human drives and archetypes it's pretty much impossible for the concept to become dated. The execution is a different matter.
In my opinion all the best tattoo imagery comes from or symbolises basic human drives, or the needs of humans in society. Skulls, pin-ups, powerful animals, flowers, hearts, religious imagery, daggers etc, etc.
Most of the flash or portfolios (including tribal) in a decent tattoo shop will succinctly encompass the interesting bits of the human experience.
That's why the work posted in this thread rings hollow for me, regardless of the difficulty of the application.

completely agree with Jake. i find when someone hasnt many tattoos generally or none around the 'offending' tattoo, they tend to focus on it more than is necessary, if you get some more tattoos on that arm, eventually you wont really be able to pick on individual designs. it being on your hand, you probably notice it a lot more than you may have imagined and now your mind is working overtime. if it still pleases you, dont worry, just carry on getting more work.
if you were to ask for my opinion i would maybe try sticking to a more classic style of tattooing so that it stands the test of time, you obviously like skulls so thats a good start, maybe look at some of the work in the LST galleries and see whats going on.

Wellllll. Since you said to be honest I will. Like the other I agree it looks stupid to have hand tattoos and not have the rest of your arms and actually the rest of your body done. It makes me wonder why you chose to get your hand tattooed before doing the rest. As far as the actual tattoo, it's by far not the worst I've seen. It's not something I would ever get and I wouldn't go to the artists. The reason is not the quality of the actual tattooing, it's the drawing. I'm not into new school or whatever people would call that style. Just isn't my thing.
Having said all that, if you like the drawing then there's no problem at all as it's your tattoo. If I was you I'd wait until I you have a lot more tattoos on your arm and then see how you feel about it. I have a couple tattoos that are actually really fucking awful, like I mean horrible. It used to bother me soooo much, I wouldn't wear short sleeves because I was so embarrassed by them. Then I started getting good tattoos and lots of them and now the bad ones aren't so embarrassing. It all just kind of blends in. A good friend of mine who is also a great tattooer once told me that he likes it when someone has a couple bad ones in there with the good ones because it shows that you love tattoos and wanted them before you knew about 'cool rockstar hipster shit' like a lot of the kids today who are just getting tattooed because it's the cool trendy thing to do.

Some of the first flash I've seen when I first getting tattoed is a split set with Lee Hanna and Blake Harris (I Think). I also remember him making a sheet of flash with an awesome eagle that said "Texas is the home of players & pimps". My friend Cory tattooed it recently on someone, it's awesome.

First off I would like to thank everyone for their kind words. I am Lee Hanna's sister. Reading stuff about him makes me smile. You can't imagine how much I miss him! I print things off that I find written about him online. I am making a scrapbook for his daughters that he left behind. They deserve to know what a kind, caring and loving person he was. He touched so many peoples lives it's unreal! Please keep telling stories about him if you have some you would like to share!! Thanks Again!!!

Just wanted to give a shout out to some dudes still cranking out traditional tattoos that look like the ones you woulda got back then.
I know most of the american tattooers here know these guys but I feel like the general tattoo crowd might not..
Timmy Tatts


He also did the tattoo in my profile photo
Krooked Ken


Also both super nice dudes.

Have massive respect for Grime and anyone that is driven to push themselves constantly, hell we are always our own worst critics. That keeps you humble and not buying the bullshit people try to feed you.

Have massive respect for Grime and anyone that is driven to push themselves constantly, hell we are always our own worst critics. That keeps you humble and not buying the bullshit people try to feed you.