LilMountain

Thanks to everyone for their help, I'm sure I'll find someone from all these suggestions and will be sure to post the final result

It's not an issue of trying to be right because in the end it's a personal decision and, having only been tattooed by heavily tattooed people myself, I dont really have a dog in the race, I'm just surprised at how a group so often subjected to stereotypes based on their appearance would be so quick to judge another based on appearance, even to the point of the above example.

It seems I've already made a fair share of enemies here with my stance on tattooers with little to no tattoos and my post-whoring to reach the point I could ask this question, and I would like to apologize to any that I offended and ask that you not hold it against me now.

My question is, I am new to New York City, and am seeking assistance finding a shop (or specific artist) that does (or you think could do) Chinese style art. Specifically, I am looking for someone who can pull off an original design in this style for a half sleeve;

Thank you.

people who are into tattoos get tattoos whether they are tattooers are not. if you're not tattooed then you'll never convince me that you are really into them.

my experience has been that non tattooed tattooers dont love tattooing, they love money and they think tattooing is an "easy" way to get some they are "artists" who cant make it as an artist in the art world so they become tattooers because it the only way they can figure out to make a living illustrating.

sidenote: Ursula, while the majority of the time you'd probably be correct it is not always true about tattooers being covered in the stuff we like to do. especially with people like myself who've tattooing for a long time. the 90's was an exciting time for tattooing and i am covered head to toe in tattoos that do not reflect who i am artistically at all anymore.because tattoos are permanent they do not change as our taste does so I have a biomech sleeve even though i havent done any biomech tattoos or had any interest in biomech at all since the late 90's.

So taking into consideration you are covered in tattoos that do not reflect who you are anymore, what if an artist had aspirations to grow over time and wanted to save space to reflect the different "periods" they would go through? Would you still not think they were passionate about the craft or had aspirations to be great? Granted I doubt that would be the case with very many people, but at this point I'm just curious if anyone who feels so strongly would make an exception for certain cases

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...

Yes. How am I not humble for being surprised at how unreceptive people are to tattooers who dont fit a certain mold? I read all the reasons, but while I understood an artist needing at least a few to better understand what a client is going through, I still didnt understand why someone would need to be covered in tattoos, and was put off by the intensity of general hostility, going so far as to label them all as parasites.

Well a plastic surgeon is also a bit of an artist who makes permanent changes to people, I dont see how it isn't analogous

Well it's a tattoo question and I'm just trying to meet the requirements to ask it, but thanks for the welcome

Hello,

Came on here to ask a question, but still cant open my own thread to ask it :( (I'm past 10 posts, now what am I missing?)

Turning 30 soon, first tattoo at 16, have over a dozen smaller ones, finally starting to save up for the bigger pieces I have planned...

Due to my job field, nothing (else) that can be seen in jeans and a t-shirt... oh and not my privates either

Never developed a ritual, it never even occurred to me

Do photographers have to try to inject themselves into as many photos as possible to be considered passionate about their craft? Heck I know photographers who are downright camera shy, because for them it is about being able to capture the beauty they see in the world, but are uncomfortable with being on the other side. Similarly someone may love bringing other people's designs to life, and then being able to know that those images will stand the test of time permanently etched into people's skin, but might only have a few pieces that they feel strongly about and dont otherwise want to cover themselves simply for the sake of looking tattooed

That is a terrible analogy. You are related something like tattooing (a personal choice) to something like surgery (a medical need). Of course a surgeon is going to get surgery if he or she needs it. BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE IN THEIR 'CRAFT'. If someone believes in putting needle to skin and permanently marking people with images of pure humanity, if they truly believe in it, he or she will commit to it and live by that belief by getting tattoos.

Fine, a plastic surgeon. Do they have to get every little imperfection fixed to be good at what they do or to be passionate about helping OTHERS achieve their ideal look?

Do surgeons have to get operations for every little thing to be talented and passionate about their job? I can understand that loving what one does doesn't necessarily mean wanting someone else to do it to you and I can't believe so many people here are so cliche-ish that they demand a tattooer conform to a stereotype.

I'm in the private security field. Normally the rules are pretty strict, but it seems a lot more relaxed in New York City, maybe it's just the place I'm at

Not my style, but looks well done

As a man I never considered these issues, if anything I have always had the assumption that women with a lot of body art were more tough/bitchy than slutty (perhaps a different stereotype?) but not to an excessive degree that made them bad people in any way...

Art is art, dont see a problem with it

At the time, underarm, after the fact, foot

Was my Dad's 16th birthday present to me, someone in Las Vegas, dont remember exactly who. It was supposed to be my Native American totem animal, with the eagle feathers representing the native american meaning behind it (have since gotten a rooster, my chinese zodiac with a sun and a scorpion with stars to accompany this one)

For my one year anniversary I got the phrase "Feel No Cold" which part of the Native American benediction at my wedding, the full line was "Now you will feel no cold for each of you will be warmth to the other"

(My wife got "Feel No Rain" which was from the next line)