Jack Wier

Probably on one of the Spice Girls.
...yeah.

Yes, and No...
It's weird. One of those double edged things... I don't think Inkmasters is actually going to affect anyone that really loves this profession, and is good at it. I guess earlier in the thread I was super pollyanna and trying to do nothing but see the upside of things and rationalize it all, not sure why, I just support my friends.
But I guess out of school habits, I like to look at the same things over and try to argue a case against it... It's a writing tool...
We didn't just take part in it... this whole thing was filmed back in July, (that episode, and NO, Richard had no idea) He thought the kids would at least know how to put a tattoo on.... But when they were three hours into something and some of them didn't even have the outlines complete. It was heartbreaking, Richard doesn't have anxiety attacks, I do... but he had two, and freaked out wanting to fix each tattoo that he saw, because he felt morally compelled to give those vets good work in exchange for theirs.
No he didn't have a real idea of what was actually up, even the casting agents were a bit dishonest, I mean it's their job to get people on the set that would make for an interesting dynamic... And they were looking to get a rise, but it only raised vomit. I completely threw a fit the last day they shot... I stayed at the 700.00 a nite hotel they put us up in. And smoked in the non smoking room. I was pissed off thinking if we have to stay and fix shit tattoos, and put off the clients in San Antonio that were at the convention already (tattooers who love and cherish this), and waiting... I was going to have a little breakdown and probably leave NYC for TX... To get everything for the show in SA ready.
We had to fly into Austin pick our truck up, grab the rest of our booth setup from Tony's house drive down to SA setup all over again, on 5 hours sleep, and yeah, I can totally criticize it, I want to know the parts I like and didn't in an effort to change them maybe for the better later on, or at least have an objective standpoint on it...
And I am not a big user of Facebook, or Twitter too much anymore, I felt like if any place was good to kinda let loose, and be open regarding our opinions, experiences around this, or any tattoo type of topic, I would rather post up here, I thought. Safe zone.
The entire show isn't 100% fucked up, and just a portion. I have been involved in some fucked up stuff before, far worse on a couple moral standpoints. It's early on in the Tattoo TV thing, I guess I just would like to maybe contribute constructive criticism somewhere, cause I know a few people look at these threads, and maybe just maybe they would take a few of the hints dropped here.
Not snide, just honest... The way it should be.
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Sorry about the novel....

I wouldve felt compelled to stop them and fix it for them too, I wouldve had a breakdown/freakout if I witnessed that. I feel his pain.
Yeah I was hoping what I said wasnt gonna be taken the wrong way.

Great artists are typically self assured, competant, secure and therefore = devoid of drama.
For the non-tattooed viewer this show is just a Jerry Springer freak show, and tattoos are just a vehicle for the drama.
We who like the art are way in the minority on this issue.

I say this without a snide tone, and I have nothing but the utmost respect for Richard, but in my opinion it's kind of hard to say how fucked up that show and the producers for it are when you just took active participation in it. Surely you guys knew about this before going into it.

As we watched this last night, and tried to avoid punching the TV in annoyance, I commented to @Graeme that the problem is that that grating-as-fuck moron Kay Kutta (sp? Who cares) is actually kind of right; he admits openly that it's a "game" and has little to do with who is actually skilled or talented. Only he is totally down with that reality, while the rest of us think it's depressing as hell.
Luckily, we countered our being bummed out by that fucking traditional episode (the only highlight of which was watching Richard Stell try to murder people with his eyes) by watching the new tattoo age, which cleaned some of the dirt off.

I'm sure that the people who have to wear their shitty tattoos find much comfort in these excuses.

My first trip to Dallas was in 1998 and I worked right near Richard's shop. The owner of the shop said, "come on, I'll introduce you to Richard Stell". We walked over there and they were filming Walker Texas Ranger, Richard was tattooing. I got to meet Richard Stell, Mike Wilson AND Chuck Norris all within 5 minutes of each other. It was the coolest day ever for me. Richard wouldn't stop tattooing for them to film and told them to deal with it and film around him, it was rad. I told Richard that story recently from my perspective and he chuckled. I am very excited to see him on Ink Master.

He dodged a bullet there.

well the tattoos that guy is doing IS shit but then on the other hand...she's 16! she shouldn't be getting tattoos at all....

To sum it up.
Fuck 'em if they can't take a joke.

Step one, breathe.
Lol it will be ok.
You will never change people's mind about tattoos if they dislike them. They may change on their own, but nothing you can do will change them.
But you are a 50 year old man. You should know by now how people are in this world, and your tattoos were your own choice, you probably knew someone would disagree. Why do you care about those who said you've changed, you werent the person I thought you were? If a mark on your skin changes people's good opinion of you, then their opinion wasn't worth much to begin with.
You ask, why can't people look at a tattoo for its artistic quality? Why do they stigmatize?
Because they can. Why should they be forced to look at something they do not like and then legitimize it for you? Why do you have to force them to recognize something that they simply cannot... that tattoos are beautiful, but only in our skin, they dont change who we are at our core.
but for you to say, why oh why cant they see it the way I do, and not judge me for the choices I made, is just as intolerant as them saying/doing that stuff to you. We cannot control the minds of others, or ask why. If they like it, they like it, if they don't, then don't associate with them. Also, it won't help your cause to go up to someone you know doesn't like tattoos, whip out your arms, and essentially say "APPRECIATE THE ARTISTIC VALUE!!!! APPRECIATE IT!!! WHY CAN'T YOU APPRECIATE SOMETHING YOU FIND ABHORRENT, BASED ON HOW GOOD I THINK IT LOOKS?
btw, comparing tattoo culture to a cult... maybe you're too enthused about being tattooed? How about comparing tattoo culture to a lifestyle... Cult kinda has bad connotations

something my boss did 35 yrs ago came in today.

Got this one the other day

not got my own pic yet I'll take one when it's healed

Here's my last two
Panther by Stewart Robson

Eagle by Valerie Vargas

Here's one of my favorites. This is on another friend of one of my customers, who wanted to know how much it would be to cover this tattoo. I told him that the tattoo was awesome and it didn't need covering...

I don't know about you guys, but I sometimes struggle to find
a Christian themed tattoo that really excites me, and I'm a bona fide
Jesus freak.
Don't get me wrong, Rock of Ages is cool and all, but other than that
crosses and praying hands don't really excite me.
Do you guys have or know of any cool Christian Themed tattoos?

This kid looks so young it's kinda scary, but he has some bad ass tattoos.

I don't know if I uploaded these correctly, so I hope the pictures come through along with the explanations.
The first few, of the peacock, skull/top-hat and snake, were done by Al Schiefley. The guy got the tattoos in the early 70's, shortly before Al died. I ran into this guy in southeastern Ohio and asked if I could take his picture. He didn't know what the big deal was, and seemed a little weirded out at first. I told him I liked getting pictures of old tattoos, especially done by guys from Ohio, and after talking with him a few minutes he seemed delighted about it. I also have a couple pictures of Stoney St. Clair tattoos that are on an old guy around here, but I can't seem to find them anywhere (one was a rad little skunk, that the guy said he just did on him freehand). They're on an old photo card. I'll upload them if I find them.
The guy in the stocking cap got almost all his tattoos from Sailor Jerry Collins. I can't remember the exact dates he told me, but I remember thinking they had to have been done before the time period that I read about where Jerry got pissed at the IRS and quit tattooing for a while, so the 1950's I believe. I took the pictures in 2006, and he said the tattoos were like fifty years old. My memory might be wrong, but I think that's what he said. This dude was salty and had no problem lifting up his shirt for the picture. He got tattooed while in the service in Hawaii, and had some rad stories.
The last pictures are of Tex Rowe. I took them while at a convention in Pittsburgh in 2008. Actually, I went with Rich T., and we were both snapping pictures...I think it was his camera and he may have taken the pictures and sent them to me after. In any event, I remember Mike Skiver saying that Tex's back was done by Brooklyn Blackie, and I believe he said his chest was too, although I can't remember for sure (if you know, I'd like to know, thanks). It was pretty cool that Skiver brought him there and was bringing him around the convention. I seem to remember someone telling me that Mike did this for him often, and was close with Tex and his family, which I thought was really neat. Respect. Tex seemed fine with the pictures and it was nice to actually meet him. The dude was not only this rad old timer in tattooing, but I'd heard he was a highly decorated WWII veteran who (I heard) trained where I did (Ft. LeonardWood, MO), though I don't know that for sure. Tex passed away the next year. I got tattooed by Bowery Stan at that convention too, and I know there were a couple pictures of him and Tex, but I don't know what happened to them.

Pete Poulos .

Les Skuse from the legendary Bristol Tattoo Club,England baby .

I snatched these awesome pics from Jason Schroder's blog. Amazing shots of Cliff Raven's work circa 1982-86.Do they qualify as old?

That's not Junni, but it does kinda look like her.
This is Junni:

Just saw this on http://www.theboldwillhold.com/:

Wow.