Dean Schubert

I think conventions are for the most part the same. People change .

Julio, explain. You're ok with any term as long as it's a tattooer using it? I'm also admittedly kind of partial to "zaps", tongue-in-cheek kinda way.

To me, unless you are from Japan, and a member of a Japanese "business" family, the Japanese suit is out of place. The more you learn about the culture and the history of Japanese tattooing, the "mystery " and fantasy of the work dissolves. What's left is a very rigid culture that is out of synch with western ways. The work is no doubt beautiful when done properly. But think of this, those suits are earned within their culture. When Americans, and other westerners coop the style, the core intent of the suit in Japanese culture, has been stripped away, and we are left with surface decoration mostly derived from Chinese art and literature. I like it when westerners add their own flavor. If a westerner is making what they consider traditional Japanese work, they are posing. Even if some of your relatives lived in Japan generations ago. You are living in Japan making tattoos in that system, or, you are offering imitation Japanese traditional work. With that in Mind, there are some awesome, inspiring tattoos made by Traditional Japanese artists. And on occasion, I do some poser Japanese work myself. As a westerner, the idea of middle age men having "masters" just does not work for me. The Japanese philosopher, DT Suzuki said something to the effect..... If you want to understand Japan, you must start with India. On that note see you in a couple of weeks, time for another digital cleanse.

I didn't know who Holly Madison was. That was one of Hugh's former prostitutes right. Nice try on the property patch removal. The media should throw up more real photos. Or better yet stop tuning into or buying that crap. Our country is retarded. No offense to the developmentally disabled.

We once had a guy in the shop who was of Japanese descent who picked out a number of Kanji . None of the symbols went together. They were chosen for their "look". I feel that symbols and images also function on innate feelings. Everything human is a continuation of activity. There is no start or finish in defining imagery. Certain groups, cultures, clubs, gangs, etc. claim images and restructure them from time to time. This usually takes place as a tool to maintain control over other humans. When a person chooses a tattoo, they have the right to allow that image to speak to themselves however they like. Meaning is personal and should remain so. Meaning is always evolving. However, If a person chooses to adorn themselves with tattoos that are earned within particular sub-cultures, it would be in their best interest to understand the implications of wearing said tattoo. Is this conversation about blackwork? oh yeah. that shit looks cool.

"tribal" is the ultimate traditional style. I have had the great pleasure of tattooing many of our local Native Americas, with their imagery. It's a real honor to make these tattoos. While these tattoos have a fashion aspect to them, they seem about as "real" as it gets to me. Whenever I work on these folks, it makes me think of the rest of what I do as kind of corny.

Well put Jack! the current paradigm is completely lame, However, I'm having the time of my life doing what I've been working towards for the last twenty years!

You own the piece, not the artist, so do what you like, You may have a hard time finding an artist that wants to deal with it for various reasons, however, For you its something you walk around with for life, for the artist, much less of a commitment and another day on the job. Oh well, they can't all be winners.

Congratulations! Hope you have a fun day of tattooing or whatever you choose to do!

Got a ton of em. I'll have to share some of the cooler ones at some point on here.

White trash royalty So many more interesting tattooers and bike builders

OH boy if you ever go to Japan you have to make sure you take lots of pictures of engrish LOL look it up Engrish.com tones for funny translations for English people in Asian countries

for sure, I was over there in 2006. Its funny that way.

That makes sense Dean. I love seeing both sides of the coin its great. It also seems to make sense that if the client wants the tattoo signed that maybe they should have to sign a waver so that the artist does not get sued like that article I found.

Another thought on that subject. I once got a tattoo from an OG Hori and he signed his name to the piece without asking. If it wasn't written in Japanese, there would've been some fists a flying. But still, now if I go to Japan, I've got this guy's name tattooed on me which puts me in the middle of their tattoo political bullshit. Not to big of a deal but the older I get , the more it pisses me off .

When I was starting out, A few people asked and I politely declined. After I had ten years in If someone asked for it , I did it. I'm tattooing as a service to the client first so the signing of the work seems like an ego stroke I don't need. If I'm doing a piece that has over 20 hrs into it and I've become good friends with the client, I'm more than happy to "sign" it. I Have a couple of clever yet tasteful ways I've done it. As a tattooer I consider it an honor to be asked. I've given the customer everything I've got, so why not. To some customers I'm some sort of awesome art guy and to others I'm the guy's name they can't remember that tattooed their ex's name. So whatever!

Bad ASSSSSS!!!!!

And it was a rotary machine.

the standards never get old for me. Tigers, Dragons, Panthers, Flowers etc. Trendy gets tired so quick. You know what the trendy ones are.

Rest in Peace Pinky . I was one of the people doing crappy tattoos down the street from him at Tattoos r Us in 1994. Got to see his work all the time back then. Always heard how he could draw dragons simultaneously with both hands!. Hope to make it as long as him. Another 37 years of tattooing and I'll be there.

My favorite tattoo book of all time is Bad Boys and Tough Tattoos By Samuel M. Steward, PhD. At some point I'd like to write a review of this book. Sam Steward is also known as Phil Sparrow in the tattoo world. Steward played a hand in starting out two of the greatest tattooers of the second half of the twentieth century, Cliff Raven and Ed Hardy. I could go on and on about this book so I'll try to limit it here. Part of the book focuses on Street Shop tattooing in Chicago and Milwaukee during the 50's, Along with Oakland in the 60's. The other part of the book looks at tattooing from the psychological side. All in All a must read for every tattooer or anyone curious about tattooing. Its available for purchase on the interwebber.

Its funny, I totally blew up in the past over somebody going what I felt to be over the line. I don't know if lines were crossed in this case. But hey, thats where the fun is at. If we weren't into crossing lines, we wouldn't be consumed by tattooing. Plus it gets boring talking about pop culture, I'm into tattoos. I guess I like some MMA and motorcycles too.

Like I said Aaron, Questionable territory. I'm thinking private messaging might be a good way to handle some of these issues. I'm not looking to give away info, or enable those who haven't "paid dues" . On the other hand its nice to talk a little history and mention things that are no "secret" to any artist halfway paying attention. I think its good to hold back on some info, however every tattoo that goes down , professional or not , reflects on the art and industry as a whole.With that in mind, I would hope that all tattooers professional or not are at least heading down a path of acceptable tattooing. Anyway While this is in no way a place to learn about the technical aspects of tattooing. The basics of tattooing have been available to the general public for decades, ie. Milton Zies, Owen Jensen, Percy Waters In the early to mid 1900's, And then With Huck Spaulding in the Late 1900's. The real "Secret is this...... so listen up, WORK HARD, GET TATTOOED BY PEOPLE BETTER THAN YOURSELF. CHEERS!!!

Mitch Hedberg was pretty funny . Too bad about the OD

I think your treading into questionable territory with that question. Especially since this site is brought to you buy a machine builder. I believe the legacy of the Northeast shader goes back to Sailor Barney. Baba in LA spent a bit of time with him near the end of his life so you might get some info from him. Several years ago one of the tat rags did an article about Sailor Barney right before he passed. I bought one in 93 and used it for several years. I was getting tattooed by Henry Goldfield at the time and he was using one. Much of my own back piece was made with a Northeast Shader assembled and used by Filip Leu. This machine pushed a 21 mag for hours.

I've only dabbled in the machine thing so I'm no expert on the mechanics. With that in mind, I say most machines are fairly similar. All the action is in the way the spring works and it takes time to figure out how you like your machines to work. Support Artist/ Builders to find what you like, then emulate. I know the coastal is geometrically different now than it was in the 90's, not sure if they changed the Northeast as well. Don't know if that helps you or not. I say build on as many different frames as you want to.

I think your treading into questionable territory with that question. Especially since this site is brought to you buy a machine builder. I believe the legacy of the Northeast shader goes back to Sailor Barney. Baba in LA spent a bit of time with him near the end of his life so you might get some info from him. Several years ago one of the tat rags did an article about Sailor Barney right before he passed. I bought one in 93 and used it for several years. I was getting tattooed by Henry Goldfield at the time and he was using one. Much of my own back piece was made with a Northeast Shader assembled and used by Filip Leu. This machine pushed a 21 mag for hours.

I've only dabbled in the machine thing so I'm no expert on the mechanics. With that in mind, I say most machines are fairly similar. All the action is in the way the spring works and it takes time to figure out how you like your machines to work. Support Artist/ Builders to find what you like, then emulate. I know the coastal is geometrically different now than it was in the 90's, not sure if they changed the Northeast as well. Don't know if that helps you or not. I say build on as many different frames as you want to.

Now Kat can join the club with tommy lee. They've both had death in their homes. Hollywood is straight up wrong.