Barrett Dobra

I think it's a given that regulars here are aficionados of good tattooing. So you're preaching to the choir, here on LST at least. If you've read around you probably noticed the calibre of work people are getting.
I don't really have a view on whether tattooing is a profession or a craft, I'll leave that one to the tattooers.

My 9 year old daughter, after learning how much her grandmother hates tattoos, told me, "well, that's her problem then."
:)

First of all, you should have read the newbie guide: Last Sparrow Tattoo - Newbie Guidelines
Do not go posting a bunch of meaningless posts just to hit your 10 post requirement! If you want to ask a question right away - just post it in your intro thread.
Your first ten posts consisted solely of "Welcome" and "LMAO"....
You could just as easily have posted this in an introduction thread.
Second of all, why are you asking us for opinions when it seems as you've already made up your mind?

I think these are two of the top reasons why people end up with bad tattoos. They can't wait and they don't want to pay.
If you get on his waiting list now you will have at least a year to save for it.

They have always reminded me of Sinbad the Sailor from the old Popeye cartoons.

You had the correct spelling...weird looking word right?

fuck..... oh my god. i just dont know what to say

I'm surprised it took ten pages for boobs.

You will look no more "ridiculous" with tattoos than anyone else! Get tattooed, get what you want, fuck the world. I don't tattoo so I can't answer your questions about working with skin and placement but I can't imagine it's that much of an obstacle.
@Shawn Porter posted a video a while back on his OV blog, an awesome awesome Dave Lum video, where his shop helper -- a woman -- was talking about how she hated her legs and her butt. How she was self conscious and never thought she'd get tattooed there, but once she did get some coverage on those areas, she loved them. Maybe the only big folks you're seeing with a significant amount of work have some not-so-great tattoos.. or maybe you're just freaking out cause you've only got one so far. But if you've got the itch, you've gotta scratch it, and everyone else can go to hell. Truly.
Apologies if this was too strongly worded.. I had the night off, some beers were consumed. The only people I don't like with a lot of tattoos are dickheads regardless of their tattoos.

Thank you, @G.Uristti, for offering your professional opinion. One of my favorite things about LST is that we have professional tattooers who offer their insights. It sets this community apart.

Figured I'd start a quick little thread on this!
Went yesterday afternoon with a buddy who bought a piece for himself and another for a friend. Wasn't expecting to be so into so much of Thom's artwork.. seeing it on a screen doesn't really do it justice. At all. Super powerful.. and really fun. Met him and Nick Bubash and Thom signed my copy of his book... They thought it was pretty funny that I didn't realize those little black stamps of the man in the hat IS THOM! Shoulda known.. that design would make a killer tattoo, too, by the way.
Thom was funny and very nice. I asked him about a photo of him that was in display and he said he liked it because it looked like he'd just come out of a casino at 5AM. He talks very, quietly. He was rifling through his bag to find the brush he usually signs things with and came up with a ball peen hammer and gave me a sideways glance -- "Well, that's not it," he said.
Another quick thing, as we were looking through the portfolios sitting out a dude asked, "Hey, you mind if I just look over your shoulder?" I told him no problem as my friend and I pored over the pages and this dude was all up over the portfolios.. ended up snagging four rubbings and pounced on one when my friend passed on it. I kept thinking shit, I know that dude from somewhere.. "That was Civ, dude," my friend politely told me. HA!
Ok, not such a quick thread. The atmosphere was pretty electric there.. Talked to Mike and their awesome shop dude Jon (who happens to be a reg at my bar) and just had a really fun afternoon and wanted to share.
Anyone else?! Thank you Chris Grosso for making it happen.. wanted to talk a bit more but it was a busy time.

I couldn't get off work, so I sent my sister and brother in law (both have lots of work from O'Donnell, and just started getting worked on by Hooper) to 'cover' it for OV- if anyone takes pics and feels like sharing, I'd love to have multiple 'views' for Occult Vibrations!

The rest of y'all don't even bother trying!

Nope, never happened. Not with stuff I put on myself, not on stuff I've gotten since then. Always enjoyed planning it, having it done, watching it heal.

Tell them all to jump ship and come to LST to post their stuff!!!!
We have no intentions of selling others artwork. Minus an upcoming feature we'll be offering but that is grounded in respect for tattooing and tattooers that Scott will be heading....can't say too much yet.

I'm amazed at the incredible art work that is able to be put on skin! I'm amazed at the ingenuity, the skill, and the obvious talent of so many, many, many tattoo artists out there.
Until I started coming here and following a bunch of tattooers on Instagram I had NO IDEA that so many spectacular tattoos are being done in the world.
I remember looking at old tattoo magazines at my uncle's house when I was a teenager and thinking that they were amazing - but it was so unreal to me - stuff in a magazine y'know.
And then tattooing was illegal in Oklahoma until not too many years ago - not to say that there weren't tattoos happening, but it was all fairly hush hush (and most of them weren't very good) and I never thought to look to see what else was out there.
And now my mind is blown every. single. day.
Perhaps the most amazing thing of all - great tattoos are accessible to just about everybody. You don't have to be famous, or wealthy, or otherwise connected to be able to get an awesome tattoo. It takes just a little bit of research and attention to what is going on out there.
AMAZING!!
It's one of the coolest things ever. I regret that I have been missing out on all this for so long.

The only tattoo blog I am interested in is Shawn Porter's Occult Vibrations:
Occult Vibrations

Already posted this in Latest Tattoo Lowdown but I thought I'd throw my hat in the ring.

100 Years of Solitude rib piece
Artist: Matt Brotka
Shop: Salvation Gallery

I think Scott's tattoo needs to be a little more 'in your face' instead of just an attachment... @Scott R hope you don't mind :D

Valerie Vargas was kind enough to do 2 tattoos for me and pretty up my thighs at SFO

Scott sylvia blackheart tattoo SF done in 2 sittings 4 hrs for outline of eagle and shading 7 hrs for roses and color its also going over old lasered stuff!

I guess I'll pop this threads cherry :D
Done by Jeff Gogue, Off the Map Tattoo in Grants Pass, OR. Done at SFO Convention...

Done by Jondix of Barcelona, Spain at SFO COnvention...

"How many people would go under if they couldn't get pre-made needles anymore?"
"A lot"
"This table wouldn't"
That exchange is fucking gold.

Ran across this interesting little teaser on youtube for an upcoming documentary on NYC tattooing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OApQA-ZPaoc
Featuring
Richie Montgomery, Pete Giaquinto, Ronnie DellAquila, Mike Perfetto and Tony Polito
Got another trailer here


Looks like it's going to be released early 2013 sometime.