hgiles

who did it?

Most of it was done by Jesse Tseronis at Sakura Tattoo WInchester VA. The buddha head was done by Scot Fields.

...rollover, try to sleep.

None of those praying hands were fantastic. Lea going was too easy to predict this week. Probably be James next week unless its a Japanese week...

Ha b-tat's work sucked but at least he didn't go on uneducated rants that shows his ignorance of traditional tattooing, or essentially write his name on some dude

Yeah, Bili let me down with that clock stunt. he does some things very well though. Lea is probably past her shelf life too. Shane is a bad ass and seems a bit more versatile than The others. And I love his comment about having done "the fucking most precise shit you ever saw on a knee!". I dont care what anyone says, that double outline beveled star he did was better than anyones!

I am thinking they must be getting into some Japanese by now...maybe tonight. And this will be something James Vaughn will have an advantage in...

I didn't realize owls were so poular.

Yes, there still is a lot of racism in America.

Society rewards folks like Amanda Knox and Casey Anthony.

Favor NASCAR over F1.

Think a good deal trumps a good tattoo.

Like everything super-sized (Meals, Lattes, SUVs, TVs).

...too many to mention.

my bike

Here's some of my ink...

Jeff Srsic

Ideally I would like to talk to him to assess his interest in some of my ideas, but I had to work through a desk person. I guess I wont know for sure what I am getting til I walk out of the shop.

Got it worked out. Appt is on the books.

I got an opportunity to sit with Chad soon and I need to decide what I want him to do. I know he's prefers Americana, but I want to do something that will work with the Japanese I've got and also be something he is excited to do.

Any ideas?

I ride a late model HD Cross Bones and have started a Café project. Dont do a ton of miles a year tho...maybe 3000 total.

I sit in a train for 5-7 hours before, eat something and go back to sitting in the train for 5-7 hours after the tattoo and go to shower when I get home and sleep.

I also pray Satan to give me strenght and immunity for pain.

Try driving through DC traffic/beach traffic (~5hrs) both fore and aft and in between, sitting for 8-10 hrs! I wouldnt call that a 'ritual', just something Ive done twice!

Thankfully, its been long enough since my last session that i forgot about how painful it was...and actually booked a rib panel. Shorter, easier drive this time at 1.5 hrs.

Yeah, I say buy. Hurt yourself to get it and get a lot of the principle out of the way early. Do it while you're young and earning good money and don't fall into the re-fi trap.

My kids don't want tattoos, but if they did before 18 then I would pick the artist and the subject matter. Simple, right?

Like it or not, most people want to be 'vended' to. You know, like buying nabs out of a machine? To them there is no difference in the Snickers bar comingout of machine A and the one coming out of machine B. (To them) the only differentiator IS the price!

As businesspeople and 'salesmen' it is a tattoists responsibilty to offer differentiation in ART! Only then will price NOT be the focus.

I know lots of guys that get vended tattoos on price and their work looks like shit. However, as the thought leaders (i.e. the ones that know better) the artists should shoulder some of the responsibility in helping these types of clients 'see the difference' in something other than the price.

Work up some case studies, put them in your book, and I guarantee people will do a lot less haggling.

Right, Tibetan skull. Like the ones you see Filip and Shige doing...

Sugar skulls appear prominently in Japanese style tattooing, though it seems to be a Mexican thing. Anyone care to shed some light on this?

Thanks in advance!

I really expected Lea to go before Bili, but these old-schoolers really appreciate Traditional Americana. So Bili got the boot. i was really surprised to see what Josh did this week.

My Ink:

Tony Morrell's work is very similar to Filips. Tony has been tattooing for 21 years now and has worked for me at Jinx Proof for 15 years. he is mostly into doing big Jap pieces and is a great tattooer that is not very well known......and i don't think he gives a shit. just another reason why i like him.

TONY MORRELL l 2012

I love Tony's work! There was a guy at my gym that had a sleeve by him and I was knocked out by how great it was!

PDC! So, give me the scoop! Anyone else i need to be looking at in my locale? I haven't been inked in three years i think! I am ready for more, but Dana is so far away now.

I want to get a 9 tailed kitsune, but i want it to have the vibe and feel of the Japanes style tigers. In other words i dont want the fox to look silly, cute, whimsical...

I have 40+ hours of Japanese style stuff already and hopefully i can get a sitting with Dana Helmuth again, but would consider some local options also like Brian Bruno, Jinx Proof, or even Chad Koeplinger...

thoughts, ideas, advice?

tommy helm, josh woods, shane oneill are the top three. bili vegas and james vaughn get an honorable mention.