CultExciter

Here we go.

Fudo by Matt Brotka

RFTC tattoo (and surrounding) by Andrew Conner.

Do you have any photos of your grapefruits?

I believe I do. This was...jeez, a year and a half ago.

I believe mine was similar @Rad Kelham. I had just finished tattooing some grapefruits, and my mentor's wife came in and asked him if he had time to do some small dots on her fingers. He said "No, I've got to get ready for my next appointment." She looked over at me and asked "What about Kevin?"

They are still in there though!

@jen7,

I am a puss...

You mean like an octopuss? Cause all the ladies I know are tough as nails.

It most certainly makes you a scratcher. Thanks @Graeme

I always approach it like this when signing it:

Designs By "Whomever it may be"

Color by "Your Name"

And I think they can. It certainly shows your comprehension of the subject matter.

Yes it is.

Nice. He's one hell of a painter/tattooer.

This is great advice. I'm taking this challenge on thanks to your post. Hopefully it will help my beginner ass. [ATTACH]12265[/ATTACH]

Is this old Jay Langer stuff?

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I heard from Mike Rennie, who heard from an old timer, that a tattooer should have a sheet of flash for every month he/she has been tattooing. I've definitely slacked on this regard. All the advice above is sound.

Initial critique, focus on doing things other people do it, at least in a manner of repetition and copying. Style takes time to develop. Right now you just need to know how to draw it correctly. When trying to create an original design, do not be afraid to use reference. The beauty of developing a design is pulling from different areas and crafting something that looks right to you. The mouth of a Mike Wilson panther paired with William Yoneyama snout, eyes the way Tim Lehi does them, and colored how Mike Rubendall approaches color. Or even better, grab elements from things that are completely not "tattoo" related. Old Circus posters, woodcuts, Audubon prints, *gasp* going to a zoo or museum. There are so many places to pull and subtract from, that in no way does it need to be mediocre.

I've never used this sort of thing, but I use photoshop all the time. The only thing I can think would be to build up like you do with oils. Do a base "painting" and go from there.

Hi all, I figure I'd plug this here. I've been helping my pal Dave Regan put together a reference book for the last, hell, almost a year. It's 300 plus pages of all sorts of different elements: Traditional, Big Cats, Japanese, Lettering, Floral, Etc. They are $80 and come delivered on a USB stick. You can learn more on his instagram account @dutchraven or email him at [email protected].

Word!

I just ordered the Mick book. Goodness, this is why I AM ALWAYS BROKE!

We should start a thread of people showing the first tattoo they ever did. We don't have many tattooers who participate on the board anymore however.

Question: Did you ask the tattooer to do it in grey?

Like said above, if it's just linework, you'll be fine. That shit ain't going anywhere.

First off, congrats on your first tattoo!!

You're the best little homey.

as it was featured on tattoo of the day about 6 days ago on tattoo artists magazines instagram account with 500,000 subscribers.

I believe that is Tattooist Art Mag, which has no affiliation with Tattoo Artist Magazine, nor is it an actual print magazine. But still a very nice tattoo you have there. I do some work for TAM, so I figured I should clarify.

Biomech rip-out.

World almost collided.

Next time for sure!

When I was in King's Avenue on Saturday

Wait??? You were there? So was I. What time? That was my mentor getting his back worked on!

I think I remember seeing when you came in, and Grez was eyeballing your arm.

A few things I learned by looking through these photos. You guys rule and are absolutely amazing people. The tattoo community knows how to come together for a fantastic cause, and I need to drop about 15 pounds.