Mike Thompson

Hello everyone!  I've lurked here a bit & decided to sign up & post a quick hello.  I've gotten a few tattoos recently after not getting any for a few years, and I've definitely caught the bug big time.  My most recent piece is this Kappa head by Zach Black @ Riverwest Tattoo.  I'm really happy with it & thinking about seeing if he can expand on it & turn it into a half sleeve.

Hello everyone!  I've lurked here a bit & decided to sign up & post a quick hello.  I've gotten a few tattoos recently after not getting any for a few years, and I've definitely caught the bug big time.  My most recent piece is this Kappa head by Zach Black @ Riverwest Tattoo.  I'm really happy with it & thinking about seeing if he can expand on it & turn it into a half sleeve.

Hello everyone!  I've lurked here a bit & decided to sign up & post a quick hello.  I've gotten a few tattoos recently after not getting any for a few years, and I've definitely caught the bug big time.  My most recent piece is this Kappa head by Zach Black @ Riverwest Tattoo.  I'm really happy with it & thinking about seeing if he can expand on it & turn it into a half sleeve.

Hello everyone!  I've lurked here a bit & decided to sign up & post a quick hello.  I've gotten a few tattoos recently after not getting any for a few years, and I've definitely caught the bug big time.  My most recent piece is this Kappa head by Zach Black @ Riverwest Tattoo.  I'm really happy with it & thinking about seeing if he can expand on it & turn it into a half sleeve.

Hello everyone!  I've lurked here a bit & decided to sign up & post a quick hello.  I've gotten a few tattoos recently after not getting any for a few years, and I've definitely caught the bug big time.  My most recent piece is this Kappa head by Zach Black @ Riverwest Tattoo.  I'm really happy with it & thinking about seeing if he can expand on it & turn it into a half sleeve.

Hello everyone!  I've lurked here a bit & decided to sign up & post a quick hello.  I've gotten a few tattoos recently after not getting any for a few years, and I've definitely caught the bug big time.  My most recent piece is this Kappa head by Zach Black @ Riverwest Tattoo.  I'm really happy with it & thinking about seeing if he can expand on it & turn it into a half sleeve.

I was definitely unable to contain myself the last two months. 
-Dan Sinnes scribbled on this locust yokai at Temple. I'm so pumped on how it came together. He posted a photo of the draw on for hilarity.  
-Valerie Vargas did the Oni/Gorilla fight on my arm at the Bay convention. I liked the idea of the eastern/western imagery clashing. My right arm is all american traditional patchwork and my left is semi-american traditional style patchwork with Japanese imagery. This has already healed ridiculously well.
Henning did the namakubi at the Bay convention. I had been waiting a few years to catch Henning at the convention when he had space from his larger works and this was the year. This is absolutely one of my favorite tattoo's. My girlfriend is definitely not as pumped. I'm blown away by his skill and kindness. 
 

"why don't you go in the shop and ask the receptionists advice?" from Transplant ....  is great advice, because the receptionist will know who does or does not do the type of job you are enquiring about. They are the traffic director for that environment and can answer your basic general questions, before you get to the next level, ie, in front of a Tattoo Artist. 
Tattooers, often hammer away at a particular style or subject for a while before moving onto something else, so the receptionist will know who is your best tool for the job in question. 
Explain what you want to do, (write it down first to collect your thoughts and get clear on your goals), bring reference photos printed from the internet, this will help you communicate your goals succinctly and clearly. A picture says a thousand words and this is especially true for Tattooing  and Tattoo art, the more pictures you can point to the better. Tattoo language is a difficult thing to learn, there is no dictionary on the subject, talking about visual arts can be difficult in the best of times, let alone dealing with the multitude of General Tattoo Genres, styles and Tattooers personal styles, subject matter etc..., it can be confusing for even veteran Tattoo People.  
Remember what may feel like a genuine stupid question only feels stupid because you are sincere and vulnerable, asking for help. It is actually stupid to not ask questions, and pretend you know the answers or act in ignorance. The veterans of this forum, are happy to help the newbies, because...who knows....but they do. We are all a part of this wonderfull Tattoo thing, the more the marrier.