chrisnoluck

Oh I've got a few, some laughable some not, but I'm definitely not ashamed of this one

First tattoo I ever did, at Tux's studio in '99. I was so nervous telling him & his wife the night before; I asked them to meet me for coffee and got it off my chest that I was ready to do this. He tried to talk me out of it by mentioning no heath benefits, no retirement pay, high-risk occupation, "why don't you be a vet or something, much easier. That's what Alex Herman did after quitting the biz". I could not be swayed. So he said"OK, show up at the shop tmrw and you can tattoo yourself". That really surprised me, I was not expecting that. I was prepared for "what the fuck, you shouldn't be doing this get the hell outta my sight". He had a legit rep for being rather brash and didn't pull punches. Chased a few people out of the shop looking for apprenticeships.
When I got there I realized I had no idea what to put on myself. That part had not even crossed my mind, just "Holy shit Tux is gonna let me tattoo myself". So I said, "what should I pick?"
He handed me this one and said "That's the first one I did on myself" which may or may not be true (once upon a long time ago he did the borneo scorpion on Higgs and told him he drew it himself hahaha what a classic fibber) but I didn't ask twice. He set up 2 Percy Waters, loud as hell, told me they were worth more than my life, showed me some basic info and turned me loose. That was one of the most exciting moments ever up to that point in my tattoo experiences.
Best design ever? no. Best job ever? No. Some good blowouts? Yup. Something I'm proud of? Most definitely.

made a trip to michigan over the weekend
jeff zuck @ name brand tattoo. not sure why the picture looks weird at the top of the flames

alex boyko @ sunhouse

then today on my way home i swung by old soul and got this from john hill

made a trip to michigan over the weekend
jeff zuck @ name brand tattoo. not sure why the picture looks weird at the top of the flames

alex boyko @ sunhouse

then today on my way home i swung by old soul and got this from john hill

made a trip to michigan over the weekend
jeff zuck @ name brand tattoo. not sure why the picture looks weird at the top of the flames

alex boyko @ sunhouse

then today on my way home i swung by old soul and got this from john hill

made a trip to michigan over the weekend
jeff zuck @ name brand tattoo. not sure why the picture looks weird at the top of the flames

alex boyko @ sunhouse

then today on my way home i swung by old soul and got this from john hill

made a trip to michigan over the weekend
jeff zuck @ name brand tattoo. not sure why the picture looks weird at the top of the flames

alex boyko @ sunhouse

then today on my way home i swung by old soul and got this from john hill

made a trip to michigan over the weekend
jeff zuck @ name brand tattoo. not sure why the picture looks weird at the top of the flames

alex boyko @ sunhouse

then today on my way home i swung by old soul and got this from john hill

made a trip to michigan over the weekend
jeff zuck @ name brand tattoo. not sure why the picture looks weird at the top of the flames

alex boyko @ sunhouse

then today on my way home i swung by old soul and got this from john hill

made a trip to michigan over the weekend
jeff zuck @ name brand tattoo. not sure why the picture looks weird at the top of the flames

alex boyko @ sunhouse

then today on my way home i swung by old soul and got this from john hill

made a trip to michigan over the weekend
jeff zuck @ name brand tattoo. not sure why the picture looks weird at the top of the flames

alex boyko @ sunhouse

then today on my way home i swung by old soul and got this from john hill

made a trip to michigan over the weekend
jeff zuck @ name brand tattoo. not sure why the picture looks weird at the top of the flames

alex boyko @ sunhouse

then today on my way home i swung by old soul and got this from john hill

made a trip to michigan over the weekend
jeff zuck @ name brand tattoo. not sure why the picture looks weird at the top of the flames

alex boyko @ sunhouse

then today on my way home i swung by old soul and got this from john hill

made a trip to michigan over the weekend
jeff zuck @ name brand tattoo. not sure why the picture looks weird at the top of the flames

alex boyko @ sunhouse

then today on my way home i swung by old soul and got this from john hill

made a trip to michigan over the weekend
jeff zuck @ name brand tattoo. not sure why the picture looks weird at the top of the flames

alex boyko @ sunhouse

then today on my way home i swung by old soul and got this from john hill

made a trip to michigan over the weekend
jeff zuck @ name brand tattoo. not sure why the picture looks weird at the top of the flames

alex boyko @ sunhouse

then today on my way home i swung by old soul and got this from john hill

I know it's hard to not think like this especially if you are new to getting tattooed or prone to getting star-struck (me), but you shouldn't! Tattooers are just people with a specialized skill set. We owe our lives to the clients and have no valid reason to think that we are better than you. Don't get tattooed by people who think that you owe them something, can't stress that enough. You will find that the more you get tattooed, the experience is just as important as the art. Get tattooed by people who not only do awesome work, but who are friendly and humble people that you will want to spend however many hours in close proximity with. If you aren't comfortable in your tattooer's presence, you probably shouldn't get tattooed by that person. Hope that helps :)

made a trip to michigan over the weekend
jeff zuck @ name brand tattoo. not sure why the picture looks weird at the top of the flames

alex boyko @ sunhouse

then today on my way home i swung by old soul and got this from john hill

made a trip to michigan over the weekend
jeff zuck @ name brand tattoo. not sure why the picture looks weird at the top of the flames

alex boyko @ sunhouse

then today on my way home i swung by old soul and got this from john hill

made a trip to michigan over the weekend
jeff zuck @ name brand tattoo. not sure why the picture looks weird at the top of the flames

alex boyko @ sunhouse

then today on my way home i swung by old soul and got this from john hill

i got my elbow tattooed yesterday by ivan soyars @ old soul tattoo; canonsburg, pa.

I'd choose "tattoo mojo" over technical perfection any day. It's like music man... It needs soul! I think Deutsche, Roberts and Horiyoshi's work has plenty, and then some.

I can't get past the Eddy Deutsche "lost it" comment.

My advice is to leave it as it is. The risk in adding things to the sides to make it fuller is that you will compromise the design and make the tattoo weaker as a result. As it is, it's a nice triangular shape that fits well, and I'm not sure the rectangular area you want flows nearly as well. It's your body, your tattoo, and your choice, but that's my two cents.

I definitely get questionable looks from friends/coworkers each time I'm wrapped and healing, and it's admittedly difficult to not to feel shy about it. That's not to imply that it stops me from doing what I want though. I've covered my front, left arm and right leg in three plus years. I've also just started my back with Tomo. I'm moving a quick but I'm unsure how long I'll be in a place like the bay, with such phenomenal shops, artists, and tattoo history. It feels like my favorite artists are guesting constantly, and I suppose that they are. I'm not into material things, and I save well so it doesn't seem to be a problem. Also, I OCD on the empty space.
A part of me wishes that I slowed down because my taste has matured significantly in just three years, but I don't regret anything that I have. Hoping to prioritize tattoo's from some older legends now like Eddy D, Bob Roberts and Henning. I know I'll be the guy tattooing the armpits and tender groin space when all else has been covered, like a crackhead of sorts. Better now while I don't have to care for others.

Already in the works...
August 5, 6, 7 at Crowne Plaza Hotel Reading
Sick poster by Chris Conn up.
Tim Lehi, Valerie Vargas, Stewart Robson, Dan Smith, Shaun Topper, Greg Whitehead, Teide, Andreas Coenen and more. Wild ass already.