Avery Taylor

I'm glad to see a thread about money come up on here, and stay on track with reasonable questions and reasonable answers. We have always avoided the topic, but it is a big part of getting tattooed, and new people come here to educate themselves on all aspects of tattooing. I think we have avoided it for so long because we didn't want it to turn into a big gossip thread about what specific tattooers charge. I personally have never asked ahead of time about the price, but I do think it is a good idea. Especially if you are new to getting tattooed. The ones of us that have been getting tattooed for a decade or more usually have some idea of what we might get charged. Even though we don't talk about it on open public forums we do share this type of information privately. When you are travelling across the country or across the world to get tattooed by someone you have never met before it is a huge help to have friends that have been tattooed by them. They let you know what to expect when you get there. Where to get a good pre-tattoo meal and post-tattoo drink, where the closest ATM is, how fast or slow the tattooer is, and what to expect on the money side. If you don't have friends like that as a resource then you need to talk about the price beforehand no matter how uncomfortable it makes you. I honestly believe that most really good tattooers are very fair with their pricing. That has been my experience over the last twelve years, but I also know that there are a few famous tattooers out there that charge ridiculous prices, and a couple of my friends found out the hard way. It sucks when that happens because it can really sour a person on getting tattooed.

Derrick Snodgrass and Jason Mcaffe. Both of those dudes make great tattoos and they seem to be able to work in any style.

OLIVER MACINTOSH TATTOO I have really been digging all of the his work, but his lady heads are exceptional. Something about the way he does the eyes gives them real life.

“If your parents begin to like your work it's getting bad." -Charles Bukowski

got this sacred heart from joe nickley almost 2 weeks ago

and this from chris kline at the scranton convention this past weekend

andddd yesterday i made an appointment with bert krak for next month while he's at old soul!

Got a gecko rose morph done this week; waiting for the healing to finish...
By Nick Agnew of Kingsland Ink, Auckland, New Zealand
https://www.instagram.com/p/BELE1HbCSjf/?taken-by=karliahquinn&hl=en

Many people have seen this all ready I guess. By Jondix, 11 days ago. Had such a great time. Stayed at the shop past midnight, talking and eating after the session.
Everybody should get something from him. Super good heart, attitude and knowledge of tattooing and art.
Wrathful offering of the five senses by Jonas Nyberg from last year.

I sit here, sore, swollen, in a daze... but I have to share my story. I am an apprentice tattooer and have been in my apprenticeship since September of 2014. I have always had a deep respect for tattooing, but it has now been solidified even deeper. Last year at the Lady Luck Tattoo Convention, my teacher was asked to receive a traditional Samoan tatau by Sulu'ape Si'i Liufau of A-Town Tattoo. My teacher has known Si'i for about 10 years through the convention circle. We were sharing a booth with A-Town, so I was preparing for a pretty close view of the event. As they were preparing, Si'i came to me and told me that he only had his apprentice, Genesis, available to stretch skin for the tatau and they would need my help. I have a previous post describing the experience, so I won't elaborate further on it here, but it became one of the biggest honors of my life to be involved in that tatau on my teacher.
Fast forward to this past weekend: We were working the Lady Luck Convention again and had a pretty slow schedule of clients. My teacher intentionally did so, because he wanted to hopefully help stretch on a tatau. It is a huge honor to receive a tatau, but it is an equal honor to assist in one. Saturday night, we are all in the bar, relaxing and having a good time. It was a group of about 20 tattooers from all over the country. Talk of the process of tatau began and I took the opportunity to interject and publicly thank Si'i for asking me to assist on my teacher's tatau. I told him it was one of the biggest honors of my life and I would never forget it. He nodded to me and said, "What are you doing tomorrow?" I said, "No tattoos, just working our booth." He said, "I should give you tatau tomorrow." Without hesitation, I stuck my hand out and said yes. We shook on it and he went over to discuss it with his apprentice. They were making gestures around the lower thigh area and kinda laughing a little. I jokingly said, "You guys are laughing too much! You gonna fuck me up tomorrow?!" Si'i responded, "We're gonna try something new on you, Nate. You're not gonna like it... but you're gonna like it."
The next morning, I went over to the A-Town booth and Si'i had me remove my shoes and put on a sarong. Without discussion, he started shaving my knee area, all the way around. He drew on a couple reference lines, where he then called over my teacher and told him he would be assisting his apprentice with stretching of the skin. I've already written a lot, so I will skip along. It took 3 hours of, by far, hands down, the most painful tattooing I've ever received. Almost my entire knee, and all the way around back, through the ditch. At the end, I was congratulated. I didn't move. I didn't squirm. I made no sounds. Inside my head, it felt as though they were cutting my leg off, but I knew I had to show my respect and gratitude by being silent. It was incredible. To be a part of my teacher's tatau and for him to be a part of mine has bonded us even closer. We are both so humbled and blown away by it all. As he did a final cleaning of my leg, I asked Sulu'ape Si'i what I needed to pay him for this (I was actually kind of worried, because I'm a broke apprentice). He said, "Meaalofa. It's a gift for you. You earned my respect when you sat for hours and stretched for your teacher last year." He also said, "Now Nate, this tatau has the ending placement of a traditional Pe'a, so when a Samoan sees it coming out of your shorts, they are going to question you. When they do, you tell them it was a gift from Sulu'ape and if they have any more questions, they can come talk to me." I'm still in awe. I look at my leg now and it is so much more than a tattoo. It is history. It is honor. It is respect. I just wanted to share my story. Thanks to all that read it. Here are some pictures of the whole thing.
Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

This is 2-3 days after my 3rd sesh w/ Jason Brooks. Got a little of the background to finish, but gonna start to fill in the scales next time. Can't wait till the next appointment!!! BTW, these boards introduced me to Jason. THANK YOU ALL :D

More shiny fresh line work done on the other side of the arm, will be working on a connecting dragon next session in April.
Kannon by Daniel Innis at the Pearl
 

BAM

Chris Conn from the Blackheart blog

Started the line work on my lower sleeve today with a Jizu - will be adding a Kannon on a dragon line work on the other side of the arm in a couple of weeks. Than moving on to filling in the gaps and colour. so it begins.

Arm by Dan Innes at Pearl Harbor

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've been gone for a while. I'm stoked to see so many great tattoos being done.
Started my back with Horitomo in December.

so we went to the Fresno,CA tattoo expo yesterday and had all saturday afternoon with Oliver Peck. Central Valley Tattoo
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I got these two,
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and this one on my left lower thigh,it's a little bruised now.
and Saniderm on it.
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and my wife got this
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we had a really great day getting tattooed together at a convention,it was awesome.

Unfortunately after I finished my back the itch didn't stay scratched for too long. Started this piece on Thursday. I have been shitting myself about starting the front and I wasn't disappointed, there were some seriously ouch spots. Have to keep telling myself the end result is worth it. :)

I got this done today by Dan Climan, real stoked on it!

I'm pretty sure it's based off a Owen Jensen design but I haven't found the original yet. I'd love to see it if anyone knows where to find it.

Robert Ryan Asbury Park NJ - on the knee
good times as usual

If you follow me at all on Instagram or Facebook...you've probably seen this. I'm pretty much obsessed with my latest tattoo from Jim Sylvia. As a Bowie fanatic, and a cat lover.... all arrows pointed toward me needing this tattoo that I got last night. It's a great feeling you get when you pick the right person for the job. I had never met Jim before, but have been admiring his work for the past couple years. Finally figured out what I needed from him. Great guy. Solid, talented, skilled, accomodating. <3

From yesterday by the the all mighty Marius Meyer. Super rad guy with a burning passion for tattooing. Everybody should get something from him. As for me, this means I'll be going to job interviews in turtleneck sweaters for the rest of my life.

I got this incredible panther and snake by Valerie Vargas earlier this week
https://www.instagram.com/p/BBn6dIQkHUa/?taken-by=valeriemodernclassic

Alix Ge finished my pharaoh's horses yesterday
https://www.instagram.com/p/BBnT4LcQCmd/?taken-by=alixge

Here is my dome by Jesse Roberts - whether or not this is a face tattoo I don't know. I'm the farthest thing from hardcore and would say nothing has changed since getting it. No big deal! I really liked the cover of the finger wave book so that's why I went to Jesse, as he painted it. I fully endorse people getting their head and face tattooed.

A bit amusing...I'm reading my lengthy post above from 18 months ago...now I've got tattoos creeping the cuff and onto the hands. Things change, tattooing is fluid!
here's my newish dragon fist:

and here's a an artsy selfie of my dragon fist - dragon fly and dragon eyes ! for your viewing pleasure

see guys! i got lots of space left...maybe squinch in some tudor roses on the hands in the future