Jae

good points @SStu
i would also add that, aside from finding style and artistry that fits your vibe, making a connection can be difficult. conventions are a good start, if you can find time to chat with an artist who isn't busy... but oftentimes, good artists are already tattooing or their mind might be consumed with all that goes with that. still.. if you hang around their booth enough, you can catch their vibes or maybe find some time to chat and see if you connect. i will say, some of them get super into their work and might not be as approachable as they would be otherwise.
visiting shops is also a good way to catch a vibe of the shop, in general. again, if the artist is busy, you might not get a great feel for who they are. if you're in there long enough, you might catch a bit of their conversations or personality or how they're interacting with the client they're working on at that moment, and that could provide some sense.
honestly, sometimes, it's really just hit or miss and you don't know until you get in chair. the more you do that, the more you get an understanding of what you're looking for.
 
so, just keep getting tattooed!!

Art is subjective - and what style resonates with you is truly what should guide with with respect to style and artistry. There really are no wrong answers to this question. 
Learn to visually discern if a healed tattoo has clean, clear and straight lines PLUS good ink saturation. At that stage you can gauge if you've found a good tattooist.   
You'll need to satisfy both answers in order to be truly happen with the result and decades of wear. 

There is a vintage motorcycle club that meets in Knoxville at the Time Warp Tea Room. For 2020 (before the virus thing) we have a challenge to put 20 old bikes back on the road. I found a '78 GoldWing that had been off the road for at least 9 years and finally stashed in a fence row. Drug it home, stripped it down and proceeded to rescue it. It is finally ready for serious road testing.

I named it "Johnny 5" because it is the 5th GL1000 I've owned.

That I ask a question and then almost immediately find the answer myself

Never mind I finally found the information right after posting a question about it.

Not even remotely surprised honestly. This happens way too often

My pit bull and my sister's pug, lying on the couch at my sister's.

Hi all, 
Long time since I posted here so I really must update with my latest pieces.
 
Anyway,  myself and the better half are taking some time out to do a bit of travelling this year and want to line up some potential tattoo appointments along the way. 
 
The current plan is is the following:
summer in Boston (have a few shops in mind there), a few weeks in Cuba and Colombia. Back to Ireland for a coupe of weeks and then onto South East Asia; two months touring Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos then a month in Phillipines and a month in Indonesia. 
We may get in a few other places depending on finances etc. 
 
I'd like to get a hand-poked tattoo at some stage but obviously want to be going in eyes wide open and to a good artist. 
 
Any my other recommendations for shops/artists along our route? We're mostly into traditional work but not exactly restricted in that sense. 
 
Thanks again, folks!

Thanks!

Here’s my current one :) it’s on my ankle

Currently in lockdown in the middle of nowhere spending my time applying for new jobs and trying to figure out where I’m going to live next.
Just got done with a 14 day self-quarantine though since I recently returned to the states after traveling around Asia and Africa for work (though that schedule was changed multiple times and then cut drastically short due to COVID-19. I should still be in Africa right now!) 
Here are a couple pictures from some of my recent travels! 

Hey everyone! I’m new on here (obviously) and looking to meet some people, talk tattoos, and ask for some advice.
 
I have one tattoo already and have been playing around with 2 other ideas. Hoping to get one of them after this lockdown stuff is over with and I figure out where I’m going to live.
 
I’m starting with just lurking around the forum and seeing what I can find. But I’m sure I’ll be asking some advice soon.
 
Hope you are all staying healthy, safe, and sane in these crazy times!
 
Jae

Hey everyone! I’m new on here (obviously) and looking to meet some people, talk tattoos, and ask for some advice.
 
I have one tattoo already and have been playing around with 2 other ideas. Hoping to get one of them after this lockdown stuff is over with and I figure out where I’m going to live.
 
I’m starting with just lurking around the forum and seeing what I can find. But I’m sure I’ll be asking some advice soon.
 
Hope you are all staying healthy, safe, and sane in these crazy times!
 
Jae