Aahzz

I resent that our culture in the U.S. has gotten to the point where a tip is expected for every service, and that the "customary amount" keeps going up. My rule in restaurants was always 15% for average service, 10% for passable service, and 20% for good service. Now 20% is expected for crappy service, which seems skewed in the wrong direction.
As for my tattoos, I've tipped the artist on each occasion, and did so willingly, because they did what I consider exemplary work, and made the experience absolutely fun. Still, in the first shop I resented the number of tipping signs they had scattered about the environment, as it did lead to a sense of obligation, rather than a sense of tipping from gratitude.

My first was last October, at the age of 42, and was a design I'd had in mind for about ten years. I figured if I still wanted it after that long, I should go ahead and get it. It was done by Crow Grando, who was then working at Beelistic Tattoos in Cincinnati. That one has spawned three more in just under a year, and I'm sure more are to come, though I have no designs in mind for the immediate future....

Hello,
I found this pretty cool stop motion video in three parts on youtube for a half sleeve 'nerd' tattoo described as follows:
*I didn't want to just do a one-off thread, so thought to just title it 'Tattoos on Video' so other people might want to post similar videos, if they like. I am not sure, but I do not think it has any real 'how-to' applications to it.
If so, apologies and please feel free to remove.

My first was last October, at the age of 42, and was a design I'd had in mind for about ten years. I figured if I still wanted it after that long, I should go ahead and get it. It was done by Crow Grando, who was then working at Beelistic Tattoos in Cincinnati. That one has spawned three more in just under a year, and I'm sure more are to come, though I have no designs in mind for the immediate future....

I posted this in another section but I just got this last night, done by Ron Wells at Three Kings Tattoo in NY.

Got this last night from Ron Wells at Three Kings in NY.

My latest is posted in the War Stories thread as well, but I might as well tell more about it here. I got it this past Saturday. This one was at the request of my kids. I had said I wanted something completely whimsical, so I asked them what they thought I should get. They suggested Perry the Platypus, also known as Agent P, from the Disney show Phineas and Ferb. I am almost as big a fan of the show as they are, so I thought it was an awesome idea. I found that the artist who has done my previous three tattoos is currently taking a break from the business, so went to another loval artist she had recommended - Robyn at Mothers Tattoo in Erlanger KY. I am seriously pleased with the outcome - great experience and she did a great job of capturing the character. She also used a nearly silent tattoo machine, which I found interesting, I didn't know those existed....

Chad did this one on my good lady wife today as well.

I got my right foot done yesterday, now my feet match hehe. My right foot is still very swollen and I took the pics myself so they are a it looks a bit distorted

Got this one earlier, also from Chad at Frith St.

My latest is posted in the War Stories thread as well, but I might as well tell more about it here. I got it this past Saturday. This one was at the request of my kids. I had said I wanted something completely whimsical, so I asked them what they thought I should get. They suggested Perry the Platypus, also known as Agent P, from the Disney show Phineas and Ferb. I am almost as big a fan of the show as they are, so I thought it was an awesome idea. I found that the artist who has done my previous three tattoos is currently taking a break from the business, so went to another loval artist she had recommended - Robyn at Mothers Tattoo in Erlanger KY. I am seriously pleased with the outcome - great experience and she did a great job of capturing the character. She also used a nearly silent tattoo machine, which I found interesting, I didn't know those existed....

My latest is posted in the War Stories thread as well, but I might as well tell more about it here. I got it this past Saturday. This one was at the request of my kids. I had said I wanted something completely whimsical, so I asked them what they thought I should get. They suggested Perry the Platypus, also known as Agent P, from the Disney show Phineas and Ferb. I am almost as big a fan of the show as they are, so I thought it was an awesome idea. I found that the artist who has done my previous three tattoos is currently taking a break from the business, so went to another loval artist she had recommended - Robyn at Mothers Tattoo in Erlanger KY. I am seriously pleased with the outcome - great experience and she did a great job of capturing the character. She also used a nearly silent tattoo machine, which I found interesting, I didn't know those existed....

I guess there are unwritten rules in the industry, and for me, to many of them are about "respect". Lots of artists who have been working in the industry for 20 + years are covered in tattoos, but I would not let them near me with a needle, even though they are well respected. Some of the newcomers who put out amazing work have little tattoos, but receive little respect from the industry because of how long they have been around. The average customer does not hang around forums like this, they come in off the street looking for something "nice" from the flash. I do not think they care how long the artist has been around, how tattooed they are, who sponsored them etc. For them its about the "experience" .My wife is about to start her apprenticeship, and has only 1 tattoo. She wants more, but is cautious by nature, so when she knows what she wants, and who by, she will undoubtedly get more. But the artist she will be working under was happy that she had only 1 tattoo, so that she knew what it felt like. He was more interested in her artistic ability, which again, is what the average Joe is concerned about.
So for me the answer is that I care more about the tattoo they are putting on me than the tattoos they have.

Just got this one yesterday - those with kids in the 5-12 age range should recognize Perry :)

Just got this one yesterday - those with kids in the 5-12 age range should recognize Perry :)

Just got this one yesterday - those with kids in the 5-12 age range should recognize Perry :)

Got my smallest yet today - This comes from a necklace my Mom has - it's her lucky charm. Dad designed it and had it made for her by a friend back in 1973. Seemed like the right image to symbolize Mom :).