graybones

All pieces i drool over on instagram happen to be on people who are on LST. Congrats on that piece, its awesome!

That's a problem I'm having. I contacted an artist who is known to have a 8 - 10mo wait list for new clients. He responded to my email, seemed like he was interested in my idea, but then communication stopped and I didn't know if I was on the wait list or not. Tried calling the shop a few times, no luck. Decided to give it a rest before I got annoying. Seven months later I tried to follow up again (I live across the country for this shop so I wanted to be prepared to make travel arrangements), no response.
Not sure if he just wasn't into my idea or if my emails just got lost in the pile. Can't tell how to walk the line between showing how committed I am and not being irritating. In the meantime I'm just going to keep getting tattooed by other people and hope the opportunity to get tattooed by this artist comes up in the future.

I'm a web designer, this same shit has been going on in our industry for awhile now. Logo Contests, Website Design Contests, etc.
The only designers who are willing to enter these kinds of contests are people who can't get a job as a designer or make it as a freelancer, so you are always going to get bad work. Always. No one with actual experience and skill is going to do work that they "might" get paid for, when they could be doing work they'll definitely get paid (a lot more) for. And then when they "win" the contest they're rewarded with a cheapskate client who doesn't respect the profession enough to pay for a site well-built & well-designed by professionals... assuming the client doesn't just take their free designs and disappear.
Anyway, my point is, if this custom tattoo design thing turns out anything like what I've seen in my own industry, it's only going to result in poorly designed or blatantly ripped off designs being taken to unskilled, cheap artists and producing an awful result. "You get the tattoo you deserve."
quick edit: Not to disrespect any artist that's participating, just wanted to say what I think will happen to this idea based on what I've seen of a similar idea executed in my own profession.

Thank you so much Tron!!!

I'm a web designer, this same shit has been going on in our industry for awhile now. Logo Contests, Website Design Contests, etc.
The only designers who are willing to enter these kinds of contests are people who can't get a job as a designer or make it as a freelancer, so you are always going to get bad work. Always. No one with actual experience and skill is going to do work that they "might" get paid for, when they could be doing work they'll definitely get paid (a lot more) for. And then when they "win" the contest they're rewarded with a cheapskate client who doesn't respect the profession enough to pay for a site well-built & well-designed by professionals... assuming the client doesn't just take their free designs and disappear.
Anyway, my point is, if this custom tattoo design thing turns out anything like what I've seen in my own industry, it's only going to result in poorly designed or blatantly ripped off designs being taken to unskilled, cheap artists and producing an awful result. "You get the tattoo you deserve."
quick edit: Not to disrespect any artist that's participating, just wanted to say what I think will happen to this idea based on what I've seen of a similar idea executed in my own profession.

I'm a web designer, this same shit has been going on in our industry for awhile now. Logo Contests, Website Design Contests, etc.
The only designers who are willing to enter these kinds of contests are people who can't get a job as a designer or make it as a freelancer, so you are always going to get bad work. Always. No one with actual experience and skill is going to do work that they "might" get paid for, when they could be doing work they'll definitely get paid (a lot more) for. And then when they "win" the contest they're rewarded with a cheapskate client who doesn't respect the profession enough to pay for a site well-built & well-designed by professionals... assuming the client doesn't just take their free designs and disappear.
Anyway, my point is, if this custom tattoo design thing turns out anything like what I've seen in my own industry, it's only going to result in poorly designed or blatantly ripped off designs being taken to unskilled, cheap artists and producing an awful result. "You get the tattoo you deserve."
quick edit: Not to disrespect any artist that's participating, just wanted to say what I think will happen to this idea based on what I've seen of a similar idea executed in my own profession.

That's a problem I'm having. I contacted an artist who is known to have a 8 - 10mo wait list for new clients. He responded to my email, seemed like he was interested in my idea, but then communication stopped and I didn't know if I was on the wait list or not. Tried calling the shop a few times, no luck. Decided to give it a rest before I got annoying. Seven months later I tried to follow up again (I live across the country for this shop so I wanted to be prepared to make travel arrangements), no response.
Not sure if he just wasn't into my idea or if my emails just got lost in the pile. Can't tell how to walk the line between showing how committed I am and not being irritating. In the meantime I'm just going to keep getting tattooed by other people and hope the opportunity to get tattooed by this artist comes up in the future.

I couldn't find many examples either for kitsune ideas when I was looking around, but I just asked Seth Wood if he wanted to draw one for my back - fortunately he was interested. I think you just have to find someone you trust and go for it!

Bumping this to share some kitsune art I've found, hoping others will post more. This is a great subject for a tattoo, and not one I see often.

Thanks for the kind words, here's an updated pic, finished it off yesterday. It was an absolute pleasure to be tattooed by Claudia, and Jolie Rouge is a great shop full of the most awesome people. Hope to return for some more work from her at some point in the future.
Photo by claudiadesabe • Instagram

That's a problem I'm having. I contacted an artist who is known to have a 8 - 10mo wait list for new clients. He responded to my email, seemed like he was interested in my idea, but then communication stopped and I didn't know if I was on the wait list or not. Tried calling the shop a few times, no luck. Decided to give it a rest before I got annoying. Seven months later I tried to follow up again (I live across the country for this shop so I wanted to be prepared to make travel arrangements), no response.
Not sure if he just wasn't into my idea or if my emails just got lost in the pile. Can't tell how to walk the line between showing how committed I am and not being irritating. In the meantime I'm just going to keep getting tattooed by other people and hope the opportunity to get tattooed by this artist comes up in the future.

This is where I'm up to with my back piece so far. Got a few more months to wait before I can get some more done.

Got this from Scott Sylvia over the weekend, very happy with it (stole the pic from blackhearts IG). Gonna go back to Blackheart for their walk in day in a couple weeks too.

First Tattoo Story:
I was 19. My college room-mate and friend-to-this-day from the Yukon had just gotten a tattoo of Yoda on his upper arm after a bunch of us put up $20 each and dared him to do it. It was/still is pretty killer.
After several weeks of us enduring his "hey guys, check it out, I'm drinking for two" jokes, we were sitting around the house one day. He was, as usual, admiring his new companion when he asked: "Hey man, if you were to get an impulsive tattoo, what would you get?". I hadn't really thought about it much, but as I was pondering my eyes rested on the massive pirate flag hanging in our living room. "I would totally do a skull and bones!" I said, to which he replied "......me too". Our third roommate came into the room around this time and asked us what was going on. We filled her in and she was way into the idea too. We made a blood-pact (or high-fived or something, it was a long time ago) and set out for the local shop.
We got to the shop right before closing. It was a Sunday night and only one artist was still there (it was a smaller shop). We told him we all wanted tattoos together. He asked what do you want? We all said "Skull and Bones". He was quiet for a minute and said, "well I'm about to lock up, but since you want something cool let me close down the shop and let's do it...if you woulda said something lame I woulda told you to come back later!".
So he locked up and we got tattoos! I went first and got a pretty straight forward skull n bones on my shoulder. Yukon went second and got a goofy looking skull and bones missing some teef on his biceps (his request: "can you make it look, y'know, shittier?"). Our third roomie got a mechanical/riveted skull n bones on the back of her neck. Pretty sure she was/is tougher than the rest of us!
While the other two were going, I went across the lot to the pub and ordered a bunch of food for everyone and brought it back to the shop. After we were all wrapped up and giddy we had a meal with our tattooer, bullshitted for a bit then went home. All in all, it was pretty much the best thing ever. Man, I love that tattoo and those people!
So I guess my first tattoo was a bro-tatty? Ha! What do you call it when one of your bros is a lady?
Lessons learned that day:
1) Tattoos are fun. The experience is a huge part of it.
2) Trying to cram literal meaning in tattoos is for the birds. Or at least not for me. SKULL N BONES now reminds me of great times and great people. And Fun (remember fun?).
3) Impulsive tattoos are really really great. Don't let anyone tell you different.
Thanks for listening...

Just Had the best two days ever, got to hang with some tattoo royalty get tattooed and spend an early Valentine in a cool hotel with my mrs, first I got my thigh / knee Tattood by Tim Hendricks

Then I got my side / ribs done by Matt Arriola a day later

I'm feeling a bit tender now, but it was totally worth it, pain killers and booze? don't mind if i do :D

Got my feet done by Aaron Coleman last night. Great guy, super happy how they came out, and he was fast enough to get both done before I completely wussed out.

They wrap a bit, but you get the picture.

Within the next 2 years I hope to get out to San Jose, visit some friends and get a Horitomo monmon cat tattoo!!!

Fuck what ppl think is what I say! Seriously though, In just a short time of having a pig and a rooster tattoo I've herd it all.
Post up a pic of your bass, we'd love to see it. Here is a trout my tattooers wife did.
http://instagram.com/p/b4rBHEkE8g/

Quick update. State of Grace and Horitomo released more prints so naturally I had to add to my wall. Filled in this space so far. Have six more pieces to place elsewhere in the apartment. Will provide another update shortly. LOVE the MonMon cats!!!

Got this done last night by Heather Bailey at Spider Murphy's. Super stoked to have work by such a great artist!
(First pic's stolen from her Instagram - Instagram)

Photo heavy post... I'll include the captions from the Life article where appropriate. Not going to post the whole Irezumi book because there's lots of images, and there's something magical about flipping through that thing... some things are best discovered through some digging. These are by far the coolest shots from it, though.
The tattooer they cover is called Apache Harry. There's a shot of his travel kit and flash set up on the first page. He has a sign reading "Tattoos Removed Without Scars. Apache Harry. #22 Bowery NYC."

"For decorating 'Six Ring' Dutch and other clients, tattooist Apache Harry makes $3,000 a year."

"Front view of Michael Brandmaier. His 300 designs by Apache Harry are worth $400."

"Rear view of Michael Brandmaier. It took four years to tattoo him all over."

" 'Professor' Wagner is responsible for this girl's condition."

Irezumi, 1966.

@TrixieFaux @graybones @iowagirl @cltattooing I draw on myself with eyeliner too! Phew. Like iowagirl said, I'm mostly doing it at the moment to make sure I don't pester my artist!

I also posted this in the backpiece thread, but i'm soo stoked i just had to put it in here too :-)
Well, Since today I am an official member of the Back piece squad :)
We had a (pretty brutal) 5+ hour start of my backpiece, we managed to finish all the lining (except for the big flower that need to go on my upper legs).
Next session will be for lining the flowers and the rest of the leg part, and to start shading... I can't wait ;-)

Well, Since today I am an official member of the Back piece squad :)
We had a (pretty brutal) 5+ hour start of my backpiece, we managed to finish all the lining (except for the big flowers that need to go on my upper legs).
Next session will be for lining the flowers and the rest of the leg part, and to start shading... I can't wait ;-)

@TaeTae, I find back of the thighs OK. The ass is way more painful. It´s actually awful! hehe..
Wow, that was a big question! My legs will not be in the same style as my back piece with traditional windbar background. My plan is to collect small and large one-shots on the rest of the body regardless of the style, and finally sew it all together with a kind of background. Maybe a flame background. I should also laser remove an entire sleeve and two other tattoos. A big project, but necessary. In October I travel to NYC / SF (with @Ninab and @Iwar) to get tattooed by Hoyer / O'Donnell / Lehi and hopefully Corbin. On the wish list for the future: Rassier, Leu, Mick, Roper, Sylvia Trevino, Ichibay, Bruno, Grime, Arriola, Deutsche, Whitehead and many more ..