pintindola

Recently at work a customer said to me, "I really hate tattoos and usually think they're disgusting, but yours is beautiful." This was the best backhanded compliment I've ever gotten, because I realized--for all those other people who stare at me in disgust--as long as I keep getting beautiful, flawless pieces, who the fuck cares what other people think, because I may just convert more close-minded people like that customer to appreciating tattoos and accepting people with them.

My girlfriend and I were eating at a restaurant in the downtown area of our town a week or two ago, and we ended up getting seated directly next to the floor to ceiling window that looked out onto the sidewalk. A family stopped right outside and there was a little dude--probably 7 or 8--who was absolutely fascinated by my tattoos. He stood there staring open mouthed and at one point grabbed his sister to point and show her. It was really cute...he clearly didn't realize that we could see him too, as after a minute or two we finally laughed and waved to him, at which point he ran and hid behind his parents. Kids are the best.

If that were me I would have just showed her my.

Tattoo Elite International

In our household... we like our Battle Royals with cheese and no whine, in one shot... Preferably in one sitting. I'll post a couple pics...
It was his kids first tattoo, one sitting, like 8 hours...

Also, you might wanna read this. Consider it a public service announcement of sorts: Is The Magic Gone? « Saltwatertattoo

I last got tattooed TWO WHOLE WEEKS AGO, and that mofo is still itchy.

And I thought I was the only one that secretly disrobes at work to take care of new tattoos! You're lucky that you have an office. As a contractor I got the public bathroom :(
Being that I have been continously been getting tattooed for over a year and a half now I am pretty much used to the process (cleaning, sitting weird, sleeping weird, peeling, multi-colored skin flakes, etc) but this last tattoo takes the cake for the worst healing process.
Just got my ass to upper-calf tattooed in one shot. Actually had to call off of work (first time for a tattoo) because I could not sleep the night before and when I got up I couldn't bend my knee. Knee-ditch is aggravating since you have to keep your leg extended. Add your ass getting tattooed, I kinda sit on one cheek as to not let my clothes stick to it.
Also it does seem that wherever I get tattooed, that is the EXACT place that my body wants to sleep on...it is also usually the place my friends dog wants to jump on :(

In usual South Florida summer fashion, my entire front and back yard is filled with mosquitoes. It's particularly bad because tropical storm Issac dumped 12 inches on our lawn. Ugh. So my fresh calf tat is at least one bite on it, and another right next to it. As if the itching wasn't bad enough to begin with!

Of course they're totally worth it, it's not so bad, blah blah blah, but I thought it might be nice to have a space to bitch about one's healing in whatever stage it's in, as we all know that all there really is to do, beyond the basics, is wait.
Today the tattoo I got on Saturday started flaking en masse. I have never quite seen anything like it with my other tattoos, which usually go from stage to stage much more gradually; it went from nothing to the entire thing (and it's the entire front of my thigh) flaking off at one time. It felt so dry and uncomfortable under my work pants that I kept locking my office door to secretly strip down and give it a little moisturizer. The inside of my pants looks like I'm some kind of dandruff hoarder. Oof.
Whine away, folks.

A tattooer without even any visible tattoos just doesn't really make sense to me. I'm just apprentice but I am so completely obsessed with tattooing that I can't even imagine why a tattooer wouldn't want to have tattoos. I'm not saying you have to be completely covered, I by no means am (yet). I have stuff on both arms but they aren't quite full yet and I have some on my legs as well. Being an apprentice, I don't really make a lot of money but I constantly put some aside each week to save up for tattoos and pretty much just live on ramen noodles and cereal. In fact some of my greatest "Aha!! so that's how it's done!" moments have come from being tattooed by people I really respect. Towards the beginning of my apprenticeship I had to put a few tattoos on myself before I could even think about tattooing another person.
Tattooing completely consumes me and I feel that I have been given one of the greatest gifts in the world. The fact that any tattooer would not feel the same and not be be completely engrossed in this craft that I have come to love so much kind of makes me sad.
That's my two cents but what the fuck do I know, I'm just an apprentice.

There are sometimes exceptions to any rule and I agree with Tim but I would go much further and use the term parasite. They are feeding off something and giving nothing back.
I fail to see how any tattooer can understand what they are doing to people if they have no tattoos. Yeah there's the pain side. Mostly it's not that bad, but if you're tattooing ribs, chests, backs etc you should at least have empathy with your customer. But more than the sensation of being tattooed, there's the mental and emotional side to being a tattooed person. The way it feels to have made a deliberate choice to get a tattoo, placed a certain amount of trust in a stranger (usually) and to have the results with you every moment of your existence. To know what it's like to live with a tattoo, to see it age with your body etc. Not forgetting the social side, the way other people interact with you, either positive or negative. All these things cannot be understood without having tattoos.
Being heavily tattooed is certainly no indicator of the quality of a tattooers work, but I have zero respect for tattooers with no tattoos.

If she'd had enough money she could have had the "re" tattooed on the end.

What about non-tattooers selling all of us tattoo equipment? Some will speak strongly against those who don't tattoo owning shops and swear off ever giving them money, but then will make an order with a non-tattooer owned supplier and unknowingly act hypocritical. I think in tattooing these days, in my opinion, we need good people who care about the business and who bring something positive to the table of tattooing, tattooer or not(although tattooer preferred). I just came back from working at Frith Street Tattoo in London, I watched a bunch of very well known and respected tattooers work there in the last two weeks, not to mention the incredibly talented crew that are residents their. The owner, Dante, is not a tattooer, but he is a good human being and cares for his employees as if they were family. I am proud to say I worked there and as far as Dante(the owner) goes, I would take a bullet for him.

I'm a fat woman covered in tattoos. I think if you want to get tattooed do it. Who cares what other people think anyway? My friend, and tattoo artist Kristel Oreto and I have started a page dedicated to fat women with tattoos. We are just as awesome as any other woman with tattoos.
Not to mention, I think my tattoos make me so much more comfortable with my body. Or at least I feel better about myself. :)

There was a saying, "marry a fat tattooed lady and you'll have heat in the winter, shade in the summer and moving pictures all year round.".
CG

Uh I know several big girls with GREAT tattoos- the key seems to be to get BIG tattoos...Im a fat guy myself and i dont see how it matters-
Also I think being fat (5'8" 260) is pretty awesome bc i have enough room on my sides to get like 2 extra backpieces

5'10", 89kg/196lb
As a fat woman: fuck body hate, get tattooed.
To elaborate: being both fat and disabled, I've had issues with my body for a long time. The act of getting tattooed (facing a chronic pain and sensitivity problem) and the act of BEING visibly tattooed is, for me, extremely empowering. I'm not the typical "hot tattooed chick", and it is glorious. It's a way to take back this vessel I've been cursed/blessed with, and to feel more comfortable going through life in it.
Plus, tattoos are awesome.

I can speak from personal experience on this subject. Over the years my weight ballooned to 17stone (238 lb.). I'm around 5ft 6". Didn't stop me getting tattooed in fact it made me feel different about my body. I was transformed from a fat bastard with a couple of tattoos to a fat bastard with a lot of nice tattoos. Great. However due to my size I did feel that getting a nice tattoo on my ribs was out of the question.
The change in my attitude towards my body has made me think more about the obvious health issues and after spending so much time under the needle I thought it would be a bit of a pisser to bow out early. So I lost around 56lbs and I got my rib tattoo. I've still got a little way to go and carrying all that excess weight has left me with a bad back, knees, type 2 diabetes and stretch marks (those areas I wouldn't get tattooed although I do know a tattooer who enjoys whip-shading stretch marks as he has a sticker by his work station stating so).
My only advise would be to choose a good tattooer, take advantage what you've got and get something a decent size. As for what other people think, fuck em.

When I first started getting tattooed somebody suggested that it was odd that someone so skinny should get tattooed (I'm 5'10" and 140lb soaking wet). Go figure... I say your body size and shape shouldn't matter whatsoever in your decision as to whether or not to adorn your body with art.
At the end of the day there are fat trashy people with trashy tattoos, just as there are skinny trashy people with trashy tattoos. The subject matter, artist, choice of placement and how you present yourself are ultimately what matter, not how much you weigh.

have you googled fat people with tattoos? they are are scratchtastic, and they dont look good. idk i wish i could see a good version of it.

You sure as hell can't trust them with a pack of Marlboros. ;)

Anything that TV didn't teach me I can learn from the internet. Isn't Kat Von D the best in the world????
Now, let me tell you what my tattoo means to me ... my mother died before I was born and my father abandoned me before I was conceived, but this tribal koi riding a skull and fighting a dragon tattoo will make everything all right!

I've spent the last 14 months scrubbing bathrooms, floors and tubes to get where I am. It isn't easy to find someone willing to dedicate their time to teach you their craft. You have to prove that this is truly where your heart is and it will be worth it to them. An apprenticeship isn't just learning to tattoo, it's paying your fucking dues. I have never had a problem just going into any shop. I have been able spend time with tattooers whom I really look up to and they have taught me many things even though they were not my mentor. Why? Because I'm doing it right and I've shown them the respect they deserve.
That woman treated you the way you deserved to be treated.

I am perplexed by you Brian wermwood. did you want sympathy from this post?
after you first realized that being a scratcher meant no love, why would you even think that going into a shop as a random dude not laying a dollar on the table, and spilling your scratcher beans out was gonna work for you?
you actually told them your stealing their hard earned food from their table and then go on to say you want to suck up some info from them..
and you thought it would go down any other way?
you kinda got off easy!
my mentor/shop owner literally refers to me as his bulldog, as its one of my shop duty's to physically remove scratchers/solicters/douchebags from the floor.
and i take it personal with scratchers cause im here busting my ass all week for peanuts with a wife and 2 kids and some dudes out there trying to take easy street and by pass the hard work to clock dollar.. basicly your crossing dudes picket line