Brock Varty

Look tebori to me....no matter what, it is amazing.

As soon as I hooked up with Kore Flatmo it was over. There was no way I was going to get major work from him and not go huge. I am in the planning stages of my entire body minus my arms right now. Kore is doing my back/ass/right leg. My good friend and local tattooer is doing my left leg/torso. We are just waiting on a study from Kore to actually start planning for my left leg and torso. I figure if my current financial situation sticks...with back and forth trips to Kore 2 or 3 times a year....I will be fully covered in 5-7 years.

I usually cary Benchmade that I have had for a few years. I couldn't even tell you what the model is. I have had a few Gerbers before and found the Benchmade better in many aspects.

@HaydenRose A sleeve in my mind is when all skin from shoulder cap to wrist is covered. There is nothing in between. Thats my opinion...in the end it doesn't matter one single fucking bit what a "sleeve" is or isnt.

Any idea of the timframe of that Japanese fellows tattoos? The big, thick windbars remind me of Horiyoshi I & II. Although, I have no clue who did that dudes work...

Kore is a really grounded dude. The man knows what he is talking about.... @Clay McCay Word...

@ksp2001 You could make a sick bio-mech piece out of that arm with the right artist.

Welcome Kyle....may I ask where the "midwest" is for you? Where you live?

@TrixieFaux That looks really nice!

Is it against a policy or rule to have showing tattoos?

I am hoping that being from the bay area...State of Grace is on that list in some capacity.

<---Free hugs from this guy.

@lorie You can always travel to get tattooed!

I think the industry viewpoint is subjective to each persons experience. To a tattooer that may feel as I do then the industry would likely be focused around other professionals who feel similar. To someone who has gained alot from media exposure, the industry would include people like them and everyone else. To someone involved with a supplier or some fringe company that makes money off tattooing, the industry includes about anyone who can make them money. In the end, you are right. No matter how big tattooing and tattoos have gotten publicly, the community is still as small or as large as you choose to make it. And that is something I fail to consider when talking about this with other people. Maybe I am not thinking clearly, but I fail to see the connection between Sailor Jerry's dislike of Lyle Tuttle and the "diltuion". When I mentioned dilution, it was intended to reference the amount of bullshit, misinformation and bad work that has been injected into the tattoo world via modern media outlets, tv, etc. Also, you are absolutely correct when you mention the growth of an industry. In any industry that grows the way tattoing has, these things will happen. And I completely agree that it is up to the people that care and the people involved to keep it straight. Sometimes I question whether the incredible growth of tattooing is even good at all. I know this may sound like a stretch, but, tattooing would have sustained itself without media help. Sure, all of the things that media brought to tattooing are great(more exposure, relaxed public opinion, more money, more opportunity), but are they a worthwhile trade for the incredible intimacy and power of what tattooing was(sometimes it still is). I am sure these questions all depend on who you are and how you have benefitted from tattooing... And to answer your question, no, I do not tattoo. I am good friends with several tattooers that share the same viewpoint I do. My views are part of what helped me gain said friends. So, keep in mind, that if you find what I am saying stupid, you could always just say "fuck this guy, he doesn't even tattoo". I think regardless of what your viewpoint is(tattooer or not), all of the things I am talking about are valid. I would love to continue this conversation, but as this thread is specifically about Ink Masters and I am now pretty far off course...Is there somewhere we can move this discussion to?

Really awesome man. That must have been a heck of an experience.

Welcome...welcome...

@lorie why don't you go to your artist as is? They should be able to help you and decide what the right way to go is.

By that statement I mean the people I identify with. The people that worry about the diluting of their craft due to the overexposure. The people that know that TV coverage and media access brings more customers and more money into the industry, but also the same people that know that may not be a good thing. Tattooing is a personal, sacred thing...my opinion is that if you agreed to do that show...you are doing it for the tv coverage. What other reason would their be? And if you are doing it for the coverage it probably means that their work doesn't really earn them the clientel they want. Lets face it. No one on that show is a world class tattooer. If they are then I would love to see it. Everything I know says otherwise. Now, while I am saying all of this stuff that basically slanders everyone on that show....I do agreee that the show and it's contestants are worthwhile. It is entertainment for the public. I know that the show will showcase whatever is most entertaining, whether or not they are a good artist. I also wanted to make sure that it is understood that I am aware that these people probably work very hard, they may be very popular at some conventions and they may get lots of clientel. But all of that, the clientel, conventions, and attention, I wouldn't want. It isn't real. It's because they were on tv and the public doesn't really know how to determine if someone on tv is good. They assume that "hey, if your on tv, you must be really good." More power to you if you see it a different way. I just plain old don't... My "the industry" comment meant the people who are globally respected because of their work and their care for tattooing and the craft. The "real" people in the industry to me are the poeple who are able to appreciate the things that tv and media exposure have brought to tattooing, and at the same time know that it may not be a good thing. The poeple who let their work speak for themselves and who have a genuine love for tattooing. Basically I meant what you said. If your on the show it will almost cetainly lead to more clientel and opportunity, but, it isn't the clientel and opportunity that I respect.

I have a hard-on that is making thinking difficult right now.

Oh shit...Rubendall....what are you doing?

I didn't do that part. I refuse to be categorized by tattoos and such...

Your experience is different than mine then. I posted my opinion...by no means is it a universal fact.

Boy, I'm not sure how you did that.

Being on this show basically ruins your chance of being respected by the real people in the industry.

Pterodactyl?