Brock Varty

Use Higgins Black Magic as your black. Truest, deepest waterfast black there is. Spend the money on good brushes. I like simmons blend brushes...squirellhair, synthetic blend. Don't worry about trying to be perfect. You will do hundreds of watercolors before you get one good one. The most important things for me are this: Paint loose. paint fast, line with a brush, don't worry about actual color until you can blend black super smooth(from true black to paper with a perfect gradient). If you have more specific questions, please post 'em.

Thanks oh wise one! lol I remember a convo not to long ago about it being proper contest etiquette to wait until the piece is finished. I think that is what i'll go by...

It's supposed to be. Thats the only reason I havn't posted pictures of my back on here.

Ahhhh...ok :)

Do you have a neighbor named Hank? And does he sell propane and propane accessories?

Going to Japan has always been a goal of mine. What are things you would start visiting if you had the time? Stuff in Japan? or elsewhere...

Big time sad face man.

Start networking man. Do some painting and send them to people around you. Send an actual letter to tattooers you respect. Work hard on your art. Developing connections is a super important thing and something I struggle with. There is a great deal to be said for pursing a relationship with other tattooers. Sometimes those relationships can be started with just sending them a painting or something and a thoughful letter.

Had a really angry post wrote up...decided it wasn't needed.

Maybe you just need a change of pace for a little while or do some traveling. Maybe go to some conventions, visit some friend, etc.

I assume you are making the transition to being at the shop full time? Awesome man!

I think any good human being would have liked to have known Jerry. Strong, steadfast people like him is what helped get tattooing to what it is now. It is up to all of us to bring it back and carry on the demeanor and character he showed.

Same here. While I can appreciate the general likeability of a person, I don't need to like them to get tattooed by them. I'll use this example...If Kore Flatmo was an asshole(which is false), I would still get tattooed by him. Making good tattoos is what I care about. If you have a awesome attitude then that is a bonus, but not required.

@Jlurie91 Your intro thread is the best place to post specific questions relating to you and your tattoos. Read other threads and judge the content for yourself. If you feel you would get a better response in that thread, then post there instead. But...as a rule of thumb, your intro thread is the place for questions.

Interesting that alot of the Shige ripoffs are from Korea and China...

He is one of the most slept on tattooers around. As if I need to make the case for him even more, he is also very nice, almost too nice. Dude is funny as hell and dam, can he fucking paint. His painting just blows my mind into the stratosphere. Seeing all his originals in person is a whole 'nother level of crazy.

Mike hasn't been tattooing a lot lately...which is a bummer cuz I was going to talk him into slapping some cool shit on my neck when I was down there.

There needs to be fully healed skin to be able to touch it up. Most tattooers are comfortable with a roughly 2-3 week healing timetable to get healed enough skin to go back into.

He generally books about six months at a time. Sometimes less, sometimes more. I know if someone presents him with something he really wants to do, he might make room in the schedule. The people that get work from him mainly travel in from out of town and even overseas, so keeping a tight schedule is super important for him. If you do email or call, you will probably get to speak with Kim. She is one of the most kind and professional people I have ever encountered. Everyone at PluraBella is far and beyond good folks. @exume Thanks for posting. @Timbur Great interview that you should check out.

FYI. He works out of a private studio and not a shop. It isn't a place you can just walk into. There are no markings for the studion and the doors remain locked during the day. I would contact them via phone or email to set up something.

I did man. I just haven't gotten around to pictures. Some financial shit hit the fan for me the day after we got back and I am super strung out on getting that straight.

Your from Cinci? Check out Kore Flatmo. One of the best in the world. Several people on the forums here are working on pieces with him and I am twenty hours into a backpiece and full leg from him.

Fixed.

Hoping to be able to go. Will probably only go if I can get some work from Jondix, Hooper or Bennet. Really want my head decked out with a big mandala...

We take a deposit equal to 1 hour of tattoo time for anything that could take an hour or more. Everything else is either no deposit or half the hourly rate. I prefer to take a full hour deposit for everything, as we have had problems with some folks not showing up. The higher the deposit, the more likely someone shows up.