Brock Varty

started mine today so thankful to last sparrow.

Spencer and I work in the same shop in Lexington, KY from time to time...Charmed Life. If you haven't heard of them, look them up. Either way, Spencer's work is pretty fucking rad, and soooooo clean. I've seen the chest piece in the first photo of the original post, and it's bind blowing. Definitely good to see him getting some love on here.

Yes, and No...
It's weird. One of those double edged things... I don't think Inkmasters is actually going to affect anyone that really loves this profession, and is good at it. I guess earlier in the thread I was super pollyanna and trying to do nothing but see the upside of things and rationalize it all, not sure why, I just support my friends.
But I guess out of school habits, I like to look at the same things over and try to argue a case against it... It's a writing tool...
We didn't just take part in it... this whole thing was filmed back in July, (that episode, and NO, Richard had no idea) He thought the kids would at least know how to put a tattoo on.... But when they were three hours into something and some of them didn't even have the outlines complete. It was heartbreaking, Richard doesn't have anxiety attacks, I do... but he had two, and freaked out wanting to fix each tattoo that he saw, because he felt morally compelled to give those vets good work in exchange for theirs.
No he didn't have a real idea of what was actually up, even the casting agents were a bit dishonest, I mean it's their job to get people on the set that would make for an interesting dynamic... And they were looking to get a rise, but it only raised vomit. I completely threw a fit the last day they shot... I stayed at the 700.00 a nite hotel they put us up in. And smoked in the non smoking room. I was pissed off thinking if we have to stay and fix shit tattoos, and put off the clients in San Antonio that were at the convention already (tattooers who love and cherish this), and waiting... I was going to have a little breakdown and probably leave NYC for TX... To get everything for the show in SA ready.
We had to fly into Austin pick our truck up, grab the rest of our booth setup from Tony's house drive down to SA setup all over again, on 5 hours sleep, and yeah, I can totally criticize it, I want to know the parts I like and didn't in an effort to change them maybe for the better later on, or at least have an objective standpoint on it...
And I am not a big user of Facebook, or Twitter too much anymore, I felt like if any place was good to kinda let loose, and be open regarding our opinions, experiences around this, or any tattoo type of topic, I would rather post up here, I thought. Safe zone.
The entire show isn't 100% fucked up, and just a portion. I have been involved in some fucked up stuff before, far worse on a couple moral standpoints. It's early on in the Tattoo TV thing, I guess I just would like to maybe contribute constructive criticism somewhere, cause I know a few people look at these threads, and maybe just maybe they would take a few of the hints dropped here.
Not snide, just honest... The way it should be.
- - - Updated - - -
Sorry about the novel....

@OutOfIdeas You should ask the person who's going to tattoo it.
I tattoo paintings all the time. Raphael, Durer, DaVinci etc, etc. Every time I do praying hands or the classic Jesus head, it's from a painting or drawing.
If your friend painted a tattoo style image, it will probably need tweaking a bit but you should just have a good tattooer design it for you or choose some flash. If it's a non-tattoo style painting it may need simplifying or tweaking or maybe just tattoo a portion of it to suit the body part you want it on.
If something needs tweaking, it's not usually because I want to add my own personal touch, it's because it won't work as a tattoo.
Like Ursula said, if its a cool painting, it's probably gonna be fun to tattoo but not all good paintings make good tattoos.

Hello and welcome. Lots of dumb questions have already been answered here - Newbie Guidelines Watch the videos and try not to get yourself booted off of here. We're more fun at parties than the saltwater aquarium folks.

I'll post some pictures when I'm back in Montreal because I don't know if I can do it on my phone but I got tattooed by Seth Wood and Thomas Hooper yesterday. Seth put some illustrations into a book he otherwise finished a year ago and now I have the world's smallest Baphomet tattoo. I also started on a raven sleeve with Thomas Hooper and it's shaping up great so far.

My back is going to be one huge Tibetan skull. Start with Mr. Flatmo in January.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=537755179583877&set=a.197285293630869.58055.145111408848258&type=1&theater
This is my right arm shortly after my last session. Some parts are still raw in the picture.
The back of my arm is a cover up of some shitty script...
The artist is Tim Morris at A Brand New Tattoo in Eau Claire, WI. I am honored to be friends with him. He is an amazing person and really solid tattooer.

I guess this is similar to the regret I have every time I eat White Castle...

Rob Noseworthy painting:

For total nerd reasons, I love the Star Wars/samurai crossover stuff because of the Kurosawa influence on Star Wars.

James Spencer Briggs....that is all.
http://www.jamesspencerbriggs.com/
He is kinda good....

Congrats on working with him. He got tattooed alot early on in his career by Kore Flatmo and I think he actually moved to Kentucky for a year to work and get tattooed by Kore. You can see the influence Kore had on his work. I also have the privilege of being good friends with the dude Spencer came into tattooing with. If you want some good convo, ask him about getting worked on by Kore. I am sure he will have a bunch to say!
Judging by the company Mr. Briggs keeps...I would expect nothing less than the quality he puts out. Again, congrats on working with him. There are a few people doing that style work and he is very near the top of my list.
I realize this thread is kinda out of nowhere....but most people don't know who Spencer is. Just getting the word out.

Just a question about the people getting tattooed...
How are these folks selected? Are they aware of the situation as far as the artist not being what I would consider very good? Do they pick collectors who are ignorant to good tattooing?
No matter if someone is a great tattooer or not...I can't imagine anyone with a brain being down for getting tattooed under a time limit.

Kind of! Yeah I would have to agree x10. That's who's doing my left arm (tiger, lotus, mandala...). Aside from being amazingly talented, he is a great guy to chat with. I've got 4 sessions down...2 to go. His card reads: "I'm not the cheapest, just the slowest."

James Spencer Briggs....that is all.
http://www.jamesspencerbriggs.com/
He is kinda good....

James Spencer Briggs....that is all.
http://www.jamesspencerbriggs.com/
He is kinda good....

...when you want to tell somebody "I know the person who got that tattoo" But really, you've only ever talked to them on the internet...

oh boy...

Someone get Cat a record label...

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=537755179583877&set=a.197285293630869.58055.145111408848258&type=1&theater
This is my right arm shortly after my last session. Some parts are still raw in the picture.
The back of my arm is a cover up of some shitty script...
The artist is Tim Morris at A Brand New Tattoo in Eau Claire, WI. I am honored to be friends with him. He is an amazing person and really solid tattooer.

Wallowing at home in my misery of no friends and no fun.

I will be including all of the artwork from Kore and any photos; in-progress, during tattooing, or otherwise. And yes, I have watched that interview. It is one of the reasons I am so happy in my decision to work with Kore. He mirrors all of the traists that I respect in a human being and to be honest, I feel like he is an example of how someone should conduct themselves.
I should have the preliminary study back from him in the next few weeks. Tim, my local dood, is going through how we are going to connect the back to the torso with Kore on the phone later this week. So after that, I will slowly have some updated art work to show. First sitting with Kore is in January. Tim and I are driving down to Cincci and both getting work on for two days each.

I will be including all of the artwork from Kore and any photos; in-progress, during tattooing, or otherwise. And yes, I have watched that interview. It is one of the reasons I am so happy in my decision to work with Kore. He mirrors all of the traists that I respect in a human being and to be honest, I feel like he is an example of how someone should conduct themselves.
I should have the preliminary study back from him in the next few weeks. Tim, my local dood, is going through how we are going to connect the back to the torso with Kore on the phone later this week. So after that, I will slowly have some updated art work to show. First sitting with Kore is in January. Tim and I are driving down to Cincci and both getting work on for two days each.

I will be including all of the artwork from Kore and any photos; in-progress, during tattooing, or otherwise. And yes, I have watched that interview. It is one of the reasons I am so happy in my decision to work with Kore. He mirrors all of the traists that I respect in a human being and to be honest, I feel like he is an example of how someone should conduct themselves.
I should have the preliminary study back from him in the next few weeks. Tim, my local dood, is going through how we are going to connect the back to the torso with Kore on the phone later this week. So after that, I will slowly have some updated art work to show. First sitting with Kore is in January. Tim and I are driving down to Cincci and both getting work on for two days each.