Idahoink

I am a fairly social person but do not like talking about my tattoos with those that I feel are just being nosey.
My standard answer...
Them," Hey where did you get those tattoos?"
Me, "prison"
Although my work I think is exceptional and def not prison work(Ive never attended!) this response typically pushes people way from me while they make sure they still have their wallet and/or purse.
If you want to be flat out mean and are in a bad mood....When they ask "Did it hurt"....just reply, "not as much as the sex I traded it for."

I am a fairly social person but do not like talking about my tattoos with those that I feel are just being nosey.
My standard answer...
Them," Hey where did you get those tattoos?"
Me, "prison"
Although my work I think is exceptional and def not prison work(Ive never attended!) this response typically pushes people way from me while they make sure they still have their wallet and/or purse.
If you want to be flat out mean and are in a bad mood....When they ask "Did it hurt"....just reply, "not as much as the sex I traded it for."

I am a fairly social person but do not like talking about my tattoos with those that I feel are just being nosey.
My standard answer...
Them," Hey where did you get those tattoos?"
Me, "prison"
Although my work I think is exceptional and def not prison work(Ive never attended!) this response typically pushes people way from me while they make sure they still have their wallet and/or purse.
If you want to be flat out mean and are in a bad mood....When they ask "Did it hurt"....just reply, "not as much as the sex I traded it for."

Last night had my entire lower leg(knee down) and foot colored....I should have known better as when I had the outline done I could barley stand for the next 4 days. Today I am sporting a very fat foot, a calf that I do not recognize and a saweet cankle.

Every time I come to the forum this thread is on the front page. I'm suprised that this thread is getting more attention than others on this forum. It's dissapointing.
This show does nothing but give the art another black eye. The drama is embarrasing. Oliver Peck (whom I like) should be kicked in the nuts for being part of this fucking circus. Dave Nevarro is now a joke to me.
I have several nice pieces from chest to toe and in real life I am a professional, now I get to work harder to prove to others that tattooists and our lifestyle are not a bunch of idiots.
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Every time I come to the forum this thread is on the front page. I'm suprised that this thread is getting more attention than others on this forum. It's dissapointing.
This show does nothing but give the art another black eye. The drama is embarrasing. Oliver Peck (whom I like) should be kicked in the nuts for being part of this fucking circus. Dave Nevarro is now a joke to me.
I have several nice pieces from chest to toe and in real life I am a professional, now I get to work harder to prove to others that tattooists and our lifestyle are not a bunch of idiots.

I think I've mentioned this before, but I heard from an artist on Season two about how heavily edited they were. You shoot tons of footage and use the best of the worst to 'create a show' that has 'villains' and drama and tension. You're also coached on things to say. You look like a giant ass on tv, but... after the show airs... you find your appointment book is a little fuller, even though you looked like a giant ass on tv.
Turning a culture into a commodity isn't new, its just affecting us a little closer to the chest because... well.. it's us. We had to bleed for these damned things. We had to get stared at in line at the bank. We have to answer the litany of dumb questions on a daily basis... "why yes ma'am, it did hurt" and "yes, I AM tattooed other places... wait, we mean my dick, right?"...
Im kind of biased though... I grew up on Royboy videos. Tattooers hated them, too, but.... damn they were fun.
I should mention that a tattooer friend asked me to write some Inkmaster erotic fan fiction that he's going to illustrate and we're going to accidentally leave at tattoo conventions the 'stars' are at. If he ever finishes the first chapter I'll write more.
Kay Kutta and Sarah Miller are in it. "Penetrated by more than your needles" comes up a lot. Because we think it's ok to make fun of people we don't know. People who may be genuinely nice. Because we're children. :D

I feel punching this guy in the hair would be good therapy for me.

I have people ask me this all the time, I only have 11. I joke and say never. I'll be done when I feel like it. I know that's kinda vague but it's the most honest answer I can give. I don't sit around thinking "I'll get this here, and that there!" It's more instinctual almost. I just see something or an idea pops up and I go and get it (once I have the money.)
I also hear a lot of comments about it being addictive. I don't view it that way. An addiction would mean I couldn't stop if I wanted. I don't want to. It's just something I really have a passion for and enjoy. That's not an addiction, that's a party!

Very much agree with the above posters. I am not sure I feel comfortable judging a 63 year old man's decision to get a tattoo and/or the placement. Right or wrong, let him enjoy his life and body art. Good luck to the both of you.

I remember feeling awkward after the first session I did on my front. It was really weird to look at myself in the mirror afterwards. Only took a couple days to get used to though.
Besides that one time, I can't say that I've been anything else than stoked after getting a new tattoo.

Only depression I feel is having to wait to get another one. Or perhaps realizing there's another awkward spot ill have to fill. But mostly excitement here

David, I sure appreciate your thoughts and must say its nice to have a discussion on a forum without anyone getting mad or taking the subject personal.
As I agree with the heart of your post and the fact there are mediocre tattoo artists as well as mediocre work in any profession from health care to land scapers. I also agree that this show did not start the rep for the industry(good or bad) but certainly does not help it. I believe that the one and only thing it does teach is what to look for in good work much like looking at a home builders completed homes.
I also agree that there is a % of people that this show will not affect one way or another but I certainly dont see anyone on the "fence" getting any work done due to airing the pathetic drama that reality tv addicts crave from week to week. That is what I disagree with. There are many of us, and I would assume the honorable Mr Flores would agree:), that wish we could get away from the petty fights, insults from contestants, pshyco artists, etc. and just have a legit show on the work.
As you mentioned, there have and will be great judges throughout the show whom I have mucho respect for but, I long for criticism and praise without the sarcasm, petty comments, or acting like a spoiled child from the contestants. I suspect they could judge a show with professionals as easy or easier and we could spend more time appreciating the work for ourselves and learning. I sure could learn more from any of the judges spending more time discussing than a break away to artist telling each other that they are going to kick each others ass. Right?
My social circle of artists and friends do not act like this, nor do we allow ourselves to be exposed to adults that have the inability to police themselves in a social situation. Much like men and women in any profession that take their industry seriously and act professional, they should too.
I honestly dont care what people think about tattooing or me, and never have. I have been judged my entire life by many that have no idea what I have done, who I am and where I am going. At 43, I can hold my head higher than many and honestly could care less.
If anything, I hate TV and the uneducated douche puddles that create controversy for shock value and ratings. You know as well as I that there is potential for a reality drama in ANY profession, no matter if the subject matter is surgeons, housewives, little people, alt lifestyles, hookers, etc.
Again, I honestly see your side and appreciate the discussion. I suppose just take this show personally(and thats my hangup) much like true bike builders who dont like to watch American Choppers to watch a Father and Son act like they do week after week, they just want to see the builds.
Have a great day David.

People are always going to have an inaccurate representation of tattooers and the tattoo lifestyle. I don't think this show started it, the world is full of mediocre and bad tattooers who are completely delusional with over inflated egos, this show just happens to give those people 15 mins of pseudo fame. But I don't even know if this could be considered Z list celebrity status, the contestants are pretty forgettable and at best have a short career headlining traveling tattoo conventions.
Why does it really matter what people think about the lifestyle. People who are serious about tattooing whether it be clients, or tattooers understand the hierarchy and where this show place is in it. People who aren't into it probably already have their per-conceived notions or don't really care one way or another.
I have had to listen to plenty of customers rattle off their interpretation of what happened on last weeks inkmaster, and a lot of them are completely clueless about a lot of things, but most of them understand that these people aren't that good and are full of themselves. All I really have to do to give tattooing a better perception amongst them is just not act like the contestants. And as annoying as listening to this stuff, if people watch a show about tattooing and it makes them want to get tattooed, I am not going to complain.
For the record there are hundreds of threads about who is the best tattooer, favorite tattooer, who's doing your next tattoo, a thread for each genre of tattoo, a thread for each animal that people get tattooed, and so on. If you added up all the activity of these threads you would probably see how little people really talk about this show in comparision. But really why wouldn't we talk about this show. This season alone has had Rubendall, Jack Rudy, Richard Stell, and Forrest Cavacco judging tattoos. I don't know one person in tattooing who hasn't watched one episode (most have watched more, but some will only admit to watching it once).

Every time I come to the forum this thread is on the front page. I'm suprised that this thread is getting more attention than others on this forum. It's dissapointing.
This show does nothing but give the art another black eye. The drama is embarrasing. Oliver Peck (whom I like) should be kicked in the nuts for being part of this fucking circus. Dave Nevarro is now a joke to me.
I have several nice pieces from chest to toe and in real life I am a professional, now I get to work harder to prove to others that tattooists and our lifestyle are not a bunch of idiots.
- - - Updated - - -
Every time I come to the forum this thread is on the front page. I'm suprised that this thread is getting more attention than others on this forum. It's dissapointing.
This show does nothing but give the art another black eye. The drama is embarrasing. Oliver Peck (whom I like) should be kicked in the nuts for being part of this fucking circus. Dave Nevarro is now a joke to me.
I have several nice pieces from chest to toe and in real life I am a professional, now I get to work harder to prove to others that tattooists and our lifestyle are not a bunch of idiots.

I do lasik at my house on the side. Now just sign this waiver form....

Second session on my backpiece, big skull and dragon. I posted this pic a while ago somewhere but can't be arsed to find it, also you can't see much of it as it goes down to my ankles, so not much help but its something to go on haha

Got most of the main outlines done in that session so I think he said on this next one he'll be doing most of the background. Gonna be a long day :p.
Haha cheers mate, but its a life of squaller really, all because of my addiction to tattoos :cool:

After finally being able to digest the bullshit I so easily got and ate myself, I'll say: I'm sorry, I was an uber bitch, I see what you say now, without the red all over now.
I still don't like highway pirates disguised as good guys... Or as anything else, other then "Pirate", I define pirate as.... A person who has no problem with being on the road, dealing with whatever, getting into serious business, or getting into really Non-Serious shit... no matter what type of life one leads, be honest... It's a saying Richard says, he heard it... No idea where it comes from... But:
"when living outside the law, one must always be honest."
I like to try to live my life like an open book. Hence the reply... I was shitty. I'm sorry. PMS is a bitch.

Do you need any more brothers?

Just finalized plans for an out of town getaway with the mister to celebrate finishing my PhD which will, of course, including a celebratory "Phd, fuck yeah!" tattoo. Cannot wait!

Note to the moderators, this is my leg, tattoo removal being done on me, not a client / stranger / randoms.
Back in 1997 I started what I hoped would be an epic leg sleeve - and ended up falling out of love with it about a year or two later. I also added to the back, by a different artist, a totally random piece to what you see here and what's on the side. By 1999 I had zero intention of actually finishing it and started focusing more on work, a career and things like that. Since then I've had several other tattoos that I actually like, but have always dealt with what's that? whenever I wear shorts. Thus, I started having them removed a while ago. Since this piece was mostly grey wash, and put in rather lightly, I've had some really great results after a single treatment. Thursday night I sat through a 2nd treatment on this piece and had 1st treatments on the right side of my leg and a piece on the back.

Healing is going well already and hopefully by the second week of January I can get another treatment.

Heading to prison again.
J/K.
I am in no rush. I just have some time and have an opportunity with a very talanted professional artist/friend.
I also recently left the USMC for a number of years and feel free again but, was in a recent near fatal accident and should not be here typing this. I guess I want to live and dont want to miss it.
The schedule is only for 3 months - 6-7 sessions for now to finish work that never was complete.

Last night had my entire lower leg(knee down) and foot colored....I should have known better as when I had the outline done I could barley stand for the next 4 days. Today I am sporting a very fat foot, a calf that I do not recognize and a saweet cankle.

I am a fairly social person but do not like talking about my tattoos with those that I feel are just being nosey.
My standard answer...
Them," Hey where did you get those tattoos?"
Me, "prison"
Although my work I think is exceptional and def not prison work(Ive never attended!) this response typically pushes people way from me while they make sure they still have their wallet and/or purse.
If you want to be flat out mean and are in a bad mood....When they ask "Did it hurt"....just reply, "not as much as the sex I traded it for."

Morality is held hostage by the government.

Morality is held hostage by the government.