dane

Little Oni I picked up from Chad Koeplinger today. Super stoked on it.
Done in one hour flat. Such a beassssst.

Got this from Scott Sylvia over the weekend, very happy with it (stole the pic from blackhearts IG). Gonna go back to Blackheart for their walk in day in a couple weeks too.

Since Chicago Tattoo has been on the same 2 blocks for almost 40 years we get alot of people who come in with old work from Cliff Raven and Dale Grande so i try to take photos of these tattoos to document them.
I often see old timers walking around the neighborhood or in the grocery store and see their tattoos and try to ask about them and photo them, there is just something about talking to old dudes about their tattoos that gets their attention and for the most part gets them into talking about where they got in and when and sometimes they can remember who it was.
Im sure we all do this so i wanted to start a little thread and put up pics of old tattoos that we have all documented.
The first three tattoos where done at Cliff Raven Studios (Chicago Tattoo) by Cliff Raven in approximately 1970.. since i cant figure out how to make these images larger you can click on them to get a better look.

i look forward to the pics
Nick

I'll go ahead and get this month started - edit: almost!. All months should really have a panther tattoo, shouldn't they?
I'd love to see Aaron Coleman three-peat.

Just Had the best two days ever, got to hang with some tattoo royalty get tattooed and spend an early Valentine in a cool hotel with my mrs, first I got my thigh / knee Tattood by Tim Hendricks

Then I got my side / ribs done by Matt Arriola a day later

I'm feeling a bit tender now, but it was totally worth it, pain killers and booze? don't mind if i do :D

Got my feet done by Aaron Coleman last night. Great guy, super happy how they came out, and he was fast enough to get both done before I completely wussed out.

They wrap a bit, but you get the picture.

Here is my newest piece by Eddy Deutsche. Created last Saturday at Smith Street Tattoo. This Photo was taken the morning after.

Here's something (sorry for the length) taken from the blog of a fairly well known and well respected tattoo artist. I think I'll omit his name for now.

"I've always found anti-social imagery compelling. It challenges ones common sense; a persons sense of decency and their idea of "Good & Evil".
It also can adversely reaffirm ones core instinctual concept of right and wrong and, if you are so inclined, bolster a persons "Fuck You" attitude about the world around them. So in this regard such "taboo" subjects prove to be different masters for different servants.
I find the hazy margin of ambiguousness an image commonly held as offensive exists in fascinating. How is it that one image is acceptable to one person while it causes another to shrink in terror or sneer in disgust? Inside this line in the sand so to speak are the real questions.A question that cuts to the core of the subject matter itself. What is right and what is wrong? If there is such a thing why can't everyone agree what it is in the first place? And more over an even deeper question arises from that as well. If we are merely animals then wouldn't the horrendous nature of such a dark symbology just be an extension of our core instinct to annihilate what ever gets in out way?
Finally where do you fall INSIDE the line of demarcation ? This taboo no mans land?
While I obviously Cringe at the idea of romanticizing Nazism in any form and just so I'm clear I don't feel the manner in which this painting was conceived does that by the way, what is it about this painting that identify with and even like? Why would I chose to spend my time painting such negativity into the world?
Perhaps it's my desire to be left alone by most people? Nothing in the world could possibly top this as a way of letting people know to stay the hell away from you. Still I feel the composition grasps on to a certain charm as rotten as the core may be.
My painting is drawn in a style indicative of 80's tattooing A period of time I view as more cut and dry compared to today's blurred line of reality and fantasy. Of real and unreal. Of scripted reality Vs. cold harsh brutal reality.Of black and white (no pun intended).
Happiness and "feeling good" is what our society is based upon here in the West after all. This belief sprung from the 1960's, flourished in the 70's, matured in the 80's and 90's. And now at the start of a new decade in a new millennium the cracks have begun to form at the base of this structure from the shear weight of all of its moral and social entitlements. And of its own grotesque vices as well....I'm Left to ponder: what are the consequence of this way of life both good and bad going to be for us all?
I feel I made this painting because I just felt like adding a few more needles to Joe camel's back so to speak. Not for some kind of pro-nationalist statement or an affirmation of some kind of bloated illogical racial idea but because I felt like saying fuck this easygoing softness in us. I want the viewer to reaffirm their commitments. I want them to think past the fleeting pathetic pre-programmed plastic knee jerk television has drummed into them. I want the viewer to connect to the painting in a manner that causes either anger and resentment or praise and adoration. And ultimately I want the viewer to emerge from the moral no man's land that so many in today's world apathetically wonder through recommitted. I want battle lines to be draw so we can bring last centuries tired arguments and the beginning of this centuries short comings and false promises to a close.
In essence I want the house of cards to fall."

To sum it up.
Fuck 'em if they can't take a joke.

Like pretty much any other tattoo design, what makes a tattoo exciting or not isn't the design itself but rather how the design is conceived and executed. Look into Freddie Corbin. Steve Byrne and Tony Hundahl have done a lot of great Christian tattoos. Robert Ryan too. Look at Freddie Negrete's tattoos. I'm not into photorealism but Nikko Hurtado's religious tattoos are stunning.

Aaron Coleman, three sessions.

i didn't even think of that thank you.

you can always ferry from the city to larkspur then cab or bus up two exits. the ferry ride is amazing!!

don't know how far you are from spider murphy's, but that shop is amazing.

State of Grace. That is all you need to know. Just go to State of Grace.

So many cool shops and tattooers in San Fran. I'm partial to FTW because of Eric Saner, who is from Rochester, Aidan Monahan (who also tattooed in Rochester) and Jason Phillips, both of which I've interviewed and are really awesome and nice dudes.

Hello everyone. My name is Dane I live in San Francisco CA. I got my first tattoo when I was 18 and then several more up until this point. Over the last few years I have been obsessing about tattoos more and more and have been doing research. I always watch the interviews off of this site and check the gallery so I decided to join to discuss tattoos with other enthusiasts. This site is great and I'm excited to be a part of it.

ian oliver, stash at tattoo 13, deanna wardin, chris henry...a few others from shops around the bay area. I live close to blackheart tattoo now and im eager to get my next one there. @hogg

ian oliver, stash at tattoo 13, deanna wardin, chris henry...a few others from shops around the bay area. I live close to blackheart tattoo now and im eager to get my next one there. @hogg

besides getting tattooed, which is also awesome but that's for a different thread.
Just got back from a guest-spot at Godspeed Tattoo in Breckenridge Colorado, where everybody are the friendliest tatbros. Did a early morning/sunrise canoe trip on a mountainside lake, skated at several different skateparks, several mountain trail bike rides, camped out for a few days way high in the mountains with good friends P Wee, Miho, and Joel Long, did some 4 wheeling in a jeep in same area, and had a campfire drawing session with P Wee & Joel.
Can't wait to go back.

Great examples ,i really like how Tim's ends high on the glutes .Heres some of my favourites.
First ones by Grime love the effect of the clouds on this.
Next up by Theo Mindell who has some of the best back pieces around .
Classic rock of ages from Luke Wessman ,no stranger to this site

one more as long as I'm posting Skulls and Snakes back pieces... This one's by Tim Hendricks and I love how much the water adds dimension and layers to this piece

welcome @dane I flew from oklahoma to go to BH, if I lived that close I would be selling plasma in no time.
just got tattooed by scott in october already stopping myself sending him an email about a cobra
also would like something from... well everyone at that shop. So good! ahhhhh

Tim Lehi "Vagina Reaper" for the win (I'm not sure if it fits within this thread, but it is awesome haha)
TIM LEHI
BlackHeart Tattoo San Francisco

Gill Montie FTW