bugxjuice

forever no, times infinity

forever no, times infinity

forever no, times infinity

I thought that looked familiar! Super cool. This thread makes me want to work on my back some more. It's been six months since my first and only session... at this rate we'll be finished in 2018.

I thought that looked familiar! Super cool. This thread makes me want to work on my back some more. It's been six months since my first and only session... at this rate we'll be finished in 2018.

Maybe I missed them, but do you actually have any suggestions for how people can protect their work? Your approach seems to be if you don't want to get ripped off, don't show your work anywhere(?). Your pro-rip off attitude is mind-boggling.

Actually, blasting your work all over the internet is the best way to protect it. The more people can recognize your work, the more people will notice when it's been stolen, and complain about it if the need arises. Artists can't have a career without publicity, if nobody knows their work exists, nobody is going to buy it. The bottom line is, you're completely wrong and nobody who knows copyright law would agree with this, in fact I think the only people who would agree with your argument are people who have a habit of stealing art without giving credit.

So are you suggesting that artists should have a lawyer on retainer to go after anybody who infringes on their copyright? Because that's really the only thing I can think of that would, and in only specific cases, prevent people from ripping off artists. Ryan Begley who does Shirts and Destroy recently wrote a thing about Affliction ripping off S&D and how in his case, even with a lawyer on his side, he wasn't even able to get a cease and desist order against Affliction because intellectual property is a "grey area". I'm sure Affliction can afford better lawyers than Ryan Begley too. I don't know any artists who have the time or money to actually fight against every instance that somebody has ripped them off, and no, that does not "equal consent".

Sessions 1-5 by Aaron Bell...16.5 hours on the clock so far.
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Killer Don Nolan design! I remember getting this design sheet when I was just starting to assemble some equipment from spaulding rogers back in '90...anyone know what year it was drawn?

Austin and Dallas have plenty of great shops, but honestly there's no need to go that far - San Angelo TX is home to Trufant Brothers Tattoo. The Trufant Bros (Alex and Aubrey) are both solid tattooers, and they put on the West Texas Tattoo Convention, which is just around the corner, Feb 21-23, in San Angelo. There's a laundry list of incredible tattooers at that convention, I would definitely recommend getting tattooed there.
As far as your idea, I'm in agreement on the rose and flag - a rose is a strong, classic image and the rose/flag combo is not uncommon.

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.

Austin and Dallas have plenty of great shops, but honestly there's no need to go that far - San Angelo TX is home to Trufant Brothers Tattoo. The Trufant Bros (Alex and Aubrey) are both solid tattooers, and they put on the West Texas Tattoo Convention, which is just around the corner, Feb 21-23, in San Angelo. There's a laundry list of incredible tattooers at that convention, I would definitely recommend getting tattooed there.
As far as your idea, I'm in agreement on the rose and flag - a rose is a strong, classic image and the rose/flag combo is not uncommon.

Final session on my back with Rubendall today. It's bittersweet. So happy to have this portion of my back finished but will miss the fun times with Rubendall. Great gentleman, incredible artist and shrewd businessman. The complete ball of wax and then some. I still have some appointments booked and I'm thinking about starting something new with him. Henning will top things off end of this year when he'll be visiting and doing his usual guest spot at Kings Ave! Enjoy the pics!
Eyes, spine, and the orb/pearl

Filled in some more flame work as well

Rubendall said when after the orb/pearl is full healed, it'll lighten up to a bit of an iridescent affect.

Full moon close-up :o

^^^ This and that Ron Wells fox both rule! Definitely need something from both gentlemen at some point. Ron Wells is San Francisco bound soon but I am so broke.

^^^ This and that Ron Wells fox both rule! Definitely need something from both gentlemen at some point. Ron Wells is San Francisco bound soon but I am so broke.

Please read the forum rules:

Gonna ignore everything wrong with the post for the moment and focus on this statement; don't start off with 'all I can show you is my early work'.
Sorry but nobody cares (by this I don't mean us here at LST) a whole lot about what you did years ago; impress someone with what you've been doing lately. If you have nothing recent to show then it doesn't seem like its a serious enough commitment to spend 200% of your extra time and money into a career.
On that note, I sense less of a passion and note of a 'business' perspective. That's the biggest fail of anyone trying to 'break into the business'. If you're not ready to live and die in the chair then it prob ain't for you. There isn't any retirement plan for tattooers; either you work until you're dead or you due from some fucked up social disease. You ready to smell people's dirty ass feet? Be a foot any from some gross stinking armpit sweat for 5 or 6?hours at a time? Breath in aerosoled blood all day? Lot less glamour than what's shown on TV.
Spend every free dime getting tattooed and every free moment drawing tattoos. Pastel portraits are nice but doesn't mean shit as far as basic tattooing. Get sleeves if you haven't already. Spend every dime at the shop. Best advice.

For your consideration. Just got this yesterday from Beau Brady while he was at Invisible NYC this week and a few forum members suggested I put it up in here.
Thanks!

Here's a healed shot of the rose and dagger I got from Scott Sylvia at the Richmond Convention.

The sheer amount of art was overwhelming, I had to pace myself. Luckily I went Friday afternoon and it was pretty slow. I also couldn't afford to pick up anything, but the man is so prolific it's not like I won't have another chance.

ohhh...so you are learning by yourself, at home? please leave this forum.

I took a little trip to LA a few weeks back, mostly planned around an appointment with Tomas Garcia at Sid's in Santa Ana. Couldn't be more pleased with the experience and the result:
http://instagram.com/p/gRp00EkhUV/
http://instagram.com/p/gRqNqGkhU5/

Who have you been tattooed by? Which contemporary tattooers do you like these days? Which tattooers from the past do you look up to?
It's 2013. There is no reason to tattoo out of your home. If you can't get an apprenticeship from a respectable shop and learn to tattoo the right way, from the start, you shouldn't do it, period.

Who have you been tattooed by? Which contemporary tattooers do you like these days? Which tattooers from the past do you look up to?
It's 2013. There is no reason to tattoo out of your home. If you can't get an apprenticeship from a respectable shop and learn to tattoo the right way, from the start, you shouldn't do it, period.

Who have you been tattooed by? Which contemporary tattooers do you like these days? Which tattooers from the past do you look up to?
It's 2013. There is no reason to tattoo out of your home. If you can't get an apprenticeship from a respectable shop and learn to tattoo the right way, from the start, you shouldn't do it, period.