Wedge

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."

Birthday present from my old man today. Tattooed by Todd Noble

I got this one form Ron Henry Wells a couple months ago.
She looks a lot darker in the picture than it does now having healed

Got this one yesterday from Valerie at Frith Street Tattoo.... Really stoked with it.

Just had another session with Marcus Kuhn today, the arm is swollen with some healed work, some almost healed and some fresh.
I just wanted to share an update.....

not as tough as Cu_Bu but still stoked on this. haha. flew down to get tattooed by eric jones today.

got this a week ago
richard stell

Thought I might as well put this in here as well. Not too long until this bad boy is finished
Instagram

I wasn't sure it was eligible considering one of the creators of the site made this tattoo (and it's only an outline), but as per @Lochlan's suggestion I'm submitting this one:
Done by Scott Sylvia of Blackheart Tattoo in SF.

Richard Stell Panther done from one of his flash sets at Saints and Sinners in Charolton tx

Got this a week ago from Scott Sylvia at Blackheart on my forearm
Pictures don't do it justice at all the colours are much more vivid and it looks a lot sharper in person, and its a bit warped in these as i tried to take the photos myself, but you get the idea

Had this done today on the front of my thigh.
Sailor Jerry design. Tattooed by Stewart Robson, Frith Street, London.

Breaking my several month LST silence w/ a bullet.
Done by Scott Sylvia @ Blackheart Tattoo in SF just a few hours ago.

Here's my hand I got from bailey a few weeks ago

Spent 6 hours today getting tattooed with Marcus Kuhn. Half the time was spent dialing in the black work, the other half was spent doing color. He got the lower third of the 3/4 sleeve complete, here's a little taste :D

I've got another appt. next friday and the friday after that... hopefully he'll be able to finish it this trip!!!

My wife was in today getting her neck tattooed by Stefano C. It's a bit red and sore looking where its been shaded, but he's done a fantastic job

How the old school boys do it-Bill Loika ,Tattoo Peter Amsterdam.

Went into Tahiti Felix's Master Tatto last Friday and got this spur of the moment on my elbow

By Phil Hatchet Yau

I got my Yodaskull from Marcus at the weekend - Im guessing that its not too many peoples on here's taste as its b&g real-sh-ism.

Good morning LST :cool: I just got back from Japan and I'm well and truly jet lagged, but before I crash for a few hours before work this evening, figured I should share this...

I'll post the blog I promised later ;) Duffa must sleep now zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz (seriously need to, I'm talking in third person lol)

New one got done yesterday. Super stoked. 2 lady heads 1 leg

This has been said before so I'm only repeating the obvious but goddamn there's some nice tattoos in this thread.

This has been said before so I'm only repeating the obvious but goddamn there's some nice tattoos in this thread.

This has been said before so I'm only repeating the obvious but goddamn there's some nice tattoos in this thread.

This has been said before so I'm only repeating the obvious but goddamn there's some nice tattoos in this thread.