Kahlan

I wouldn't do my chest. I love some chest pieces on women but for some reason I cringe at the thought of covering that whole area.

the comments under the article..............

yeaaa that was painful..."I hope I am around long enough to see the day when Tattoos are considered Tacky at best.They say it is to express yourself.Try doing that with your personality instead of that garbage on your body."

If only I was a large man so I can go around shaking people vigorously. :P

I'm very early for posting this, but too excited not to!

Hopefully there are other Vancouverites on here. :)

Vancouver Tattoo and Culture Show | April 26-28 2013 | Vancouver BC

And yet no one hates on the companies that took advantage of a guy that is bipolar, and trying to survive in a shit economy.

Considering it's extremely personal anything one would choose to have tattooed on themselves....

But there's always that particular group that I find drains the true meaning of where these ancient symbols come from. This group I'm referring to are ones that partake in 'trends'.

I mean at the very least, it's respectful to research the core of these cultures and beliefs...

My favourite is seeing the Lotus flower... which is supposed to have profound meaning without explaining...but seems like no one knows anything about it anymore.

The part where he has 5 kids is disturbing....

At least he's working towards getting rid of them...

To be completely honest, @Kahlan, you should have never mentioned wanting to apprentice on this site. Nothing personal against you, but come on, really? What did you expect? You seem like a nice girl, but this forum doesn't like people who come on here and say "I want to apprentice, blah blah blah". This isnt the place for that. It makes things really uncomfortable, quickly.

Especially when the people are nice like you. We don't want to drive you away, but at the same time, we want to pull you back to reality. If it is something you really want, search for it in real life, put in the work in real life, (not on fake skin! Or any skin, you know what I mean), and leave it off of this forum. if I had a nickel for every person who came to this site looking to become an apprentice, LST would be getting a hefty donation out of me!

That's why I took back what I said. I don't feel driven away since well, everything is a learning experience.

What can I tell you, I made a mistake...

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To be completely honest, @Kahlan, you should have never mentioned wanting to apprentice on this site. Nothing personal against you, but come on, really? What did you expect? You seem like a nice girl, but this forum doesn't like people who come on here and say "I want to apprentice, blah blah blah". This isnt the place for that. It makes things really uncomfortable, quickly.

Especially when the people are nice like you. We don't want to drive you away, but at the same time, we want to pull you back to reality. If it is something you really want, search for it in real life, put in the work in real life, (not on fake skin! Or any skin, you know what I mean), and leave it off of this forum. if I had a nickel for every person who came to this site looking to become an apprentice, LST would be getting a hefty donation out of me!

That's why I took back what I said. I don't feel driven away since well, everything is a learning experience.

What can I tell you, I made a mistake...

If you "really" want it then you should atleast show some respect to the people who busted their ass going through a proper apprenticeship and do the same.. That means no tattooing out of your house when you have no idea what you are doing, fake skin or not. Not being rude, just honest.

Yup! I get it! lol

"If you don't want me tattooing in my home then teach me." That sounds like blackmail. I try not to hurl insults on the internet, but after reading your posts on this subject I am a little annoyed. I don't have an opinion one way or the other about people getting apprenticeships. Every individual circumstance is different. I do however have a problem with people thinking they deserve something just because they want it. I am not sure why you think you are owed an apprenticeship, but until you get over that entitled attitude then I am certain you do not deserve one.

It's not blackmail, I'm just venting. I don't think I *deserve* anything. Just really want it.

I apologize once again...

I know you've said you're looking for an apprenticeship, so firstly -- and this is not coming from a pompous holier-than-thou attitude -- tread lightly here. One of the reasons we've lost solid contributing tattooers to LST is for this very reason. Every few months someone joins up and says, "Hey, I want an apprenticeship, what's the problem?!" The forum is here to help and to share -- but not when it comes to technical how-tos and certainly not when it comes to the ins-and-outs of getting your foot in the door.

Second -- and this is coming from only a very slightly more life experience -- go get tattooed. I know you've got two tattoos.. But apprenticeship aside, if you want to learn about tattoos and that world, go. get. tatt.ooed. Make that your primary goal, put the apprenticeship out of your mind. How do you know that you want to commit your life to something when you've only got two tattoos? I bet things will be a little more clear after having spent more than a few hours in a tattoo shop.

Tried being as nice as possible here and there's a good chance it's as nice a response as you may get.. It's not that it's a cult or that people are assholes. Take a step back. Listen to what people are saying. Godspeed.

Yea I definitely am! I'm here to learn more. Sorry if my opinion was juvenile. Because it is just that.

Foot in the mouth moment for sure. :)

You can do whatever you want on your own...but there is nothing that says someone needs to help you via an apprenticeship. If you really care about tattooing, and want to see it become better, then you need to put aside your own desire to tattoo and do things the right way. Caring about tattooing as a "would be" tattooer, means you do anything to uphold the craft of tattooing. Sometimes that means putting aside your immediate wants and thinking about what is best for tattooing as a whole.

Also, just becasue someone "doesn't have time" or "doesn't know any tattooers" or are "struggling" doesn't mean that they need to be taught to tattoo. There is no point system here. Being a certain kind of person in a certain situation doesn't get you special treatment.

And before you say, "I work my ass off to get where I want to be"... So does EVERYONE who really wants to learn to tattoo and do it the right way.

Absolutely! I totally agree. I guess I also don't understand what it's like having a bunch of kids bugging you about becoming an artist.

It's great that lots of people become established without someone teaching them, but I would prefer working in a shop and learning. But whatever I just gotta keep applying and talking to them...

Just knowing that they get so many requests makes me feel horribly awkward.

Really? So you would happily give something that you've spent your whole life (or large part of) striving to perfect, your means of providing for your family and whatever else to any random person that asked for it? If yes, good luck to you. You know what my answer would be? Go fuck yourself. I don't tattoo, or have any desire to tattoo but if someone came up and asked for my life on a plate I'd be a lot less civilised and nice than most people, especially if that person was a complete stranger.

And that's the pompous attitude I'll never understand. Who says that the people that walk in the door haven't been struggling? Why assume?

But it's ok to you that just because you happen to know an artist they'll give you a shot?

I guess we're different.

I believe in teaching others and educating people into doing the right thing.

It just gets under my skin when professionals complain about people starting off in their basements, when it's almost a one in a million shot you'll get someone to teach you.

Anyway... I guess I'm just frustrated. I have no time to socialize and hang out in shops like I did when I was 14.

The *way* they want people to do things is a little unrealistic for me BECAUSE of the fact I'm working my ass off to get to where I wanna be!

one thing that i tell the people who come into the studio and want an apprenticeship is, that just because you want to learn to tattoo, doesn't mean you get to. The other thing i tell them is that the only way to learn is to know some tattooers. I'll help friends of mine, but not some random person who has walked into the studio or sent an email.

So question is...why not take some random person??

What's the big deal with giving others some opportunity?

Coming from someone that would kill for an apprenticeship...it's been rough.

The excuses I get is that they're worried they won't *like* the person. (Which can be easily solved!)

I also apparently need to become 'buddies' with these people first... and even then they get a million idiots like me asking for an apprenticeship. Kinda tough finding artists that don't have their nose in the air.

My issue is if you seriously don't want me tattooing in my home then teach me!!!

But until then, I'll continue to practice on fake skin & grow my own way. Not many options...

One shop OWNER told me he's not able to teach another because he's only been tattooing for 4 years....yet you own a shop..... wow...

This industry feels like a cult sometimes...

Here's a thread about how realistic tattoos age:

http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/general-tattoo-discussion/2654-aging-realism-what-lasts.html

From my perspective as a non-tattooer, the point of the Dan Henk article linked to in the thread isn't that realistic tattoos are shit and won't hold up, it's that there are certain fundamental rules to tattoo design and application that need to be followed if the tattoo is to hold up over time. Dan Henk saw that his tattoos were falling apart and he didn't give up everything he was doing and start doing traditional tattoos, he instead figured out how he could incorporate what the "old timers" were trying to teach him about lining, contrast, detail, placement, etc into realistic tattoos.

Thanks Graeme! I loved how he posted his earlier works to show the difference. Very awesome article.

Here's my dumbass moment. Did it on myself. Some people seem to genuinely like it. Me not so much at all. :P

I suddenly feel like a leper after reading this thread.

Traditional tattoos are wonderful and I appreciate the history. But what's wrong with evolving? These changes will happen as the industry gets bigger.

Maybe it's because I'm an artist myself, but I love realism. It's definitely the kind of tattoo artist I want to be one day. Someone mentioned traditional would actually be *harder* than realism... no offense that's a little ridiculous to me.

Sure I haven't had mine for 20+ years but it still looks amazing. You just have to take care of your skin...just like anything else on your body..

Even if I need touch-ups one day I would feel like it's worth it, considering the amount of skill that goes into it.

Not saying the same talent doesn't go into traditional!

Just kinda feels like people are hating on such an amazing style..

Wow I so never thought of that either! Brilliant. haha

Seriously thanks for bringing it up. Ever since I moved to Vancouver black people don't exist here so I've been so out of touch.

Damn I miss Montreal for that!

If you see the youtube video of this guy, you actually feel bad for him.

Not saying it's still not creepy though. :/

Nice! I like the placement. Always loved ones that crawled over the shoulder.

My tongue piercing story is funnier. My mom & my best friend were playing 'Pictionary', so when my mom drew I got excited and yelled "Blank check! Blank check!" So she ended up seeing my tongue ring and said "You got it done...." Since I was talking about it for a while. According to my parents, you can be the most beautiful girl in the world but if you have a tongue ring it's absolutely disgusting. haha My dad never knew. I got rid of it this year. I thoroughly enjoy eating ice cream off a cone now. It just got annoying after many years...

As for my first tattoo. Well, my family cringed but it was for my brother so that made them more accepting.

If anything now my brother is getting a family tree sleeve and he wants the one I got for him.

We actually aren't close at all. But he gave me the most thoughtful gift in the world. It was a small charm for a necklace, in it was a picture of the moon how it looked when I was born (first quarter). I wore it everyday, and slowly broke.

I think it'll always be my favourite.

Ah I see, thought it maybe had to do with not liking the idea. heh

It'll give their gynecologist a good laugh. :P

That's really awesome. Hope you went big. hehe

Oh I absolutely do! I majored in psychology when I was in college.

Must be extremely difficult to have ties with people or build a relationship/friendship. You never remember them, or anything.

It's very fascinating but what a rough life...

It's also hard to direct people towards styles & advice considering there's so much out there... like I mentioned earlier it's really personal...

As for tattoo artists taking advantage of your ignorance. Nothing is stopping you from going to just talk to them...Don't ever let anyone push you into leaving a deposit or anything if you don't feel comfortable. Don't just go to one shop, take a visit to a few...

Many people including myself used to just chill out, looking at portfolios in studios.

Take your time, and have fun with it.