vegdad

Wow....... Just when you think you have seen it all........ A rose by any other name is still not a rose.......

My wife and I were talking about this as I start my apprenticeship next week in OKC... If she had not given her notice for the 24th we would have been right in the middle of it... I have family there and everyone was o.k., but like many fellow Oklahomans we are prepared to lend a hand once we get there.... We are donating clothes and stuff that we were going to donate locally before moving.... It is a bad place in that particular part of the city for twisters and I and many fellow Okies are frustrated with the lack of storm cellars in public schools... California prepares for earthquakes, and Florida for hurricanes yet our state had turned a blind eye to this issue till now... laws are already being discussed I just hate that it takes loss of life to evaluate the current standards....:(

Lol.... Scratcher national anthem...... But in the end lots of blast overs and cover ups for legit shops for these individuals "addicted"....:rolleyes: - - - Updated - - - I also feel that going in as an apprentice I consider where every future piece of artwork on my body is going to go. I have a wife and two kids and if my love and skills are not enough to provide as an artist then I will be forced to seek supplemental income and the crucial, neck, face, hands issue is one I will not examine for a long time.... although I am really wanting "STAY TRUE" on the knuckles for both a personal and line laying reminder... :confused:

I was gonna suggest a fifty foot white owl and bonfire... but then I realized that was the NWO.... or is it?

Nice to see another family man in the trade... I was constantly worried about becoming an artist as people constantly tell you that you will lose your wife and kids due to the demands. I am only in my apprenticeship, however my wife and kids support my decision. I feel life is to short and corporate america sucks.... been there done that....

Could not have said it better... I research daily on the history, styles, and trends. I am studying anatomy and traditional artwork along with drawing every day. I have landed an apprenticeship and plan on laying my equipment down until my mentor feels I am ready to practice on fake skin, grapefruits or pig skin. Reason being I do not want to develop further bad habits and I respect the heritage and the opportunity I have been given in my apprenticeship. I am a people person and a marketing minded person that looks forward to educating my clients about good and bad tattoos....

This kinda reminds me of my cousin that I did some of my first pieces on. I was looking at a barbed wire wrap on his upper arm that was way blown out and not that old. I asked him what the guy charged and he said $80 bucks and he was drunk when he did it....

I have to admit after looking at the above image I am really leaning towards filling out my arms with this... have some text , feathers, and a koi (not overly Asian) that could be worked into the over all design....

I have issues with ingrown hairs as well. I have been working on my Koi on my left arm for two sessions and the first time I shaved against the grain and my wife stated that was the problem. Well this last session I went with the grain still having issues. I think I might have to break down and go with the cream mentioned as well.....

I understand your frustration. However here in Oklahoma you cannot take on an apprentice until you have been open for five years I believe. This may be the same where you are at. I recently landed my apprenticeship and would say don't give up hope and above all else stay positive. - - - Updated - - - I second this whole heartedly... It was my respect for the history of the trade that helped me land my apprenticeship. I did not walk in as a kid with a stack of drawings, I walked in as a middle aged man with artistic talent looking to learn a trade I respected.

Greetings all... I am a soon to be apprentice based out of Oklahoma (actually moving to OKC for my apprenticeship). I have worked as a digital artist for years now 38 , and finally am pursuing my desire to be a tattoo artist in the future.. married two kids and full support from my ink loving wife.... Forum seems like a wealth of knowledge and respect for tattoo heritage of which I fully believe in as I come from a trade background. Hope to make many new friends and fewer enemies through leaving the corporate world... anyhow that's about the sum of it...