ChrisM

Shitty cell phone pic of progress on my backpiece. 7 sessions, 22.5 hours, and 1.5 tubs of Aquaphor. I should be able to get it finished next month as my X-mas present to myself.

(And by shitty cell pic I mean REALLY shitty)

Am I the only person who thinks this?

Oh what the hell, probably crazy to enter a tattoo here given what's already posted, but whatever, I'm not here to make friends:



Done by Seth Wood, Saved Tattoo. Mostly finished October 2011 so the thing is healed a year, but the illustrations in the book are fresh and were done a couple of weeks ago. Apologies for the giant pictures.

Scott sylvia blackheart tattoo SF done in 2 sittings 4 hrs for outline of eagle and shading 7 hrs for roses and color its also going over old lasered stuff!

Can we talk about the ZZ Top riding an alligator gar for a minute? Ultimate Texas tattoo and then some.

Yes, and No...
It's weird. One of those double edged things... I don't think Inkmasters is actually going to affect anyone that really loves this profession, and is good at it. I guess earlier in the thread I was super pollyanna and trying to do nothing but see the upside of things and rationalize it all, not sure why, I just support my friends.
But I guess out of school habits, I like to look at the same things over and try to argue a case against it... It's a writing tool...
We didn't just take part in it... this whole thing was filmed back in July, (that episode, and NO, Richard had no idea) He thought the kids would at least know how to put a tattoo on.... But when they were three hours into something and some of them didn't even have the outlines complete. It was heartbreaking, Richard doesn't have anxiety attacks, I do... but he had two, and freaked out wanting to fix each tattoo that he saw, because he felt morally compelled to give those vets good work in exchange for theirs.
No he didn't have a real idea of what was actually up, even the casting agents were a bit dishonest, I mean it's their job to get people on the set that would make for an interesting dynamic... And they were looking to get a rise, but it only raised vomit. I completely threw a fit the last day they shot... I stayed at the 700.00 a nite hotel they put us up in. And smoked in the non smoking room. I was pissed off thinking if we have to stay and fix shit tattoos, and put off the clients in San Antonio that were at the convention already (tattooers who love and cherish this), and waiting... I was going to have a little breakdown and probably leave NYC for TX... To get everything for the show in SA ready.
We had to fly into Austin pick our truck up, grab the rest of our booth setup from Tony's house drive down to SA setup all over again, on 5 hours sleep, and yeah, I can totally criticize it, I want to know the parts I like and didn't in an effort to change them maybe for the better later on, or at least have an objective standpoint on it...
And I am not a big user of Facebook, or Twitter too much anymore, I felt like if any place was good to kinda let loose, and be open regarding our opinions, experiences around this, or any tattoo type of topic, I would rather post up here, I thought. Safe zone.
The entire show isn't 100% fucked up, and just a portion. I have been involved in some fucked up stuff before, far worse on a couple moral standpoints. It's early on in the Tattoo TV thing, I guess I just would like to maybe contribute constructive criticism somewhere, cause I know a few people look at these threads, and maybe just maybe they would take a few of the hints dropped here.
Not snide, just honest... The way it should be.
- - - Updated - - -
Sorry about the novel....

My first trip to Dallas was in 1998 and I worked right near Richard's shop. The owner of the shop said, "come on, I'll introduce you to Richard Stell". We walked over there and they were filming Walker Texas Ranger, Richard was tattooing. I got to meet Richard Stell, Mike Wilson AND Chuck Norris all within 5 minutes of each other. It was the coolest day ever for me. Richard wouldn't stop tattooing for them to film and told them to deal with it and film around him, it was rad. I told Richard that story recently from my perspective and he chuckled. I am very excited to see him on Ink Master.

YUP... It's The Walker Texas Ranger Episode: A Matter of Principle...
And Richard and I kinda got a vibe that the contestants would be trying to get a rise out of him: Contradictions & EXCUSES we're tiring, Richard really wanted to practice what he preached, manners, restraint, representing Real Tattooers in a positive light...and knowing when your advice or words meant nothing (because the fuckers "KNOW" tattooing), if it so why help them... ?
(He didn't want to shit on the floor, but he could have, after seeing the bullshit we did.)
I don't know whats going to happen, but I am happy that some real tattoo masters like Rubendall, Richard, and the like,are going to be on the series, it helps make these assholes look bad. (Richard doesn't consider himself a master), he wants to keep learning...
And that's the lesson we learned in NYC.

My latest, finished a few months ago by Matt Brotka at Salvation Gallery in Richmond.
(he didn't do the pumpkin on my ass haha)

Came to Chicago this weekend and got this one from Nick Colella.

My son's first tattoo for his 18th b-day by Ezra Haidet- Triple Crown Tattoo, ATX

@ChrisM, see you there. We should have a LST shindig, somehow. Even if it's just drinking a 40 on the side of the road. It's pretty typical Richmond.

Week nights are never good for me. But I'll be at the Richmond convention the previous saturday if anyone is going this year.

Thanks for the kind words, y'all. I was in the midwest (Montrose, Iowa) up until September, and now have made my tattooing home at Blackheart Tattoo in San Francisco. I will always be a midwestern girl at heart :)
The best midwestern tattooers in my opinion:
Josh Arment (Aloha Monkey)
Nick Colella (CTC)
Mario Desa (CTC)
Josh Howard (?)
Josh Palmer (Aloha Monkey)
Tim Beck (Freedom Ink)
Jeff Zuck (Name Brand)
Brad Fink (Iron Age)
Jef Whitehead (Taylor St.)
Miles Maniaci (Deluxe)
Turbo (Taylor St)-- currently out with a broken hand
Erik Gillespie (CTC)
Zack Kinsey (Uptown)
I could go on and on.......

took this picture yesterday 4th day of healing already peeled Scott sylvia blackheart tattoo SF
SF trip was better than i could have ever expected or deserved.
found LST(pic 1) got great advice (pic 2) listened to said advice !(pic 3)

stuart cripwell spider murphys sfo

Done by Topper at Philadelphia Eddies.

I apologize for the double post just thought id share this jem, i got the amazing honor of working a convention for Eric Inksmith and in return he tattooed me for all the help, with this inksmith special, at the end of the tattoo he asked me "you want to know why i used purple?" i responded "yessir" and he said "it was paul rogers favorite color." i am so excited to have worked with him and to have heard the wild and crazy stories of all the guys i look up to that he was willing to share. this is a couple of months healed.

got about 3 hours of work done on my whole front by an amazing artist in North Carolina named Brandon Munday, dude kills it reminds me alot of tony hundahl super awesome tattoos check his instagram out and spread the love @mundaytattoo

Don't schedule around me, but I'd definitely try to make it to a meetup despite this non-committal answer. Sounds fun!

Got tattooed by Jesse Gordon yesterday and my bud got tattooed by Lars. Both super sick! Going back again today to get some filler and my other ankle filled in.
Inksmith is awesome and all the dudes there. Met Mike Wilson and got my appt for my chest set up dec. 1st. Makes me a little less anxious knowing he's do nice and humble.
Side note: as the shop was closing a dude with back piece by Ed hardy from 1989 and a bunch of work from cliff raven, jack Rudy, bob shaw. Needless to say, super rad

Had my appointments with Frank and Sarah Carter today, so i'll crack on with the pictures :)
First up a calf piece from Sarah:

Then after a bite to eat and a much needed sugar intake, this palm sized space filler from Frank on the inside of my right wrist:

I should say i borrowed both images from their respective instagram pages.
Not sure if either of them will read this but i have to say they were both great today, in terms of the tattoos done and just making sure i had as good a time as is possible while being jabbed with needles!
The art will always speak for itself but not everyone has the capability to make the whole tattoo experience (for want of a better word) a memorable one.
And on that note i'm heading to bed, it's been quite a day :D

Got two little tattoos this weekend at the Portland Convention. A reaper head from Zach Nelligan of Triple Crown and Jelena Nikolic from Chicago Tattoo Company did a traditional butterfly on me.

Just got back from jacksonville. Super fun trip and got some super fun tattoos from Jesse Gordon at Inksmith and Rogers on 3rd street.
First of the trip. Basically said dagger with something weird. we got weird

Little drawn on filler the next day

a print he gave me

Was going to get another one on my ankle, but unfortunately was too hungover to withstand too much
Also, going back to get eagle/snake on my chest by Mike Wilson on Dec 1st.

Not that anyone cares, or should, but, for the record, given my minimal experience with the guy, I have nothing bad to say about Chris Conn. And I'm a grouchy hypercritical misanthropic bitch.