Scott Sylvia

Then take look at this "Spencer Kmyta" tattoo

And compare it to the original @Valerie Vargas tattoo which he obviously tried to rip off

It's like the second picture in his online portfolio! The fucking nerves on this dude....
Same thing happened to @Stefan Johnsson a little while back (different hack though)

Just get a tattoo and watch how it ages.
If a tattooer has large work in their portfolio, such as backpieces etc, it's a pretty safe bet that some of it will be at least a year old.
Most of the problem here comes from the fact that once we've finished a tattoo, particularly with one-shot tattoos, we rarely see it or the client again.
Some of the photos on my website or blog have healed work next to the fresh stuff.
Thomas Hooper occasionally posts photos of his work when it's settled into the skin.
If you're talking about colour portraits, they look like shit 5+ years later unless they have a strong outline and plenty of black. There's many reasons for tattoos to look like tattoos.
Another way is to visit conventions and see what people with healed tattoos look like. Remember: look but don't touch.

Well i pretty much do what ever people ask me to do. even the celtic tree that "should feel like strenght and love" what the fuck is that suppose to look like.....oh crisp and bright. right. when i get all upity about my job i just remind myself its not my tattoo my ego only extends till im done then its thiers for the rest of thier life. even if you got john mayers sleeve tattooed on you. haha.but i did that shit tight. seriously ill do it all i actually love tribal shit and people think im kidding but i do like it ,just not most of the people who lend to it, much like the anal retentive people who like celtic. but what can you do? i dont believe everyone should be tattooed, shoot me but this aint for eveyone.

ok guys im going back and forth on this. first no one has done anything wrong yet . however we are on a slippery slop. what i don't want to have happen is open the tattooer only section and no one is on the rest of it. what MY intentions are in this is to take tattooing back from the douche bags like bob baxter who none of us would ever had heard of it wasn't for tattooing, then he throws it under the bus with published discussions on tattooings financial aspects. which in my world is no ones business but mine and my wifes. as for what people are tattooing with traditionally you get tattooed by them and look down. haha or buy a shit load of needles and when you don't like them give them to your co workers."i do this alot" 20 years and im still working it out.so what im looking for in this is a place for people to promote tattooing in a productive way that is positive towards tattooing. once again be patient and we will get a private part somehow in the mean time if you have touchy shit to talk about send it the person privately. thanks i hope this answers some stuff. i havent had much time to even get on the computer much. thanks scott

i had some burning man girl shit her pants all coked up and i caught her on her way to the bathroom as she shit her pants. not awsome smelled like a truck driver craped in my nostrils. not enough money in the day for that shit. not enough..

Ok, so lets set this straight "it's the indian not the arrow" stands pretty true in tattooing to a certain point. Some great tattooers tattoo with pretty crappy machines. i use a kaplan pretty regularly. i did rebuild it but the thing is so crappy they should just be disposable. secondly, spaulding and Rogers sucks.....really they do. all the previous defense is half true, paul Rogers designed the frame and ordered 250 to re-drill the geometry and only used the frame. old spaulding coils were great, the ones with fiber washers were good, the ones now would work great for a fishing weight. my first machines were a cut back supreme, which was the second machine aaron cain made, and my shader was a puma frame, both of which are the thicker older castings. i have every casting and they get cheaper and cheaper. as for the part where they sell to everyone this was true about waters, moskowitz, jenson and so on. The difference is that unlike today, where every dude that can ride a fix gear or grow a beard is a tattooer, back then the market was much smaller. they also sold veterinarian set ups. i haven't seen the work horse iron vet set yet but if there was a market they would be leading it. ha ha. In reality, there is no way i could go to college and apprentice at the same for the simple fact that when i should've been studying i would've been drawing...all night. but with todays line drawing books and the current folk revival technique, artistic fortitude can be waved as the bar is now easier to jump. sounds bitter but its true. in reality if your gonna be a tattooer your degree wont mean shit when your whip shading a jenson design. You're lucky if you've found a decent tattooer to apprentice with, and the longer you've been putting the effort, the more the tattoo community will open up to you. To me, that's always been one of the most important things about tattooing, the more you put in, the more you will get out of it.
Oh, and Nick, if you've got so much free time, shouldn't you be doing some laundry or changing a diaper or something? At least go get your poor wife a cup of coffee.

Ok, so lets set this straight "it's the indian not the arrow" stands pretty true in tattooing to a certain point. Some great tattooers tattoo with pretty crappy machines. i use a kaplan pretty regularly. i did rebuild it but the thing is so crappy they should just be disposable. secondly, spaulding and Rogers sucks.....really they do. all the previous defense is half true, paul Rogers designed the frame and ordered 250 to re-drill the geometry and only used the frame. old spaulding coils were great, the ones with fiber washers were good, the ones now would work great for a fishing weight. my first machines were a cut back supreme, which was the second machine aaron cain made, and my shader was a puma frame, both of which are the thicker older castings. i have every casting and they get cheaper and cheaper. as for the part where they sell to everyone this was true about waters, moskowitz, jenson and so on. The difference is that unlike today, where every dude that can ride a fix gear or grow a beard is a tattooer, back then the market was much smaller. they also sold veterinarian set ups. i haven't seen the work horse iron vet set yet but if there was a market they would be leading it. ha ha. In reality, there is no way i could go to college and apprentice at the same for the simple fact that when i should've been studying i would've been drawing...all night. but with todays line drawing books and the current folk revival technique, artistic fortitude can be waved as the bar is now easier to jump. sounds bitter but its true. in reality if your gonna be a tattooer your degree wont mean shit when your whip shading a jenson design. You're lucky if you've found a decent tattooer to apprentice with, and the longer you've been putting the effort, the more the tattoo community will open up to you. To me, that's always been one of the most important things about tattooing, the more you put in, the more you will get out of it.
Oh, and Nick, if you've got so much free time, shouldn't you be doing some laundry or changing a diaper or something? At least go get your poor wife a cup of coffee.

that chick linda tattoos for oliver in Dallas, i was totally fucking with her while she was tattooing because i thought she was doing her first tattoo on her boy friend and it was facing the wrong way. an hour later when she was shading it i was like"whatever it's the first one it's not like you do this for a living" which i found out ten minutes later she did...totally bummed her out. she has the craziest cover ups al over the place..

i had some burning man girl shit her pants all coked up and i caught her on her way to the bathroom as she shit her pants. not awsome smelled like a truck driver craped in my nostrils. not enough money in the day for that shit. not enough..

no tattoos.....no love.......fuck you in the face for thinking you can tattoo and not be tattooed, the trade involves a commitment a dedication to the craft. if you dont respect it or like it enough to get the product you produce on you then you are a parasite.....''robbing from the host." i think that would be the definition. as for boris i have no interest in what he has to offer. has anyone seen how many ink caps that guy uses. how many fucking shades of skin tone can you need? or does that weird rotary you take the tips of not blend a color. christ!!!!!!!

this is pretty simple in the act of self promoting you publish your stuff and it is public domain. i dont mean in a legal way but your putting it out there for people to see. this business is full of no talent ass clowns who search hi and low for influences to print off the computer and trace.. haha. as for flash thats the whole point. cant get pissed if someone sucks at doing your designs be glad you dont. you paint them to sell that s the whole deal. now if you look at someones design and try to copy it you are ripping it off, if you look at it and it inspires you to draw eagles all day thats influenced. we are sponges you cant help look at eds eagles and not love the way the wings have tension and try to recreate that energy but not line for line, thats just not right. finally just learn how to draw it stay up all night chain smoke get drunk listen to tom waits bone machine and dig in and learn how malone did it or how ed makes it look easy its up to you and fuck everyone else......much love scott

i personally think its a good idea if people can keep the comments to a productive fashion. whether this is possible i don't know? but its what i'm looking for on here. i think people can all use a different set of eyes on their designs, and different direction. so if you guys want to do it i'm in just don't let your feelings get hurt and don't make it personal. i have worked with some people who have lacked the verbal tacked need to be productive in this situation. but i have learned anyways just a little bitterly. haha
thanks scott

A bunch of tattooers went shark diving for 5 days 2 years ago. Oliver brought some tattoo equiptment, and we all tattooed sharks on each other while the boat was rocking all over the place, and then we all got in wet suits the next day and soaked them in the ocean. The one I did on Oliver got so infected that it's no longer recognizable as a shark. I'll try to find a picture of it.

your an ass to give it away and a bigger ass thinking you deserve it, stewert is right we are just borrowing it. and that painting sucks, as it should its your second one. by the 250th one you will have somthing to hold up for public opinion. not trying to be dick just love where this thread has gone.

no tattoos.....no love.......fuck you in the face for thinking you can tattoo and not be tattooed, the trade involves a commitment a dedication to the craft. if you dont respect it or like it enough to get the product you produce on you then you are a parasite.....''robbing from the host." i think that would be the definition. as for boris i have no interest in what he has to offer. has anyone seen how many ink caps that guy uses. how many fucking shades of skin tone can you need? or does that weird rotary you take the tips of not blend a color. christ!!!!!!!

lay of the chrome virgin mary woman...it was the 90s and eddy did it.

no tattoos.....no love.......fuck you in the face for thinking you can tattoo and not be tattooed, the trade involves a commitment a dedication to the craft. if you dont respect it or like it enough to get the product you produce on you then you are a parasite.....''robbing from the host." i think that would be the definition. as for boris i have no interest in what he has to offer. has anyone seen how many ink caps that guy uses. how many fucking shades of skin tone can you need? or does that weird rotary you take the tips of not blend a color. christ!!!!!!!

A bunch of tattooers went shark diving for 5 days 2 years ago. Oliver brought some tattoo equiptment, and we all tattooed sharks on each other while the boat was rocking all over the place, and then we all got in wet suits the next day and soaked them in the ocean. The one I did on Oliver got so infected that it's no longer recognizable as a shark. I'll try to find a picture of it.

te he he

A bunch of tattooers went shark diving for 5 days 2 years ago. Oliver brought some tattoo equiptment, and we all tattooed sharks on each other while the boat was rocking all over the place, and then we all got in wet suits the next day and soaked them in the ocean. The one I did on Oliver got so infected that it's no longer recognizable as a shark. I'll try to find a picture of it.

A bunch of tattooers went shark diving for 5 days 2 years ago. Oliver brought some tattoo equiptment, and we all tattooed sharks on each other while the boat was rocking all over the place, and then we all got in wet suits the next day and soaked them in the ocean. The one I did on Oliver got so infected that it's no longer recognizable as a shark. I'll try to find a picture of it.

A bunch of tattooers went shark diving for 5 days 2 years ago. Oliver brought some tattoo equiptment, and we all tattooed sharks on each other while the boat was rocking all over the place, and then we all got in wet suits the next day and soaked them in the ocean. The one I did on Oliver got so infected that it's no longer recognizable as a shark. I'll try to find a picture of it.

A bunch of tattooers went shark diving for 5 days 2 years ago. Oliver brought some tattoo equiptment, and we all tattooed sharks on each other while the boat was rocking all over the place, and then we all got in wet suits the next day and soaked them in the ocean. The one I did on Oliver got so infected that it's no longer recognizable as a shark. I'll try to find a picture of it.

Nope, I think that pretty much sums everything up across multiple threads in a very succinct, respectful, helpful and constructive way.
I was also thinking about this today when I was out, and while I did say "fuck em, don't say anything," I do think if you have a close friend or some sort of "fellow embroidery colleague" with whom you get along really well and establish some kind of awesome working relationship with, then it's only natural to want to share and learn, on both ends. But that's not really advice or anything, just something that'd obviously grow out of it.. Also, CAN YOU PLEASE TELL ME WHAT PAINTS YOU USE AND THE BRUSHES FOR PAINTING ON YOUR SEWINGS AND WHO I COULD MAYBE REFERENCE FOR SKULLZ AND ANKURZ, LIKE MAYBE THIS ED HARDY HAT I HAVE K THX LOL!

OK here's the thing Bubbleberry. You aren't a tattooer. Not that your opinion isn't valid, but try to understand things from this perspective:
Among craftsmen, information is the true currency. It's why master woodworkers, calligraphers, metal smiths, violin makers etc. guarded their secrets. It's keeps the things that you do special. When everyone knows everything, what is special? Thats why the Stradivarius violin is what it is and not just some normal violin.
When I was in my apprenticeship my teachers told me things. Very valuable things that helped me in my journey. Things I still think about today. One had been tattooing 14 years and the other 9. They had accumulated a lot of experience. They made mistakes, figured some things out, talked and worked with other tattooers, and had a chance to see a lot of things they did age and make adjustments to compensate. When they taught me stuff, they put their faith in me that I wouldn't just treat the things they passed on as just stuff to talk about or things to say when you want other dudes to know that you know what you're talking about. It was truly valuable and needed to be seen and treated as such.
I had very good friends working at other shops in town on their own similar beginning adventures in tattooing, and I never told them any of the shit my bosses told me even if I thought it would help. Which was hard, but here's the thing. It wasn't my secrets to tell. As much as I would like to help someone out that I think might benefit from a hint or two, it's not my information to tell. I couldn't betray that. It's what keeps it valuable and helps keep that bond between student and teacher sacred. I truly believe that. That's maybe why so many of us are up in arms about the tattoo school thing. Because we may have gone through the student/teacher apprenticeships, and value that. I'm proud of my lineage. They aren't huge name dudes or anything, but I think that are some of the best tattooers I know. My stuff has a look to it that you can trace back to the people I worked with and learned from and that's important. It keeps things rich. It's the best way to cultivate and nurture tattooing as a whole. My stuff may not be the best stuff out there, but it's mine, and what's mine is a combination of the people who taught me, and I'm proud of that.
Think about your wife. She's going through her very own apprenticeship. What about the accumulated knowledge that her teacher is passing on to her. Should she not hold that in truly high regard? Shouldn't she keep his secrets and put them to good use? She is now part of his lineage. That's not something to take lightly. That information is valuable and she should treat is as such.
That's not to say that you can't ever mention it. Trading bits of information between craftsmen is another way to honor the value of the knowledge, AND that gives me the privilege of being able to go back to my teachers and tell them what i've learned as a part of the way you can pay them back for giving you so much in the first place.
As craftsmen we meet up at conventions, guest spots, shop visits on vacations, writing to each other, and we can sometimes trade portions of information to each other and we can in turn use these in our own ways and it helps keep tattooing robust and alive. It helps us form bonds between each other. However even in those situations I try to hold back certain aspects of the info, as do the people on the other side. It keeps the level of mystery, not in a mystical sense, but in the sense that we now have to figure out the key to unlock this particular piece of knowledge, and sometimes we find our own key and use for it.
Tattooing is different than most things in that it's still a largely master/apprentice craft. True a lot of tattooers came in through different means but most of them respect the apprenticeship as the proper way, and although more tattooers than not shouldn't actually be giving apprenticeships since they aren't really cut out for it, and we have too many to begin with already, it's still the proper way. That is part of the tradition that, at least I hold in very high regard.
Ursula, if you're paying for info, that you've in turn used to help you create something unique, then yes you should see it in that light. Hold it back. People ask and ask, but that shows you just how valuable and special your stuff is. Let them find their own secrets. Now if you are meeting up with other people and can trade parts of things for more info, then good on you.
I could write more on this subject but I think I need food right now. I'm sure smarter people than me can expound in a better way.