blessedmatter

Well, if you're a fan of someone as an artist and not simply looking to get any artwork, it makes sense to pay the price they're charging to have a piece of their work. This is like asking why would you pay the price for a Dali (or what have you) when there's any amount of artists whose artwork go for less on the market. Likely, it's because you particularly want that person's piece of work. We all get tattoos for different reasons. Different strokes and all.

Yea, you're right about the relativism that should be exhibited in tattoo related opinions. I'm still ironing out my idea/point, but I guess it's simply this: now that there is an abundance of talented artists, why pay the $500 for him?

Alright, so I've been "aware" of top level tattooing, however defined, for about ten years now... and the thing that made Chris Conn so appealing back when I first became aware of him was that he was executing highly rendered, elegant tattoos at a time when new school was dying, dave fox was inspiring real weirdly drawn shit, and basically other stuff that wasn't what Conn was really doing. Not to say that back then there weren't guys (who I'm probably unaware of) that were on Conn's level, but basically he was more unique then, perhaps worth $500 an hour.

The point of this post is to suggest that now with the likes of guys like Seth Wood, Grez, Valerie Vargas, etc. Why pay $500 an hour for work that is on par with others who charge less? I mean, if you're a big fan, awesome. But at the end of the day, I think it's lame.

Thank you, I feel like Topper is a real secret East Coast gem. The dude has been there fifteen years now, real deal loyalty, and his work is ripe with a rich lineage.

Just got a new piece from Topper at South Street Philly Eddie's, and he generously threw some stars and dots up on my arm. He did the mini tiger head, too. Anyhow, I think his stars and dots are particularly awesome and thought to share them.

I think he's real hit or miss. I live outside of NYC, and for the money, at the end of the day I would get tattooed by a lot of different dudes.

got this lady from brad stevens @ ny adorned tonight.

Solid

Best dude, great tattooer. He did this black and grey rose recently that blew my mind. It's shaded really uniquely, and it totally works, which is not often the case for nuances in tattooing.

By Barrett Fiser, Bonnie and Clyde's Philadelphia and Inksmith and Rogers Jax Beach

Kyle Sajban, Red Rocket New York City

I also have a shark lady pin up. I basically get babes doing things I like.

If this thread is deleted then the terrorists have won.

I mean, it's my opinion and I could theoretically be wrong, but if he wants to do old tattoos, wants his shop to look old, and wants to appear olde timey, then he is artificially creating an image. It's not candid or natural.

As for you, I don't know you. You didn't advertise your lifestyle on the internet to me. Had you, then you would have to accept potential criticism. Is that not fair?

But why is it contrived? Does everyone need an ipad and Nikes? I prefer Levi's and Dickies to cargo shorts from Old Navy. I like white t-shirts and black t-shirts and I get nice haircuts -- does that make me contrived?

Well did he make the video?

Frankly, his whole image is contrived. "I want to be this guy, so this is how I think he would be..."

Also, I'd be more concerned if we all agreed on everything. How boring.

American culture is in a super dangerous spot right now. Watered down, androgynous, over exposed, whored out, etc, etc. I have ZERO TIME for people who can't just be themselves.

His work is ok, he's probably a nice guy, but I'd rather get tattooed by someone who doesn't give a fuck about what they're wearing.

Contrived motherfuckers all over the place these days.

Put a sign in your window advertising half off tattoos until they're gone. I don't want to speak about things that aren't my business, but something similar happened in Jersey years ago and that's how it was handled.

The cream will always rise, friend.

YO, REDDITORS UP IN THIS PIECE?!

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(That's supposed to be an upvote)

About 7 or 8 years ago Bill Demichele took a photo of me at a convention, and I asked him not to publish it, as I had no interest in the tattoo being seen publicly. He said he would not, yet six months later, there it was in print.

Every idiot in America has that tattoo, and it makes me sick.

What is it? I guess asking to post a picture is out of the question

Barf. Pretty contrived. Those walking shots are a joke. All these videos are just looking like commercials.

i had a pretty funny moment recently where i asked a tattooer (whom i've been tattooed by several times and have a fair rapport with) if i could take a pciture of part of a painting he had hanging up from another artist and he said no, only to ask me a few hours later if he could take a picture of a tattoo on me from another artist. i said yes, but the thought crossed my mind to be a dick and say no.

people are too touchy these days.

Oh, but if I can help it I'll eat a candy bar before I go in, bring a bottle of water for the session, and afterwards leak blood and plasma all over my girlfriend's sheets.

I don't understand taking pain killers. It's mainly because I get tattooed spontaneously for the most part and I don't want to get used to something that won't always be readily available. Plus, I kind of think "no pain, no game." Man, when I got my stomach tattooed it was one of the worst pains I've ever experienced, but when I was done I was pretty pumped on having sat like a champ for it. It made me feel like I truly earned it, especially since it's a badass tattoo (panther fighting a snake).

Fuck, once I saw a kid getting his area code tattooed on him in the shape of weapons, and he was fucking balling. It was very ironic and pathetic.

Man, I've never seen such awesome medusas in tattooing. It's such an awesome idea but is rarely executed well.

i asked a friend for an eagle or a panther ripping out of a snake and he said, "no, that's impossible."

i guess that's where he draws his line (or not, har har).

What are some tattoos that you have that were years in the making? For instance, did you hold out for an artist for years and then finally get that appointment? Did you want a specific design but never had the confidence in an artist until a sudden moment and it worked?

Last fall I got tattooed by Jef Whitehead and it was years and years and years in the making. I'm 27 mind you, and before I knew what a good tattoo was I knew that his line of flash for Anti Hero skateboards was amazing. I probably didn't know it was even his for a few years. Then later on I knew some kids up in Boston who were getting stunning pieces from Whitehead when he worked in NH (I think that's where he was then), and that really changed my perception on tattooing. Finally, last year I got a wolf head with a dagger running through it from him, and I probably look at it more than any other tattoo I have.

I also recently got tattooed by Mike Wilson and it was nothing short of the hype that usually surrounds his name. Awesome tat, awesome dude, etc, etc.

Once I went to Smith Street for a noon appointment and they were bbqing out back and invited me to have a burger.