Julio Avila

i think misspelling of words is up there.
also, backwards tattoos. you guys see that TATTOO WARS show? it was awesome!!!!!!!!!! you see the one with mike rubendall up against bugs? i like the way they showed mike doing his homework researching his design and doing some sketching while bugs went to his mechanics place to work on a hot rod. come tattoo time, mike did an INCREDIBLE job. bugs on the other hand decided to just draw his design on. and drew it BACKWARDS!!!!!! thats some crap you learn in the first week of an apprenticeship. not 20 years into your career.

I hate when fools show up 15 minutes late and don't say SORRY. Give me a lame excuse and acknowledge you were late.

Yuppies.
I know this us a huge generalization, but they usually get the wackest tattoos!!!!
They get super small super detailed crap in a super private spot. Coming into the shop acting like they are such huge rebels. Wanna be a rebel? Buy a Honda instead of a BMW.
Reminds me of one of my favorite jokes....
What's the difference between a BMW and a porqupine?
Porqupines have the pricks on the OUTSIDE.
*nothing against BMW owners. Just yuppies

scott, i agree. i just wish some people would realize that before they sit in the chair or make an appt.
also, i like doing and designing tribal as well. but most people want the most generic tribal ever. i try to lean them towards some leo stuff but they just dont get it. most people get tribal because they just cant commit to any kind of imagery.
aaaaand i just outlined 31 baseball logos on this dudes arm. do i think its a dumb idea? yeah. but i can do it, so i did.

I once did 17 lines around this dudes arm. Different colors. I will never do not a single line/stripe around any one ever again. Stupid sweat sock arms

im also gonna add tiny ass upside down lettering on the wrist......in white

Trees. In the last two years I've done about 100 of them.
Trees with hidden words or initials anywhere in the design (in the trunk, branches, or roots)
Hidden words or initials. If you've got something to say, SAY IT!
Arm bands. They break up the arm in such weird spots it makes it difficult "add to" or expand on with future tattoos.
Cherubs. Naked babies?! For reals?!
Art. You really need V. Van Gogh's "Starry Night" on your arm? Go buy a t shirt!!
Superman logos. You are from right here. Not Krypton
This list can go on forever. Sometimes it's not the what that you are tattooing but the who. Arrive on time, be respectful and don't figit around. Bring a good story to tell. Tattooers love em! Most of all, leave your tuff guy attitude at home. You ain't as tuff as us.

Ribs and knee cap. Both suck

Trees. In the last two years I've done about 100 of them.
Trees with hidden words or initials anywhere in the design (in the trunk, branches, or roots)
Hidden words or initials. If you've got something to say, SAY IT!
Arm bands. They break up the arm in such weird spots it makes it difficult "add to" or expand on with future tattoos.
Cherubs. Naked babies?! For reals?!
Art. You really need V. Van Gogh's "Starry Night" on your arm? Go buy a t shirt!!
Superman logos. You are from right here. Not Krypton
This list can go on forever. Sometimes it's not the what that you are tattooing but the who. Arrive on time, be respectful and don't figit around. Bring a good story to tell. Tattooers love em! Most of all, leave your tuff guy attitude at home. You ain't as tuff as us.

Yes.
I forget none of you are from Wisconsin. People don't know about other people here

People that have been tattooing for a long while know how hard of a craft tattooing is. I remember how crazy my 1+ years of college was. There was no way I could do both at the same time. I would definately be failing at one if not be a D+ student at both. D+ tattooer is not what I'm trying to be. Maybe you are different though. Maybe you CAN excel at both, together.
Also, if you are serving an apprenticeship at a shop, you should be having machine recommendation conversations with your mentor. He or she should have enough experience to point you in the right direction instead of you asking strangers online.
Another thing, if you really wanna sign up for the big race, do you really wanna be wearing pro wings? There are plenty of good machine builders out there. (hint*one partly RUNS THIS FORUM!!!!), but again, your mentor should be advising you. My machines are an investment to my trade not a chore in my craft.

robin, i think its a damned stupid idea to keep a wild animal as a pet of any sorts. unless you are roy boy, that is

I don't give a shit whether or not any person is tattooed. Doesn't make me trust/like them any more or less. HOWEVER, if I see a person covered with some bullshit tattoos, that might make me feel less of them.

DONT SHOW UP EARLY!!!!!
10 minutes is acceptable. Any more time and it makes the tattooer feel rushed.

I don't give a shit whether or not any person is tattooed. Doesn't make me trust/like them any more or less. HOWEVER, if I see a person covered with some bullshit tattoos, that might make me feel less of them.

Ugh fuck you horitomo!!!
I'm quitting to go work at subway as a sandwich artist

I once did 17 lines around this dudes arm. Different colors. I will never do not a single line/stripe around any one ever again. Stupid sweat sock arms

just be respectful. yes tips and cupcakes are awfully nice, but thats not what gets me to work on time everyday. just be nice. leave your tuff guy attitude at the door. dont try to impress us, just be nice. if you know some jokes, please share. if some crazy shit happened to you earlier in the week, tell us the story. if you are coming to us because you saw how awesome we did of a job on your friends japanese sleeve, dont be surprised when we are bummed that you want us to do your celtic armband. haha
come in clean and with a good attitude. thats all i can ask for. anything extra is frosting on the cake

Sorry folks but hitler fucked it up for everybody from here on out to eternity. Along with that mustache. So I'm not into it at all. Not one bit

i think its not too difficult to get tattooed by somebody you really want if you are patient. WAIT. get in contact with the person, let them know what you want, drop off a deposit and wait. save that spot you want to get tattooed for that tattoo.
people bug out when i tell them they gotta wait two weeks for their tattoo. like they are going to die or go to prison in that time. CHILL. if you aint a pain in the ass, itll happen

i think its not too difficult to get tattooed by somebody you really want if you are patient. WAIT. get in contact with the person, let them know what you want, drop off a deposit and wait. save that spot you want to get tattooed for that tattoo.
people bug out when i tell them they gotta wait two weeks for their tattoo. like they are going to die or go to prison in that time. CHILL. if you aint a pain in the ass, itll happen

grime's at three years?! dang. id really hate to know all the shit ill be doing for the next three months, let alone years!!!!!!!!!
glad i only waited like three months to get tattooed by him.

them lettering book are a "stepping stone" to what can be done. the truth is, if you trace the letters directly out of the book, it totally shows. there is nothing like hand drawn letters.
even when i do OE letters, ill tape tracing paper over the original style and then redraw my version of them directly on top. hand drawn letters have much more soul in them than any traced letters will ever have.

them lettering book are a "stepping stone" to what can be done. the truth is, if you trace the letters directly out of the book, it totally shows. there is nothing like hand drawn letters.
even when i do OE letters, ill tape tracing paper over the original style and then redraw my version of them directly on top. hand drawn letters have much more soul in them than any traced letters will ever have.

im also gonna add tiny ass upside down lettering on the wrist......in white