Stefan Johnsson

This used to annoy (and flatter) me, but not so much anymore.
Now I find it more strange than anything else. I have seen 4 or 5 versions of that wolf/rose, and I don't understand why. The customers could have just asked their tattooer to draw something similar, and I'm sure everyone would be happier.

This used to annoy (and flatter) me, but not so much anymore.
Now I find it more strange than anything else. I have seen 4 or 5 versions of that wolf/rose, and I don't understand why. The customers could have just asked their tattooer to draw something similar, and I'm sure everyone would be happier.

This used to annoy (and flatter) me, but not so much anymore.
Now I find it more strange than anything else. I have seen 4 or 5 versions of that wolf/rose, and I don't understand why. The customers could have just asked their tattooer to draw something similar, and I'm sure everyone would be happier.

This used to annoy (and flatter) me, but not so much anymore.
Now I find it more strange than anything else. I have seen 4 or 5 versions of that wolf/rose, and I don't understand why. The customers could have just asked their tattooer to draw something similar, and I'm sure everyone would be happier.

Then you've come to the wrong place.
As stated in the Tattoo Newbie Guidelines thread:
Do not start threads asking about specific tattooing equipment or techniques, LST is not here to teach anyone how to tattoo. Ask your own tattooer, the next time you are getting tattooed. Maybe they'll answer you, maybe they won't.
Do not start threads regarding closely guarded trade secrets - this will keep LST a much more welcoming place for everyone, tattooers and enthusiasts alike.
Do not start threads asking questions about "breaking into the business" of tattooing.
If you do see threads like that, flag them for mods and try to ignore them until they can be deleted. We want LST to be a place that artists feel welcome, too, and those types of threads do nothing to foster that type of environment.
Thanks.

My personal problem with this stuff is that it doesn't deal with or derive from the basic motivations of humans or society.
All the long-lasting tattoo imagery addresses or springs from some basic element of humanity. Which is why they've lasted a long time.
My opinion is that this style of work (trash polka et al) is created with the main motivation to stand out from the crowd or be 'different'.
The drive to be original, different or special, is fundamentally flawed and certainly short-lived.
If tattoo designs derive from deep-rooted human drives and archetypes it's pretty much impossible for the concept to become dated. The execution is a different matter.
In my opinion all the best tattoo imagery comes from or symbolises basic human drives, or the needs of humans in society. Skulls, pin-ups, powerful animals, flowers, hearts, religious imagery, daggers etc, etc.
Most of the flash or portfolios (including tribal) in a decent tattoo shop will succinctly encompass the interesting bits of the human experience.
That's why the work posted in this thread rings hollow for me, regardless of the difficulty of the application.

Well what does your inner voice sound and what are your inner struggles? This could be different for everyone. Approaching a tattoo from an abstract concept is a pretty foreign concept to me. It seems more like a modern art piece, you know when you are in the museum and you want to sit down but you are not sure if it's a bench or an exhibit. That being said you can still get a nice tattoo, I just think you have to find something more tangible within your idea. A person place or object that could either he lp or hinder your voice or struggle and then have that turned into a nice tattoo. I know you are not a fan of quotes but maybe a banner with a short phrase in it to give your inner voice, well a voice.

Groundhog Day!
Threads like this and posters like areilla are some of the reasons I don't come here much anymore.
I'm tired of defending real tattooing and discussing why people shouldn't be tattooers when they clearly don't understand what tattooing is.
Someone fairly intelligent who thinks they have a grasp on art wants to be a tattooer, they post a dumb-ass, inflammatory post, people exercise their good will and give sensible responses, the original poster spouts a fountain of reasons why they are right and everybody else is wrong because their reasoning is rock-solid and everybody just doesn't understand, man. Then a bunch of comparisons with other trades and professions are drawn but none of them hit the point. Then someone calls out 'bullshit' or 'troll' the original poster reasons that's what internet forums are for, to discuss stuff.
It's fucking boring.
With a half-working knowledge of how to argue a point, you can 'prove' that you deserve to tattoo. That doesn't mean you do.
You can 'prove' that tattooers don't need many tattoos because 'it's art man, it's all about personal choice'. that doesn't mean you're not a parasite.
areilla, if you can save tattooing and feel you are better than everybody else but you don't want to pay for tattoos, you should type less and draw more. But I know you won't. You read a thread just like this, that had some great points raised but you wanted one of your own.

Cris Cleen fucking works. I know some of you have tattoos from Cris..

http://vimeo.com/27647687

Personally that scratchy, graphic stuff gets too much attention as it is. I like it less than colour realism.
I don't think it belongs in tattooing, a way for an artist to express themselves on somebody else's body. I know the people ask for it and pay for it, but part of a tattooer's job it to stop people getting ugly shit they will want covered when they grow up and see real tattoos done properly. Actually, I apply that to anything that doesn't look like a tattoo. "how clever, it doesn't look like a tattoo"
I know this makes me sound like a dick, but I've seen it time and time again. I've even made some of the same mistakes myself, getting bold graphic crap that I thought made me special and clever. It didn't. It just ruined the space for a proper tattoo.
I think what Hooper does is capture the same urge to be bold and different but he executes it with an amazing eye for design and respect for the body, not to mention his work is filtered through his knowledge of tattooing as a whole.
Horses for courses I guess....

I like to see more paintings, so I guess I should post one of mine.

I like to see more paintings, so I guess I should post one of mine.

that first post offends my eyes and heart

I made this post in another tattoo forum. It applies here.
"Im not saying facebook posts are going to make any difference to TLC. Im saying our voices are important for the regular public to hear also. Just because you may not have heard of the show doesn't mean all the "middle america, sit on the TV all day" kind of people haven't. I want regular non tattoo people to understand how we feel about this and why. I would like to counter the immediate response to thinking that a tattoo school is a good idea. I want the people who might watch this show and decide they want to go to a tattoo school. The kids who get turned away from apprenticeships and see this as a backdoor into the craft. I want them to hear why that's a bad idea. From the people who they would be looking at for employment.
I am under no illusions that a bunch of posts on the net are going to change a networks mind necessarily. More that I want as many people as possible to understand that this isn't the norm in tattooing, nor the way to go for anyone."
I feel we need counter measures.

I've been trying to stay out of this discussion up to now. Both online and at our shop.
I'm not sure if this will bum anyone out more than they are already and maybe it's been said by someone else....
A petition with thousands of names will prove to TLC that this show will be watched by enough people for it to matter.
Has nobody noticed that reality TV doesn't need reality - it's fuelled by conflict. A petition is conflict before the show even airs. Even banners and gifs on websites are strengthening the TLC brand. Subconsciously reinforcing the fact that their channel is the place to find entertaining conflict to while away your evenings.
We all know the reality is that you can't learn to make a decent tattoo in 2 weeks, but that doesn't matter. - The conflict and ensuing drama is the entertainment. TLC are selling entertainment.
This literally is already the most talked about TV show in our shop, by customers and tattooers. More than Sons of Anarchy, The Sopranos, The Wire, Hollyoaks, Tattoo Age etc. etc.
This will either show how difficult tattooing is and reinforce the idea that TV shows are about exceptional individuals who drive trucks on ice, do tattoos, build massive bridges or go to the moon. - making the existing 'reality' shows more interesting and exotic to joe public.
Or it will turn into 'Tattoo X-Factor' - 'Ink-Factor - Do you have what it takes?'
The future of mainstream tattoo culture is dark.

This is sadly very true.
The day we are forced to use pigments that have passed a safety test is the same day we tattoo with food dye.
Six months later, your tattoo will look like shit.
Maybe it will seem to someone that this is a good idea - just pay for regular touch-ups, but it isn't. keep tattooing the same patch regularly and it will be an inflexible scar in a couple of years or so. It hurt enough the first time too, thanks.
The reason tattoos are permanent is because the ink is NOT safe for the body. The skin protects the body (organs, muscles etc) by holding the ink/pigment where it entered.
Yeah, we don't want to use pigment that corrodes the skin and we don't want to use ink that's contaminated. But I like my tattoos to look good. I know they are not 'safe', I paid someone to break my skin and draw skulls, tits, devils, dragons an' shit.
Sadly, in mainland Europe Shawn's scenario has began to be real. Certain brands of ink are blacklisted and approved brand's bottles must have batch numbers and expiry dates etc. An un-announced visit by the health board that discovers blacklisted ink can result in your shop being shut down.
The brands are not blacklisted because they make shitty tattoos, nor because they are dangerous. Almost anyone reading this will have some of that ink in their skin.
Personally, as a tattooer, I like the idea of a craftsman using tools and materials that are the result of another craftsman's passion, experience and expertise.
Some of the highest quality materials in tattooing (ink, machines, grips, pens, power supplies etc.) are made by individuals or at least 'cottage industries'.
I love being able to speak to the guy who made my equipment and buy it directly from him. Giving him/her feedback about it improves the product too.
Demanding that your tattooer use government approved equipment will harm the end result. Not to mention inflate the price drastically.
Lets not even get into the discussion of working across different states, countries or continents with 'approved' equipment.
Jeez. I need to lighten up and post more one-liners.

i think myth busters proved that you can in fact polish a turd... but it's still a turd.

bob baxter is a piece of shit.

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..

Thanks, Ron. I feel the same about your stuff.