US Tattoo Road Trip!

[Padji]

So, looks like myself and my better half have made the decision to get married and we're strongly looking at doing the deed in Vegas.

The (initial) plan for our honeymoon would be to do a road trip across the States for approx 2 months afterwards.

A rough itinerary would be as follows: Vegas > San Fran > Colorado > Texas > Louisiana > Alabama > Mississippi > Tennessee and the on to NYC/Boston/Chicago for flight home.

Obviously, mind has immediately locked into 'Tattoo Road Trip' mode and I'm thinking of the various artists etc that I could hit up when I'm there.

If we were to take that route, what shops/artists would be along that trail? I follow quite a few but, being from Ireland, remembering where all these guys are based is a struggle!

Off the top of my head, a few guys I would like to stick on 'the list'

Stefan Johnsson - San Francisco

Steve Byrne - Austin

Tony Hundahl - Austin

Chad K - Austin?

Oliver Peck - Dallas

Derek Billingsley - Nashville

AJ Lingerfeld - NC

New York - the list is endless!

Chicago - the guys at Great Lakes

Feel free to bombard me with names/places/suggestions!!

Thanks all,

Paddy

[heathenist]

Pretty solid list so far.

San Fran- Blackheart, FTW, Temple, Spider Murphy's, probably forgetting some.

Colorado (Denver)- Lifetime, Dedication

Texas (Austin)-Rock of Ages

Nashville- Mike Fite

Of course, you probably can't get tattooed by everyone, but still, getting a lot of tattoos while traveling can be tricky, just make sure you take care of them so they don't heal like garbage.

Also, I'm really jealous.

[Petri Aspvik]

Theo Mindell (outside San Fran, but in the area) or Kahlil Rintye in Tattoo City.

[Shaun1105]

Stop in Arizona (Mesa, which is a suburb of Phoenix) at Immaculate Tattoo. It's an amazing shop.

[knucklehead211]

Exile (either 1 or 2) or freaks in kansas city Missouri are both great shops, and I highly recommend Nathan Blankenship at exile 2. He has done all my work so far. A few hours from chicago but just saiyan.

[heathenist]

This isn't comprehensive or up to date entirely, but it's a good starting point: Our Endless Days - North American Tattooers

[hogg]

Co-sign everyone's mentions of Spider Murphy's, Temple, and Blackheart for the greater San Francisco area.

I'll add Idle Hands to that list, too. Lots of great tattooers at that shop.

[exume]

Second votes for Dedication and Lifetime in Denver, Mammoth American and Th'ink Tank are also worth checking out.

[Hands On]

when is the trip gonna be? the State of Grace Bay Area Convention of the Tattoo Arts is right near the San Francisco airport at the SFO Hyatt Regency, if you're here near the end of Oct. It's usually the 2nd to last weekend and always a world class lineup.

[Padji]

Just took a look at Spider Murphy's - Theo Mindell, Paul Dobleman and Stuart Cripwell under the one roof? Ho-lee sheeeit! That could be the start and finish of the tattoo road trip right there! @heathenist, that's a very handy repository - bookmarked. @Hands On, we'll be home at that stage. Likely will be early July to end August we'll be traveling

[heathenist]

Just took a look at Spider Murphy's - Theo Mindell, Paul Dobleman and Stuart Cripwell under the one roof? Ho-lee sheeeit! That could be the start and finish of the tattoo road trip right there! @heathenist, that's a very handy repository - bookmarked. @Hands On, we'll be home at that stage. Likely will be early July to end August we'll be traveling

I think Stuart Cripwell is at his own private studio now, not sure if he still works out of Spider Murphy's.

[Padji]

I think Stuart Cripwell is at his own private studio now, not sure if he still works out of Spider Murphy's.

Ah didn't cop that - never heard of Aaron Hodges before seeing him on SM's Instagram page, he's putting out some pretty nice work too. Might drop the shop an email and see if I could get a bit of a tattoo orgy going :o:eek:

[hogg]

I think Stuart Cripwell is at his own private studio now, not sure if he still works out of Spider Murphy's.

Yep. It's in San Francisco.