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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.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkM5cEGWzso&feature=youtu.be"

A professional magician once showed me how to perform a trick. When I told him I thought things like that were secret, he said that a concert pianist can impart tips and hints to a layman because he can never be a concert pianist. I think that's what Ursula just said. If a harmlessly curious/nervous/interested tattoo customer asks me why Im doing something or what that nice smelling liquid is, I tell them and often quietly explain why. When a nosey customer/wannabe tattooer/apprentice asks what needles or ink I'm using, I tell them its a big sharp one and it's monkey piss, or it's red. I share pretty much everything with my colleagues and peers because that's how I learned almost everything I know. I guess that's a long-winded way of saying "I agree"

Fuck em, don't tell em anything. I wouldn't expect any tattooer to explain to me their technique for lines, shading, etc. Especially if they're asking you on your facebook. Craft a tactfully-worded generic response you can send out that politely says, "Thank you for your interest, but I am not at liberty to divulge the way in which I create these pieces. Now get off the internet and go outside," or something.

Ok this is part of my leg after two days with Shige. Got two sessions in November for the next stage,colour!

On Thursday, July 14 at 9pm, TLC will air "Blow School". Award-winning Porn Actress Lucy Felatio runs a hands-on and unconventional porn school in upstate NY where students from all walks of life learn how to suck dick in just two weeks. These rookie students are seeking to change their lives through eating cock. With just two intense weeks under Lucy's instruction, they will get the experience blowing cock after cock with varying levels of difficulty. Rookie students, models risking their cocks to first time nosher artists, ...who will bear the drama of competition and keep wood.

I'm not focusing on what others are doing, but every artists needs to keep up to date about what's going on in their field. As of right now I havnt seen anyone using paint in their tattoo embroideries (except one piece that was pretty bad). The main advantage I have is access to good reference. Most of the general public knows about sailor Jerry and Ed hardy and that's it. A lot of the people doing it are just googling "anchor tattoo drawing" and printing off really shitty line drawings. I know where the black goes in a rose. They never will.

I was 20 when I walked into Temple Tattoo in Oakland. It was recommended to me by a friend who had some great tattoos by Chris Conn that were done at Temple. I remember first stopping by the marijuana dispensary across the street to pick up my daily smoke bag (I was a heavy smoker) and smoked some in front of the shop. I had no intention of getting tattooed anytime soon, and especially not that day. Suddenly, when the smoke hit me, I became very inspired and excited, almost antsy and anxious (in a good way). I walked into the shop and heard some heavy doom metal, I believe it was Electric Wizard, though it may have been Sleep. I smiled, and became a little more inspired. I then began looking at the flash on the walls and saw Jason McAfee's flash. I have never seen this sort of flash before, it was colorful and evil at the same time. At that moment Jason I guess saw me checking at this flash exclusively and approached me and asked if I wanted any help. Not knowing he was Jason, I asked to speak with Jason, ha. He introduced himself and asked me what I was thinking about getting. And without any previous thought about what I wanted, from the depths of my unconscious mind I said "A Viking Ship". He then said "Where do you want to put it?" And again with out any previous thought I pulled up my jean leg and showed him the whole left side of my left leg. He then asked "When do you want to do this?" I said whenever you can, thinking maybe next month or possibly next week. He then asked if I wanted to do it today. I was so thrill of thought of leaving with a Viking ship on my leg that day, I jumped on the opportunity. He told me to come back in about a half hour, so I went to smoke some more. When I got back he had the coolest Drakkar drawn up with crashing Japanese style water. I smiled and said lets do it! The whole experience was great. Jason is very personable and "too cool" towards me at all, even though I was a 20 year old kid who looked about 16. We talked about doom metal, and he told me some stories about his doomy trip to London and meeting some doom legends. He even showed me some pictures. Great experience, and I felt very appreciated and respected. Because I liked the guy so much I went back to get a few more from him. And the rest is history.

Got this a few weeks ago in Chicago from Nick Colella.

I just want to remind everyone of our #1 agreement for this forum- You agree that you will not: 1. use the Site to personally attack, threaten, stalk, defraud, incite, harass, or advocate the harassment of another person, or otherwise interfere with another user's use of the Site; So sometimes we all can't get along, but we can be civil and respectful. Please always try to contribute to this forum in a helpful way, we're still a young forum and we want to grow in a positive direction. Posts and exchanges written in haste and anger or with the intention of inciting a negative response can escalate quickly, and that doesn't serve anyone. If a situation comes about where you absolutely cannot get along with another LST member, you have the option of going to their profile page and clicking on "Add to Ignore List." Please try to work out any issues with the other member whenever possible and only use this as a last resort. The rest of our rules are here, if you'd like to read them: http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/bugs-issues-how-navigate-forum-questions/57-last-sparrow-tattoo-forum-rules.html And thanks again to everyone for being a part of this community, dispite the occasional growing pains, Dari

I posted the link to the facebook petition on my blog and for the last two days have had hundreds more visitors then normal... so thanks TLC! included right under that link is the link to this website so hopefully some people will come over here and learn about good tattoos

OMG cfgsteak nice fly!!!! Tell me how you made it so I can make a far more inferior product and sell it to all my friends and family for less than what the supplies even cost!!! So you know that way they wont have to get one from you who actually knows what the fuck he's doing .....

i see both sides very clearly, but still my instinct and the way that i view it is to keep your secrets. dont feel bad about it! its your business and i think to have your secrets as well as the quality of your work will keep you at the top of your craft (btw when i saw the quality in your needlework on Daris patch i was blown away-again- by your work!!). Pats idea of a well worded let down is great and a must do. :)

Don't tell them a fucking thing, and don't feel bad for it either, Ursula! You've put too much time and money into getting to the great standard you're at, telling everyone else how you do it would be pissing it all up the wall, in my opinion. Telling everyone how to do what you do wouldn't be much different to the effects this TLC we've been talking about may have, though obviously on a much smaller and less dangerous scale- you'll have loads of people out there putting out bullshit copies and making money from inferior copies of your work. I think you should just stick with what you've been doing so far. :)

In answer to someone who was wondering why some of us from the 'OTHER' shows don't use their social networking to comment: why would I want point out to tens of thousands of people about a terrible thing and make them look, it gives TLC more power and free advertising, and I'll be damned if I'm gonna do that. The best thing to do is not watch, hell don't watch any reality tv for that matter. None of us knew about this new show, it's not like we talk to TLC unless it's for a legal purpose now and then. TLC is owned by Discovery Chanel and is a monstrous, soulless network. They buy episodes from a production company who pitches the idea and then makes it happen. Find the production company who made this atrocity and you will then find the source and creator of this. They probably pitched it to several networks but TLC paid them the most for it.

Haha, did you guys look in the mirror and cry while the tattooer said, "do you love it?"? I'm kidding, I think it's really lovely. When I get married, my husband is going to get a huge backpiece of my face, with the words "Mel Noir is a god to you cretins"... okay, no one would really agree to that.

So what your saying is we can go to bubbleberry's profile and click on the Add to Ignore List.I wish i could do that to some member's of my family.

Chris Smith, Deluxe Tattoo in Chicago. The ship itself was done last year, just finished the background and flowers this time around ... Last Thursday.

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

some new knuckle tattoo designs sent my way.....

Okay, now this thread is inspired by dcostello. He says that if someone will make a place for him to post his drunken pictures (and I guess rantings) he will post... So here you go. To start it off, I wasn't drunk, but it was a slow day at work so I sketched up this picture with the intent of making a nice old lady.. started writing the scripted and wrote a K (kill) instead of a H (help) so I said fuck it lets go with that... How about this place is for all of us non-artists to share some of our time when we are bored/drunk and doodling. [edit] also I know the h in how is capitalized when it shouldn't be. mistake when outlining.

yeah i 100% agree with sharing with those who 'deserve' to be shared with (ie: colleagues and close friends) I also have no problem telling tattooers (who arn't dick holes) what it is because they have no use and well i owe the tattoo community a lot cause they sure have shared a lot of secrets and art with me. I'm not going to post it online though because then anyone can read it.. i mostly was curious is people were gonna say no don't tell them, or yes tell them about the paint but not about the technique or mixing formulas... i was also curious to see if anyone would suggest giving miss-information as i know some tattooers have done to idiots hahaha.... I have no problem telling me what kind of paint, just not what brand...... i havn't had anyone ask about the brushes which is good because it does play a huge role in how the paint goes on... and just to clear it up a bit the $1000 was not just for learning what paint to buy, it was got a 4 day course which included lessons on map making, finishing your needleworks (like how to finish the edges as well as framing) painting on fabric and all that goes with that, and i also learned a bunch of new embroidery techniques and stitches... i also had no problem telling the people in that class where i get my designs and that kind of stuff, most of them had never seen or really knew of tattoo flash before (i was the youngest by about 15 years and i was 25 at the time).. in return they shared with me their knowledge of the craft and i was grateful for it as many of them had been embroidering since before i was born most of my painting technique comes from watching my man paint though, so i owe that to tattooing and won't be giving out any spit shading secrets to anyone haha so everyone knows, i'm not claiming to be the BEST at embroidery or painting... there are a couple others who do amazing tattoo related work... and many many many who do other types of embroidery that are far far better than I. it's kind of one of those things were yeah i could tell you what paint to use, but you still won't know where to get good reference or know how to mix the paint to the right consistency or what brushes or how to prepare the fabric to be painted... so do i tell them what kind of paint and then laugh at the bad attempts, or so i not even give that much up... but i've pretty much decided to go along with what everyone else has been saying and stick to my rule of not telling anyone unless they are a close colleague or friend

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!

These are all beautiful! I really love the way one of my friends, Ian Parkin, does lady heads. I think right now this is my favourite. I posted this up on the Inkslingers blog the other week, but more has been added to this, which I saw the other day. I just haven't had the chance to put up the current picture yet. If you check out the blog here you'll see loads more, I even have one of my own from him. Anyway...

You just changed my life forever.

And thats why I dont work nights anymore.

Guns in America are SCARY. Here's a drunken picture from me. I've realised that if I'm drunk, whatever I'm reading or listening to really influences what I draw. It doesn't make my pictures any better though, I'm rubbish! I think this was supposed to be a Baphomet figure with boobs, but it just looks like a normal Baphomet.

The most simple solution is sometimes the quickest, but now only if we could get the rest of America to do the same.

This not coming from an artist myself but... Isn't saying you can learn a skill in 2 weeks regardless of subject matter, offering the damned near impossible? I point this out especially because tattooing in my eyes, other than the art it really is minor surgery! As a tattoo artist regardless if your are the all-seasoned master at creating amazing images on the skin, all tattoo artists are using a needle to inject foreign substances into the bodies biggest organ. The level of sanitation I would hold higher than that of a places that draws blood, since they are removing not adding. To add to that I've never heard of a two week crash course at blood drawing!

Lucero as well. But it is fishing season so Chuck Ragan and Austin Lucas. And Hank III. And Hank Sr. of course.

oh dear god no.... these are the kind of tattoos that people try to show me and I have to look away in shame

I would never get tattooed by some1 with less tattoos than me...I only have full sleeves and legs done..you should earn that right by doing your "time" and getting tattooed before becoming a tattoo artist

ok so here's something else i pulled off facebook, i have no idea if it's legit but it is from the petition page so it probably is "If anyone would like to call and leave Lisa Fasulo a message of support in her new TLC Tattoo School project, her number is **1-800-466-4117 **. Show her some love!! Especially since she has blocked her Facebook account from receiving any friends request or messages, and has removed her Twitter account. Another number you can use is 518-428-4271. The listed email addresses for her are [email protected] and [email protected] and The address of the school is 1301 CURRY ROAD ROTTERDAM NY 12306"

I like "ebay suks".. I think there's a thread about that..

This

You must be joking.

Wow. This whole thread brings to mind the Cointel operatives from the 60's and 70's the the FBI planted in groups they deemed leftist, liberal or otherwise subversive, like the NAACP and the Black Panthers. Their mission was to interupt and misdirect, and they often took part in framing people for crimes that they'd never actually get convicted for, just distracting from their actual work and wasting a lot of time and resources. Bubbleberry, I think maybe you misread the community here, otherwise you probably wouldn't have posted that question. No one here could give you a review like you requested, " a simple " you know that dvd is really geared towards making machines not servicing them " would cost very little and would, at least, be dignified." because no one on this forum has learned their trade from a DVD, nor do they use "tattoo guns" (your words) made by people who learned from a DVD. Either way, we're looking forward to your review.

That was "Paulie Tattoos" from Brooklyn, He's got a backpiece from Mike Ledger and then like, a tribal armband. Super weird.

My partner makes a shit hot paella. The most important ingredient is the rice. 170g/6oz chorizo, cut into thin slices 110g/4oz pancetta, cut into small dice 2 cloves garlic finely chopped 1 large Spanish onion, finely diced 1 red pepper, diced 1 tsp soft thyme leaves ¼ tsp dried red chilli flakes 570ml/1pint calasparra (Spanish short-grain) rice 1 tsp paprika 125ml/4fl oz dry white wine 1.2 litres/2 pints chicken stock, heated with ¼ tsp saffron strands 8 chicken thighs, each chopped in half and browned 18 small clams, cleaned 110g/4oz fresh or frozen peas 4 large tomatoes, de-seeded and diced 125ml/4fl oz good olive oil 1 head garlic, cloves separated and peeled 12 jumbo raw prawns, in shells 450g/1lb squid, cleaned and chopped into bite-sized pieces 5 tbsp chopped flatleaf parsley Salt and freshly ground black pepper Preparation method 1.Heat half the olive oil in a paella dish or heavy-based saucepan. Add the chorizo and pancetta and fry until crisp. Add the garlic, onion and pepper and heat until softened. Add the thyme, chilli flakes and calasparra rice, and stir until all the grains of rice are nicely coated and glossy. Now add the paprika and dry white wine and when it is bubbling, pour in the hot chicken stock, add the chicken thighs and cook for 5-10 minutes. 2.Now place the clams into the dish with the join facing down so that the edges open outwards. Sprinkle in the peas and chopped tomatoes and continue to cook gently for another 10 minutes. 3.Meanwhile, heat the remaining oil with the garlic cloves in a separate pan and add the prawns. Fry quickly for a minute or two then add them to the paella. Now do the same with the squid and add them to the paella too. 4.Scatter the chopped parsley over the paella and serve immediately

I made cilantro lime butter the other night with locally sourced whipping cream, fresh lime zest and cilantro. I've used it on tilapia and hot rolls. Nom. Going to Vegas this weekend, have my buffets planned out!

Love the picture ones! Knuckle tattoos are a big commitment and I still havent decided.. Cause I wanted to come up with something original.. But I'm very glad I didn't do any of the ideas I had so far after all! I think I will stick to little pictures cause they say way more than any words could do!

Damnit, dreams-- crushed. I MUST TRACK DOWN THIS CHIVALROUS STRANGER.

I guess douche bag was one finger too many.

i was wondering if he got punched in the eye because after seeing his knuckle tattoos someone tried to let him see the stars

a friend posted this on facebook

thank you guys. I own just about every "how yo draw the head" book there is and im always looking for more . i'm always studying them and real faces when i can trying to grasp and understand as best i can. so thanks for letting me feel like it's paying off even a little bit.

I got "HOLD FAST" its spelled and means the same in norwegian as in english.. im getting "GULDFISK" swedish for GOLDFISH next because i cant remember shit anymore hahaha

They're not mine to charge for, Pete. I'm just glad they're getting seen. I've had people send me stuff in trade; drawings, books, etc- but I wouldn't feel comfortable making money from them. Speaking of- Cliff Raven. 1974. This video features Cliff tattooing in New York & Florida. And generally not wearing pants. There was no audio originally, so I decided to leave it silent for now. Enjoy-

One down. LOTS to go!

valerie vargas