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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.

My girlfriend and I just got approved for adoption on a very sweet, very adorable 6yo Italian Greyhound. It's our first dog. We're both very much so looking forward to him living with us. The paperwork gets signed on Wednesday. During the home visit he was so affectionate and comfortable with us both... can't wait to see his manic side. Once he moves in, I'm going to flood all of my social networking sites with pics of him in little outfits so all my friends can say aaaaah, but secretly be sick of it.

Scott did this one last night on my arm. i'm pretty stoked on it, and all morning Jackson and i were joking around, me moving my arm quickly towards him at random points and saying "ROARRRRRR". it's not the best photo, just one from my laptop, and before i get asked, it's a California Grizzly Bear and the 1922 is the year they went extinct.

My girlfriend is untattooed. She's accompanied me on a few trips to get worked on, but by and large she's not someone who's a 'tattoo person'. She saw me getting all huffy about the TLC show and asked me why I was so offended. We were able to have a pretty serious discussion about the hows and whys of my anger and I ended up relating it to someone who has no vested interest in tattoo culture. The best thing that can come out of this is honest discussion with people who may not "know what we know".

When in doubt, shut your mouth. This applies to more than just tattoo secrets and I don't mean any ill will from the statement so don't take it as a personal attack. I just mean if you can't understand proper boundaries then it's better to overfilter yourself than to spit verbal diarrhea all over.

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.

Art Talk-Mike Brown Lot's of history in this.

I've had 3 sessions of lasering done on a large portion of my lower leg (about half of it), and have had great results. I go to Allan Faulkner (fade fast @ suffer city in Dallas), and because of his professionalism and knowledge would never want to get hit by someone else. After 3 sessions pretty much all the black is pretty sparce, and most of the color is pretty light as well. I've always iced it after the session is done (which feels awesome!) comfortably for the first 24hrs, and because my last session was in the middle of a road trip he hooked me up with some "Humatrx" (a microclysmic gel for treatment of tissue trauma) which was pretty nice. It kept it feeling a bit cooler for the first couple days. I've never had itching, but the 3rd session did cause blistering, which wasn't really a big deal. I just took a safety pin rubbed with alcohol and drained the bigger ones (as per a doctors recommendation). I have never been able to get out there more than once every 6 months (and he recommends longer between sessions is better, and def not sooner than 6weeks). I've also discussed the cover up, and been told waiting at least 6 months is necessary. It's a wonderful tool to aid cover ups! but, it is definitely very very painful.

I have more free time on my hands than most people, which I usually fill up by wandering around Philly. Now I can do it with my wee little creepy dog. And as for clothes; they get really cold and the rescue recommended them wearing clothes in fall, winter and spring. Plus I like the idea of dog shirts.

I have an Android phone. Y'all can go to hell.

Nobody signs up for "Yelp!" to leave a GOOD review.

Tim, before I say anything I just want to say this, you have been one of my tattoo heroes who's work I have looked up to for my entire career. I am not laboring under the delusion I am anything more than some 4 year streetshop schlub who is lucky enough, thanks to Scott's board here to be able to say something you might read. I have nothing more than the utmost respect for you so don't think I'm some dude trying to "Call you out" or anything like that. My point, especially in regards to you is this: Whether you want to acknowledge it or not yourself, Ami, Kat etc. are the face of tattooing to mainstream America, and like it or not you are ALREADY giving TLC a bunch of free advertising for the show because they're running it sandwiched between two episodes of the TV show that you are on! Which puts the people on your show in a bit of a pickle. Now I'm not saying you should kick in the doors of TLC and tell them if they air it you quit or whatever (although I'm also NOT saying it wouldn't be awesome.) But I think silence on the matter is just isn't route to go. Like I said before, you guys are the face of tattooing to a lot of folks, you represent tattooing to millions of people on TV each week. Silence on this matter from you and the people on your show could be misinterpreted, at best as not caring and at worst, as some kind of tacit approval. Joe Ding-dong on his couch has no idea WHY tattoo school is bad, shit, as far as he knows, you, Ami all you guys, went to "some kinda tattoo college." Right now the chorus of disapproval on this show is a bunch of tattooers on facebook changing their photos and swearing on TLC's page and signing petitions that will most likely be tossed out. We have to face facts, the production company (Touch productions in case anyone was wondering) has already made the show, TLC is most likely going to air it in spite of everyone's outrage. and millions and millions of people are going to see it because it's sandwiched in between two episodes of what is probably their highest rated show right now, which you just happen to be on. You guys are in a position with your relationship to the network to bend their ear and at least express you displeasure, but honestly I doubt they'll listen to that either. But people WILL listen to you guys, ESPECIALLY you. You are in the unique postion of being probably the only person involved in these shows that still has the respect of the entire tattoo community, Who the fuck ISN'T going to listen to World-class tattooer and total dreamboat Tim Hendricks!? I'm not saying you owe anything to anyone, I'm not saying you have a duty to do anything, I'm just saying you'd be a fucking hero if you did.

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"

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.

Not a removal or cover up but I thought I would post a picture of a 25 year old tattoo on my wife that was refreshed by Emiliano Liberatori of Frith Street. The original was nothing special but this has really transformed it. Shame I didn't have a before picture.

My buddy Falkner, who owns FADE FAST in Texas had nine bars tattooed on his arm, each getting either 0, 1, 2, etc sessions with his laser to show the progress of removal. Allen Falkner That was with his old laser- he's upgraded since then, but it gives a basic idea on what's possible. He also tends to hook tattooers up with free appointments, though that's recently been taken advantage of. (someone made a fake business card!)

Martha Stewart Pets Crab Terry Hoodie - Martha Stewart Pets - Dog - PetSmart

Well, I've been reading the replies here, and normally I'd probably start to lean towards your ideas of just leaving the whole thing alone, never mentioning it at all. However, since changing my Facebook picture, about six people I know who aren't too knowledgeable about tattoos have asked me what it's about- three of them being people who were going to make appointments at the local studios that aren't much better than Lisa's "school". I wouldn't have normally talked to them (four were people from high school!) so it was cool that that's opened up a little discussion with them and probably saved their skin from the laser treatment place. A silver lining, even if it is a small one, is always good.

It's sad tattooing in general has gone this way. Honestly I don't think anyone is going to stop this show from airing and I think it will be watched. I will however, talk about why I think it's crap to my friends and clients ( anyone who cares about my two cents) but I'm not going to shove it down their throats. And I do believe that anyone who wants to get into tattooing will, but I personally will not contribute. There are too many tattooers as is. The fact is tattooing is bigger than anyone could have imagined and it'll probably be decades until it dies off a bit, and by that time you'll probably be able to get certified online over a weekend. This shit isn't new. I remember tattooers getting huck Spaulding certificates by ordering supplies, did it make a difference? No. Are people going to get bad tattoos and make bad decisions? Yes. I think the best thing to do is concentrate on what we do, and do it well, or at least to the best of our abilities.

I don't mean to be a jerk or anything but how naive are we? The companies listed for advertising do not give a rat's ass. They are major corporations that know people are going to watch this atrocity so they will put their money behind TLC. This show is happening. Also, why is everyone going after TLC? They are a television network. They have no soul, no respect, and certainly no care for tattooers. What else are we to expect? Now, our real hatred should go to the piece of shit whoring out our business. I posted her response to hate mail on page 5 of this thread. If we want to do something, we should organize something that directly fucks with her. That is the answer... This show is bullshit but this woman and her school is an abomination. She is the real problem.

prepare fro the itch ursula! maybe i need to look into sleeping with mittens on....

ursula, would you pay $500 and then get an awesome foot tattoo over it?

i find having a hot bath the first night of the tattoo really helps to open up pores and get all the extra gunk off, washing with dr bronner's liquid soap too, it really gives that squeaky clean feeling on your skin. for cream i recommend e45 or cocoa butter but always the least amount you can get away with. if you keep your tattoo clean by washing it a couple of times during the day (for the first week max) i find theres little need for any cream. personally i barely use any, just take care of washing my tattoo often seems to be enough. people with greasier skin shouldnt use cream in my book, everyone's different and this is why i will always have a proper chat with my customer after their tattoo, specially if it's their first time getting tattooed by me.

Awesome. My family had a Greyhound for 12 years, from a rescue centre. She was awesome. Dumb as fuck and highly strung but very affectionate. I tattooed her name on me when she died.

I think openly discussing techniques on internet forums and loosening the fabric of apprenticeships is what blurred the line between tattooer and client. This, among other things, paved the road here. We didn't just wake one day to TLC's Tattoo School.

That's cool..I like the way he does his own version of japanese work..Let us know how the consultation goes.

I ended out going to Jeremy, went to the shop but he was inking someone we spoke briefly. I looked at his portfolio, and he got some sick shit! I was very impressed with his work. I appreciate your advice, thanks Joe. We still need to talk I, and Jeremy. I sent him some pictures of what kind of story (theme) I want to get as my sleeve. I will let him be creative and see what he can come up with.

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.

I'm sure I'm repeating everything here but... Lady heads are super hard to make nice and super easy to fuck up. I don't have examples or links but some tattooers who I think do/did awesome lady heads (and add their own flavour) are, in no particular order: Chris Conn Valerie Vargas Isaac Fainkujen Bart Bingham Theo Mindell Jack Rudy Sleepy G Bob Wicks Justin Weatherholtz seems to be great at everything. Steve Boltz Chad Koeplinger Chris Garver Tim Hendricks There are plenty of tattooers who constantly do great tattoos but these spring to mind mostly because of their individual subtleties with lady heads. I also didn't include realistic style girl heads 'cos that's slightly different. The girls on most of the zeis flash have some great little nuances too.

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

I've already posted this one on another thread "Latest Tattoo Lowdown". But I thought I would post this again. Second session on my wife. Tattooed by Stewart Robson at Frith Street Tattoo, London. I cant stop looking at it.

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...

I just love this Amund Dietzel lady head. This ones definately on my list

And thats why I dont work nights anymore.

i live in west oakland and there were 5 gunshots last night around 3:30 am. apparently someone thought you'd be a great target!

The only thing I do that is probably considered artistic is tying my own flies for fishing. I have a couple of killer flies. I wouldn't tell anyone how I tie them. I put long hours in learning techniques...spent weeks and months finding the right materials...I did it on my own. I'm not sharing. If I was Ursula I wouldn't tell anybody shit.

Thanks Alanna I appreciate the compliment. I made her embroidery so long ago but it's still one I like and hopefully I've just continued to improve since then. But I didn't start this to just draw attention to my work haha. I really have been struggling with this lately. I've been seeing some of the most popular embroidery blogs posting some really shitty tattoo style stuff lately and then having these girls just wanting to know what paint, what kind of fabric, where I get my designs, etc. Without even bothering to read through my blog which does give little bits of info if you pay attention. It just makes me crazy! People just don't understand that after I've spent ten hours toiling over 6" piece of fabric that I'm then trying to sell it's not cool to be like "OMG HOW DID YOU MAKE THIS!!!! " I felt this would be a good place to vent because I figured most people here felt the same way about the art they make. I mean I kind of knew most people would be on the 'no sharing with random tards' tip.

Yeah,i'm your east coast agent..

i like how it's an award winning artist... cause it's real fuckin' hard to win an award at a random small town shitty convention..

Havn't you heard??? The only way to survive in life now is to Start a "puppy mill". if their not mass producing puppies their pushing out "tattoo artists" "emts" "paramedics" and several other career choices that if done wrong with out the proper schooling could severely F*ck some one up. It's sickening.

ok...someone needs to form an organization and put an end to all of this. there needs to be standards and protocols, and some kind of special license that you get from ed hardy or bob roberts to fucking tattoo.

I don't have any cover-ups on my body but I tattoo a hell of a lot of them. Most of the larger work that I do (bigger than 1/2 sleeve) usually incorporates some kind of cover-up. I started to make a point of NOT taking a 'before' picture. Sometimes I do, but I found that the cover-up requests got bigger and bigger the more cover-ups I showed. Covering a half sleeve sized tattoo with a full sleeve compromises the end product but I sometimes enjoy the challenge and the problem-solving aspect of it. This is one of the more tricky ones from last year or so, when I used to take 'before' photos: I got an email today asking if I could cover a full sleeve - with a sleeve.

I've liked Shinges apprentice Tomo's back piece. Worked with what the guy had, and transformed it. [edit] Wow, so I cant speak english right now.