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Saw this and didn't want to start a new thread to just post a link, so thought to put it here. BBC News - Today - In pictures: The Yakuza

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, it's been on me for two days now and is healing nicely. I love it! My camera over saturates red for some reason, so the red looks much better in person. sorry about the hairy legs :p

I don't really think the stuff is even original, it looks like the type of stuff you would have on your walls if you bought your art at Target. Custom in the way that everyone else had the good sense not to put tattoos on that look like this. To me it is the equivalent of people pawning off out of focus pictures as some sort of new art form.

These tattoos leave me sad or melancholy. Not only do they "ring hollow" as stewart said but I actually find them draining to look at

Girl came and got the word "Classy" Tattooed inside her lip.

My kids have always been big on drawing on themselves, I think like most kids. Unlike most parents, we don't tell them no, or to stop. It was actually one of my son's preschool teachers that decided my son could color on himself in any fashion, saying that it was our "family culture." That being said, my two yr old daughter's "tattoos," as she calls them, rarely look as good, placement wise, as that first picture.

still waiting for a few repaints to show up. everyone is really throwing down. don't want to give too much away but its going to be good.

My ex wife didn't like tattoos until we broke up, then she kind of went nuts. She got her stomach tattooed by Clae Welch and a bunch of other tattoos form people around town and one time even came in on her birthday to get tattooed at the shop I worked at, luckily I was not there that day. At some point during this we discussed getting back together but tattoos weren't the issue and never solved the issue, although I always found it odd that she was so against me getting tattoos for so long. Funny my current wife doesn't have a lot of tattoos, we worked together for a short time but we became friends because her aunt was in town and they wanted to get a tattoo, but were having trouble finding a place that did walk ins. I made a few calls and got them squeezed in. I think that was her first real tattoo, although she had a couple homemade jobs from high school. She has gotten a few tattoos since then, but doesn't seem to want to be covered and I don't think she has been tattooed in about two years, but she is going to get tattooed in a couple of weeks by Mario Desa because for her its time for a new one. There are still parts of tattooing she doesn't get but I think she understands that it is important to me and that it enough for her. Plus we keep separate bank accounts for spending money so that never becomes an issue.

Shawn is getting tattooed by him in Brooklyn, but I am pretty sure that he is tattooing in Portland still, just not in a shop. I am going to Portland in a week, and was going to try and get tattooed by him, but I don't think that I will have the time.

There have been tons of tattooers that have inspired me over the years (girl heads) . I would have to say the two people that had the biggest impact were Eric Hogan and Scott Silvia. In the early 90's (pre-internet) I had to go and look at people portfolios.... Scott and Eric set the bar for me personally (Girl heads Pin-ups...everything really) . Plus it was a way more of a impact to actually go in to a shop and see what people were tattooing. Sorry kinda getting off subject As far as Conn.. you really have to see his tattoos(Girl Heads) in person to really appreciate them. They look really nice in pictures but in person they are on a different level all together.

Ahhh @Stewart Robson, always able to express in an eloquent way what the rest of us mean by "This shit it stupid and looks even stupider". Thanks again!

I got it yesterday. He did a sweet, super clean job on it. I'll post a picture once its not all red and puffy.

I'm generally a romantic and a defender of the young and foolish, so I want to like this "tattoo concept," but I just can't pull it off. Maybe I could've gotten closer if he'd taken off that hat.

ugh someone posted those noon photos in another thread... total shit. I think. The heart on the couple is one of the dumbest tattoos I've seen, ever. Just further proof that the general population has zero taste. At least on the last two the lines are clean, still ugly and look nothing like tattoos to me though.

Visually I like hers better but I wouldn't get a tattoo like that, same reasons as before pretty much. The first chicks arm does just look like some child painted on her, I'm sure that was the idea though. I think it's stupid.

doesn't look like a tattoo to me. not my thing.

My wife commissioned Daniel to paint a painting for us as my wedding gift. It's incredible! He hand delivered it to her in brooklyn. It's at the framers right now, can't wait to get it back. One of the 1000+ reasons I married her.

I've been getting tattooed more in 2011 than I did in the previous few years and after the Robert Ryan/Deno weekend, followed closely by the Thomas Hooper finger jawn... I had said no more tattoos in 2011. Take a breather. Slow my roll. So yeah. Appointment booked with Scott Harrison on 12th September. Fun!

Thought this was appropriate Not on me, by stevie edge The marine biologist episode is probably my favourite

Infinitely happy when Seinfeld crosses international borders.

Got my left foot done yesterday by Carlos Everhard at Octopus Ink in McAllen, TX. My right foot is scheduled in two weeks.

*Side Story During the Edo period, fireman would get body suits of water motifs such as Dragons and Koi as the belief was these designs would protect them from the spirit of the fire. It was also believed that as the group of fireman would run towards the fire screaming, half naked (in traditional Japanese cloth underwear) covered in formidable tattoos, that the fire spirit would be intimidated and thus easier to overcome. Apparently limited clothing was worn to try and avoid catching on fire. (It probably would suck) (this info is only from what I have read and since I wasn't there can not be confirmed or denied by myself)

I realise this thread has sort of died, but incase anyone wants to see what a Sento looks like here are some photos. My friends Grandpa operated the bath house until the area got a built up and a bit more modern (houses started to get their own baths) and closed it. Its still connected to his house though and thats where we showered. His grandson (my mate) mentioned to me that his grandpa was the only sento owner in the area that would let Yakuza in since most of them where his friends since childhood. I wish I could get copies of some of his old photos! I'll be back in Osaka/Kyoto in 3 weeks to visit The Cat Claw Tattoo-z so I'll try and get copies of Grandpas' old yakuza photos. Photo 3 is the 'Male side' of the bath house (sorry for the bad light)

I was kinda waiting for Scott to post this, but I guess he's too busy armwrestling and making awesome tattoos: My wife and I will definitely be there, but then we're off to a dinner for two to celebrate six years of marriage. (Yeah, we got married on the 13th. NEVER SCARED.)

ps- most of the paintings for the book are being donated to the Lucky tattoo museum in Largo Florida when the book is done.

This Project has really progressed since I first started. I am shooting for a fall/winter release. We have a lot of great tattooers on board doing repaints of commercial Zeis flash and a few machine builders doing modern takes on Zeis machines. I am giving this book everything I have. I promise it will be worth checking out.