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don't worry young college student, when the internet attacks and you get down and sad...just remember let's go to the mall

Just read about this, and i don't think anyone else has posted about it(?). Really looking forward to it, i'll be going to it, hopefully a few times. Kofuu-Senju Publications | Horiyoshi III exhibition at London’s Somerset house from 20.march till 1.july 2012.

Im suprised by that mine was a killer!

I am like a small child. I like to see pictures when I am reading.

lets be honest a monkey could of made those cuts. they definitely choose have the cast for the sole purpose of axing them. if you really put the worlds best ten artist on that show the judging would take weeks to figure out whos work was better. right now its a no brainer

Haha yeah me too, just couldn't upload right then from my phone: Courtesy of Hunter Spanks

Heres one I found on the Cat Claw Tattoo web site. Pretty awesome IMO, a funny take on an old stand-by. Although personally "funny" tattoos aren't for me, but I'm glad this is on somebody. Kinda blatant spot though, but now that I think about it, one of my best friends has a tattoo with swastika incorporated in it right in his elbow ditch. His swasi is even bigger too. Its some old sailor/naval flash if I remember correctly, with a wish bone and some other good luck charm-type-stuff involved. He doesn't get much flack for it as far as I know, but I guess he can intimidate some people, mostly because hes pretty well covered in tattoos. Blah blah blah Now I feel like I've aired out my buddys business. Oh well. Blah blah blah Oh yeah, The above tattoo was done by Hiro.

Yeah so her article talking about how everyone took her original one out of context. Bullshit. She's still an idiot who thinks being skinny and wearing cool clothes is gonna make her happy. There's a poll included in the article "has your opinion of Lisa changed after reading this" 90% of people said NO. She claims no one discussed her POV and just insulted her. I'm pretty sure in this thread alone 3-6 people quoted directly from her article with direct responses, that makes me think that a lot of other people probably did too. Shannon's right, her rebuttal should have been called "19 year old runs her mouth". I wish I could walk down the street with her just to prove how many more heads get turned at the sight of my tattooed attractive self then they do at her. Wearing fancy jeans and doing your hair isn't what dudes like (at least not the smart ones who are looking for more sex). What really gets you a man, or a job, or self esteem is being confident in yourself. Maybe your confidence does come from shopping at the mall and getting your nails done. But guess what, a lot of women find confidence in themselves without all those things. Many women find their self confidence through their intelligence, through their family, their job, their education, their art. I'm sure she'd be shocked to hear a lot of women find their confidence through getting tattooed. Or what about a woman like our own board member Deb or Valerie, who are making a living and supporting themselves and in Deb's case her children through tattooing? I'd say it's a fuck of a lot more respectable to be someone like Deb who owns her own business and raised I believe 5 children and has kept up what seems to be an amazing marriage, then to be some bimbo married to a rich guy who spends her days shopping and getting her hair and nails done. Tattooing has supported me and my fiancé, has given me more opportunity to travel, meet new friends, be inspired, sell my artwork and live a happy life. Oh and the fact that she doesn't mention one thing about men getting tattooed...

That'll learn me. Mr Noble.. Instagram @Valerievargas.. Instagram

Birthday present from my old man today. Tattooed by Todd Noble

I thought we could use a thread that shined a little light on some of the artists we love, but aren't necessarily very renowned or getting the recognition we feel they deserve. Lets get the ball rolling.... I've been a fan of the work of James Tex of Deadly Tattoos inc, located in Calgary, Canada, for a few years now. I'm sure a lot of you are familiar with his work, and some members here might even know him personally and/or have tattoos from him. Anyways, I stumbled across him a while back in another tattoo forum where a member showed off the progress of a Samurai sleeve he was getting done from Tex. I was blown away by his work, and to my great viewing pleasure he had a fairly large online portfolio on his shops website: Deadly Tattoos inc. I'm not sure if everyone agrees with me in that he's "low key", but I can't say that I have read an article about him or seen any pictures of his tattoo except on his website (and obviously the forum I mentioned). Here's a few samples of his work from his online portfolio:

In the past month I’ve paid for two extracted wisdom teeth, a pound of hamburger that went bad, a pound of chicken, set a date for my wedding, got punched in the face by my crazy dad, so I decided to get drunk and write this. I’m on drink two. If you’re going to write while you’re blasted, don’t start out sober. Now that’s stupid. If you’re smart have one or two then get going. Reason being is you need to have some focus. One thing I learned in high school when I thought that some sort of latter day Lester Bangs swilling cough syrup and charging forth on term papers and book reports was cool. Well it wasn’t, and being the teen aged drunk I turned to… what was in the house. Scotch, Dewar’s, fine stuff now, but to my weak, un liquor trained body it was awful, so I mixed it with sour. I’m on drink three now. Tell you another thing while I’m at it. You think to yourself, “Oh the guy playing music up there is drunk, but I’ll be damned if he isn’t playing killer!” It’s called practice. Yes, band’s practice, but it’s important to know your limits, which is what practice is for. I know now that any form of liquor and Gator Aid is recipe for disaster. The booze/sugar/sugar/electrolytes and whatever the Hell else they put in there will kill you almost. Or that if you funnel 32 beers, you’re gonna pass out, but then you gotta walk home. Or that if someone says,” I got some ___________. Who wants some?” You say no. Drink four, keep ‘em coming. I tell you what I DON’T like to do when I’m drunk. I hate tattooing. I detest it. I’ve done it once, no, not again. Not that it isn’t fun to tattoo. But I get bored, I want another beer. I want a smoke. I want to walk around. I want to eat the worm. I want to wake up naked in the back yard with one shoe on and no sock, and one sock on and no shoe. And the dog was licking me. Is. Drink 5, you know what I like about you? I’ll tell you. You’re reading this, that’s why. One day, maybe when I’m dead and gone and in Potter’s Field in the damned Bronx with Charlie Wagner (And I’d bet my life Apache Harry) some of you might even get a giggle out of it. Or a titter. Can you say titter here? Titter. Drink six You think you’re better than me, don’t you? With all your fancy art school training? You’re not my dad! I don’t have to take this. Ernie! Gimmie another drink, and a Shirley Temple for these… this… (Sobbing) I’m sorry. I love you guys. If I had a nickel for every time I said it… Let me share a cab with you home. Can you pick up the fare? (All correct spelling and grammar brought to you through the power of MS Office.- ED) (not Horton)

After a great deal of pain and my fiance' getting me to move on it I went to the doc's. I have these tumors... and they have been bothering me, and like many, I ignored it. I work, go home, and jump online for a few hours. "I'll get to it," I say to myself. So this pain was in my huevos, and that got me to go. Not fun pain in the least. My doc asks me if she can see the tumors. I go to unhitch my belt. "Noooooooo, " She laughs, "The ones on your back." I do, and her jaw drops, she turns white as a ghost, "Cafe Ole spots, fibroma... it's Neurofibromatosis type I." (A genetic disorder, and if anyone cares, here is a link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neurofibromatosis_type_I) "That's what I thought. A tattooer friend, who knows medicine, told me that a year ago," Said I. "Consider this a second opinion," She said. This doc has known me since I was eight years old, and she used to give me sample packs of antibiotics because my family was poor. I turned to her to jokingly ask her if antibiotics would help. She was still white, she had her hand to her mouth and looked as if she might cry. Nice lady, like I said. I stopped myself right there. "Is this what the Elephant Man had?" I ask. She nodded, almost unable to speak, "Yes... I didn't want to say..." I figured that, as I had seen a documentary on Joseph Merrick, although he had both NF1 and Proteus Syndrome. I jumped in the air and ran over to her. Granted, I wanted to give her a hug, but she's a pro, and since everyone in my mind is a potential client, I gave her a high five. "YES!" I yelled. "You're happy?" "Sure I am. I know what it is now, I'll find treatment as best I can fr as long as I can (there is no "out" for this, as Stoney St. Clair said about Ben Corday who had TB, "You watch the leaves fall and regrow for a few years, and then they bury you."), and I tattoo. Tattooing was a big part of the sideshow. My lady's family were all in the carnival business. So as I see it, all I gotta do is learn to paint circus banners, become a human volcano, and swallows swords. I can be my own 10 in 1." Of course the shock wore off, and now I'm none to pleased. My lady and I will get married, but until I can get checked out at a clinic that specializes in this, my prognosis will be up in the air. Not to mention I may not be able to work for much longer behind machines. Bummer two, I just tuned my Jim Dandy's after a year with no problems and they purr like vicious kittens. Sure, I got my books I'm writing, and I figure I can still paint flash for a while, but this has become what I always dreaded. Fatal illness. And it isn't even one I would have expected. Lung Cancer. COPD. Heart Attack, or a stroke. Nope. Not a one. In fact, this has been with me since conception. I have been a ticking time bomb of badness just waiting to happen. Bitter? Naw, just bummed I might have to leave the party early. Sad? Maybe that people will see me as a freak, and since there are no more sideshows, I can't go out. (I'd be tattooing on a sideshow right now if they would have me) So now it's SSDI and Medicare for me. Sweet. But I'm not angry. Shit, if I get real awful looking I can always use it. All the world loves a tattooer? No? Yes? They loved Stoney, and love Grime, so a big tattooed guy with deformities... maybe I'll still fit in. Anyways, for my one friend on here, I'll be posting snippets of my book now and again. Buy me whiskey, for I have no money for whiskey now. Oh and 11 mags. I'm out and using 9s. Yes, you feel bad for me right? (wink)

I hate to throw around the word professional. I mean, what is a professional tattoo artist? Is it some one with dedication? Someone who understands art? Someone who can pound whiskey and tattoo a few hundred sailors in a night? Or is a professional one who does not slag off competition. One who treats even the dumb with respect and kindness, but yet has a line that you don't want to cross? Or is the professional tattoo artist one simply there to collect money, the art be damned? A scammer, full of BS? Well I think the whole idea of shit talking is utter non-sence, and I'm not scared to say it. Sure there are quire a few old timers who liked to sling mud, but in this day and age you can't say, "Oh, there are too many artists." You can back it up with all the excuses you can think of, but when it comes right down it, it's bunk. The population of the US (not to mention the world) has grown, and if any one can read past a needle grouping code and do the damned math, it isn't much different numbers wise, it's just inflation. Tattoos used to be from a quarter and up pretty much. Put in the mid 70s and beyond inflation and now you got big money coming in for you. Look, I like to pretend too. I like to think of myself as a big bad Bowery tattooer, rough and tumble, and ready for a fight I'm sure to win. Were those times tough? Damned right. Were those times good for people? Ask anyone robbed or beat up, or slashed with a razor. They'll tell you it was damned rough shit, no doubt about it. Frankly, I'm damned tired of it. "No business being in this business?" What was it Sailor Jerry said, "When you think you're the best, you're already on the way out." Ever think your egos might be getting the best of you? It's counter productive pride as I see it. If Tatts Thomas had not brought the young Norman Keith Collins aboard, we'd be missing so much in the art. If Roy Boy didn't let Paul Booth work his table, just where in the fuck would that "dark art" be now except for the inside of Booths sketch books? I recently saw a very old Booth tattoo, before he worked on his own. You know what it looked like? Flat, that's what, and in color. I'm not going to get all tough guy here, but really, it's 'mersh art that sells. If you have the guts to learn more, try hard and put up with a ton of shit, any knuckle dragger can be great. It don't take great minds, it takes guts. See? Guts. I have the balls to wear my ink, work, and I don't take a whole lot of hokum from guys and gals who sadly took a whole lotta shit to get where they are now. I was recently called a scratcher. And was told to "kill myself". I laughed. If they get angry, not only have you scared them, but you have them talking about you and maybe even on the run. I'm sure the part time artist who said it was pissed. I'm taking his money and whats more, I learned the right way, from a master artist. If I'm so "bad" why do I still have clients? You could say that people don't know art. And nine times outta ten that's true. But really, I'm the guy for my place and time, much like The Dude. I fit right in there. So to anyone who might read this that doesn't tattoo, don't let the braggarts fool you. Bragging is a sign of insecurity. To those who do tattoo, shut your mouths. More to come from a guy like me, be cause I'm not a Forty Miller. I refuse to stop, bad mouthing and all. And with that, I wish you a fine morning. Sorry I'm a grump. My back hurts from TATTOOING all day yesterday. (Let the insults come, but make 'em good. 0 to 100% grading scale, with no curve. Cheers!)

something tells me he wont want tea and crumpits

Quote of the week. ;)

Tattoo This, Haters - Opinion - The Spectrum - University at Buffalo Aren't there more important things to worry about?

@kylegrey - your a goodman Kyle ;) I know it would have been difficult for you, so if you need anything, it shall be done. (And I do mean anything... lol)

@Ursula - well said.

That Lehi painting is so good, think that has sealed my thoughts on what I am going to do with my right side. Always liked Shoki and tiger so maybe I will just get the tiger and oni's,waterfall and skull rocks. http://www.japaneseprints.net/images/jpg2110.jpg

But at the time you were in awe of your gramps and wanted tattoos right?

@Duffa despite my heart saying''Don't help out an Aussie '' I'll make this one exception -

Tried to watch "Crazy Stupid Love" last night. Drank too much Jameson and passed out on the couch before it was 10 minutes in. I nominate myself for gayest post of all time right meow.

I got my right done yesterday, I was very surprised at the low level of pain

Heres my entry for Feb. My Lady Head tattoo. Tattooed by Todd Noble at Frith Street Tattoos

there has been 600 "artists" working this event for the last few years. if you have something to offer, its one of the best shows there is. too bad about 550 of the tattooers have zero to offer. LOL.

A Native American client put it in perspective the other day. She was looking around the shop and stopped at a sheet with some Pacific Northwest Native Designs. I asked her if she was interested in getting that type of tattoo, because I have a lot more reference in the back of that stuff. She replied "Anyone who takes a look at me can tell I'm Indian, I don't need a tattoo to say it, I want to get a Unicorn or a Pegasus, do you have any of those?" I told her we could draw one for her and she said "I've never been in a tattoo shop that didn't have a Pegasus or a unicorn on the wall." Fast forward, she leaves stoked with her bitching new tattoo. First of all I want to know what shops she's been hanging out at, cause I want to see some awesome unicorn flash. Two I guess it makes sense, while lots of people get tattoos to represent their family cultures and background, others are looking to differentiate themselves and possibly even rebel against the common perceptions. I can see how some people could be sensitive towards stuff from their culture, but with all due respect if we all got tattoos based upon exactly who we are, we would all have the same tattoos (or else we would all have to join the navy or somehow turn Japanese). Look at most tattoo designs. So many animals tattoos are loosely based upon what they would look like in the wild, but very few would be a spot on accurate representation of the species nor is it really intended to be, plus I don't think they wear funny hats or smoke cigarettes either. It's tweaking old ideas that generate new ideas and keep old ideas fresh and new.

i've always enjoyed the "body as a temple" arguement. after all, places of worship have always been so humble, understated, and sparsely decorated over the centuries.

I see this guy on the road sometimes:

@Jake - congrats! a well deserved win ;) AND an even bigger thanks for truly being a gentleman & a scholar!! much respect (can't wait to see that bad boy finished!) @jade1955 - well done my friend ;) couldn't have asked for a better person to share the win with @Reyeslv - cheers homie! @Lochlan - thanks to your good self and the rest of LST & everyone that voted!!! NOW, there are going to be some random photos in said shirt for sure :p haha

She looks more like a Camry to me.

I updated his website, paintings were scanned, and I get most of it out tomorrow to the Printers... New Prints of the Secretary Bird, and Moby Dick going into production. Secretary Bird: 37.5'' by 15''.....$200.00 Moby Dick: 40'' by 18'' ......$250.00 Welcome to Richard Stell Tattoos.com Prints will be on hand for the West Texas Tattoo Convention this Feb... Or you can go ahead and grab a pre-order...

Bet you wish you were as sophisti-fuckin-cated as what us Brits are, innit.

First session complete, around 5 hours. Still have some outlining to do for the dragon claws and phoenix coming up from my thigh/bum onto lower back. Was surprised how much the kidney area hurt...as bad as ribs! Cant wait for next session.

Xam The Family Business Tattoo Shop

Saw this and thought I should share. By Hiro @ Catclaw Tattoo Kyoto (Off their blog, link on their site) CATCLAW TATTOO ? TOP

My Grandfather told me that his tattoos were a secret code to other fishermen and sailors, like a weird sea-faring Masonic thing. I was with him in a pub in Dublin as a kid and someone bought him a drink. He claimed it was because of his mermaid tattoo, but the guy probably just owed him. Might have file this one under 'bullshit my grandfather told me'.

I've had issues with red ink.. (itchy/ allergic to sulfa used in some inks..found out the hard way) Funny, some assjack told me the opposite. Then again my mom always said I walked around leaning to my left side because my right side didn't have any tattoos.. (she was also quite upset when I went ahead and corrected that issue by getting my right side tattooed)

"i'm getting this tattoo because i'm part cherokee" or "i'm getting this tattoo because i'm irish" - i give gingers a particular hard time about this and tell them that they are actually scottish and were just used as political pawns for the king of england to take over my ancestors country.

Here's something (sorry for the length) taken from the blog of a fairly well known and well respected tattoo artist. I think I'll omit his name for now. "I've always found anti-social imagery compelling. It challenges ones common sense; a persons sense of decency and their idea of "Good & Evil". It also can adversely reaffirm ones core instinctual concept of right and wrong and, if you are so inclined, bolster a persons "Fuck You" attitude about the world around them. So in this regard such "taboo" subjects prove to be different masters for different servants. I find the hazy margin of ambiguousness an image commonly held as offensive exists in fascinating. How is it that one image is acceptable to one person while it causes another to shrink in terror or sneer in disgust? Inside this line in the sand so to speak are the real questions.A question that cuts to the core of the subject matter itself. What is right and what is wrong? If there is such a thing why can't everyone agree what it is in the first place? And more over an even deeper question arises from that as well. If we are merely animals then wouldn't the horrendous nature of such a dark symbology just be an extension of our core instinct to annihilate what ever gets in out way? Finally where do you fall INSIDE the line of demarcation ? This taboo no mans land? While I obviously Cringe at the idea of romanticizing Nazism in any form and just so I'm clear I don't feel the manner in which this painting was conceived does that by the way, what is it about this painting that identify with and even like? Why would I chose to spend my time painting such negativity into the world? Perhaps it's my desire to be left alone by most people? Nothing in the world could possibly top this as a way of letting people know to stay the hell away from you. Still I feel the composition grasps on to a certain charm as rotten as the core may be. My painting is drawn in a style indicative of 80's tattooing A period of time I view as more cut and dry compared to today's blurred line of reality and fantasy. Of real and unreal. Of scripted reality Vs. cold harsh brutal reality.Of black and white (no pun intended). Happiness and "feeling good" is what our society is based upon here in the West after all. This belief sprung from the 1960's, flourished in the 70's, matured in the 80's and 90's. And now at the start of a new decade in a new millennium the cracks have begun to form at the base of this structure from the shear weight of all of its moral and social entitlements. And of its own grotesque vices as well....I'm Left to ponder: what are the consequence of this way of life both good and bad going to be for us all? I feel I made this painting because I just felt like adding a few more needles to Joe camel's back so to speak. Not for some kind of pro-nationalist statement or an affirmation of some kind of bloated illogical racial idea but because I felt like saying fuck this easygoing softness in us. I want the viewer to reaffirm their commitments. I want them to think past the fleeting pathetic pre-programmed plastic knee jerk television has drummed into them. I want the viewer to connect to the painting in a manner that causes either anger and resentment or praise and adoration. And ultimately I want the viewer to emerge from the moral no man's land that so many in today's world apathetically wonder through recommitted. I want battle lines to be draw so we can bring last centuries tired arguments and the beginning of this centuries short comings and false promises to a close. In essence I want the house of cards to fall."

I need a new record to come out so it will be trendy.

She's a dumb cunt. Sorry but it's true. Just click the "report abuse" icon and the "tumbs down" icon under her posts and hopefully they will slowly be removed. Starting an argument with a person like that is like arguing with Bubbleberry, but worse.

"gun" for a machine is really the only thing that bothers me. I like to use the term "work" for tattoos. Kind of a broad definition refering to "work of art" and just plain "work" because getting and giving tattoos is work.

A tattoo shop should only and always be referred to as "Ye Olde Tattzappery."

This is by Timothy Hoyer, and I think that it is on Virginia Elwood.

julio i'm with. you bust your ass to get a clientele and then spend every night at your drawing table doing day of the dead mary sleeves. or koi sleeves with cherry blossoms. could be worse i could be tired of doing cherry creek flash. or i could get up at 4 in the morning and break beef for quarters for three hours then make ground beef and then clean all the cases all in 40 degree cutting room floor. ill stick to finding a anew way to do marys cloke, hahahaha were all jackasses

yup gotta love the upside down crosses...man people are so dumb...they go in and will take a doctors,dentist,mechanic,hairstylist.etc.. advise but shiiit...i guess we are a bunch of big ol' dummies who dont know what we are talking about...oh well..its on them and not me.."screw you..pay me"