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This is Ameri-Do-Te, the ultimate martial art. (there is more episodes so watch them all)

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In the original Hymn, the "Rock of Ages, cleft for me" referred to a crevice cleft *into* a wall of rock that the hym's writer is said to have used as shelter from a storm. It's apparently unclear when it switched to a protruding rock in a stormy sea...or at least that's what I read in a tiny bound book on the history of the Rock of Ages. My boss/mentor collects RoA paintings. When I apprenticed, I would watch over his shoulder in a dim room with most of the light in the room centered on the tattoo, surrounded by antique RoA prints of all kinds.Some with one woman, some with two -- one helping the other and some, fewer, with one woman safe and the stiff hand of a drowned person reaching up from the water.

She should have thought about that before getting visible tattoos or heavy tattoo coverage. M&S isn't Vans, Top Shop, Urban Outfitters etc. What did she expect? Lately American Apparel have been shying away from hiring heavily tattooed people. I think this is great. I'm sick of seeing heavily tattooed people in every coffee/clothes/record/food shop. No I'm not being sarcastic. It's time for people who make themselves look like freaks to accept the fact that they are freaks and stop whining that nobody accepts them in the non-freak world. Nobody forced that girl to get tattooed, she wasn't born tattooed, it was her choice, regardless if she volunteers for charity work. Are long sleeves and a high collar too much trouble when working with the public?

El Monga. Goddamn that's awesome

DUDES. Dudes. Just realized my buddy Dave is having an art show that night at his shop. WHY DON'T WE ALL JUST GO THERE? And Guy is in it to boot!

We should have the Bay Area Crew plan are meet up,and cater it for us too.

i've been lurking this thread for a while, so i figure it'd only be right to join in the fun. i saw a few recent posts about Matt Arriola being back at Liberty in Seattle for a guest spot, so i got a little somethin. i asked him for a tradtional-ish 13 with a cat, but wanted a japanese lucky cat (maneki neko) instead. the attached pic is what he came up with. now, i'm a bit of a tattoo addict and enthusiast (i'm on this forum, aren't i?). it occurred to me that this design was a little familiar... and it hit me! i went back and checked where i thought the reference might be and there it was. in all honesty, at first i felt a little duped, but then i realized that's a lot of what tattooing is and i have no reason to be upset. i dug the design when he showed it to me and i still dig it now... it's almost cooler knowing where it originated. i also just saw a quote on thomas hooper's blog, that sums up the point well... “The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources.” - Albert Einstein thanks for the tip, Al! btw, this DEFINITELY means no offense to Matt... he's obviously a creative and cool ass dude. in hindsight, me asking for that design was already a start to breach his potential all out creativity. another lesson learned... and a tattoo to remember it by!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2LBICPEK6w

it is believed to be the last hymn that was heard before the ss london left port and was sunk during a storm. it has since become a popular sailor hymn.

Reminds me of something that happened to me last year. I'd been to the London Tattoo Convention and on our way back to the train station thought I'd pop into a pub for a couple of pints. Anyway my wife walked in before me and as I went to walk in a doorman stepped in front of me and said I couldn't come in. I called out my wife and said I'm not allowed in. My wife then said to the doorman that she has a long sleeved shirt I could put on. Realising I was with a female partner the doorman then said "Its ok pal you can go in". The doorman had me down as an undesirable due to my appearance and the fact I was a single male. Did I make a big fuss. No. This was mainly down to the fact that this gorilla was twice my size, half my age and would have kicked the shit out of me.

I look like a freak, but I work in the non-freak world. That's why I cover up when I'm at work. It's a very small price to pay. @Stewart Robson, I seem to recall you saying that you worked as a designer before tattooing, right? I'm guessing you were heavily tattooed then, but probably not on your hands or neck. Hell, when Bob Roberts asked me if I tattoo, I said, "No sir--I work in an office. No hands or neck for me," he held up his hands and said, "Me, neither!" God, I sound old, but I feel like the latest generation of tattooed folks think it's their right to have their hands and neck done. If you're around tattooers or heavily tattooed people all the time--which most non-tattooers aren't--that's one thing, but it's nice to be able to get by in the real world without too much hassle, too.

Sheee'it. I don't even tattoo and I have an apprentice.

Jaycel, I got the tone of your post and the intention. Although the intention was sincere enough, It's great that you realised, or have started to realise that the principles of most other crafts can seem to be applied but don't translate well to tattooing. Mostly because tattooing is a permanent mark that somebody has to live with and carry with them every day of their life - There is a responsibility that comes with that, although I'm reluctant to discuss it (and other subtleties of tattooing) with non-tattooers as it's easily misunderstood and mis-used by laymen. The reason any discussion of this type is met with hostility from tattooers is firstly because of the responsibility I mentioned and unlike other crafts, tattooing has magnetic attraction for people who wouldn't involve themselves with any other craft-based endeavour. Many of these people are not prepared to undertake the work necessary to create good tattoos. They are only prepared to do the steps they think are necessary to make sick tats. Here's the bit that may get me some shit. Getting an apprenticeship isn't the holy grail. An apprenticeship from a shitty tattooer is worse than no apprenticeship at all. What's that you say? No good tattooers are prepared to teach you? Well there's a reason for that. That doesn't mean you should let an incompetent fool enable you to become a more inexperienced incompetent fool. This is the part non-tattooers ignore when they spout on and on about 'sticking it out and finding an apprenticeship, doing it the right way' It's not right if you are taught wrongly. Many many shitty, inexperienced tattooers have an apprentice. Some of those apprentices have a lofty sense of self-worth and think they are 'real' tattooers because they cleaned the toilet of a shitty tattooer for months. Eventually the work you create and the way you conduct your affairs becomes more important then the way you got there. Mel, I seriously doubt that your dad could make a shitty machine better. Maybe better looking or better constructed, but without knowing how to tattoo, or having a great tattooer teach you. It isn't possible to make a tattoo machine work well. If someone came to me asking for an apprenticeship with pretend tattoos drawn on a mannequin, I wouldn't take them seriously at all. An apprenticeship isn't an art school mixed media project. There are a million smaller things to learn before you get to that point. If any budding tattooers/apprentices read this, the important thing to remember is - Never take advice from someone who isn't a tattooer. Even better, don't take advice from someone who isn't teaching you.

As the saying goes "A little knowledge is a dangerous thing" Yeah, we really need a step-by-step guide to 'Teach yourself to tattoo - in 9 easy steps!' While there may be a few crumbs of sound advice in the 9 point program, the fact it's laid out like a 'how to' stinks, sorry. Nobody is self taught. I never had an apprenticeship. I could say that I'm self taught, but that would be egotistical and more importantly, incorrect. I learned and continue to learn from the people I have worked with, the people I currently work with, the tattooers who were gracious enough to allow me to watch them and be present while they worked and the people I've been tattooed by. I could have worked for the rest of my life and never figured out some of the simplest things that were shown to me or that I have seen. Aw, fuck it. Yeah, ok, I learned by tattooing pigs and grapefruit, taking evening classes in human anatomy and drawing still-life compositions with graphite sticks and writing essays on pop art. I watched every Bob Ross VHS tape. I took classes in CPR, blood borne pathogens, midwifery and chiropody. I took apart my shitty tattoo machines and put them back so that they would be even shittier. But most of all I took advice from every non-tattooer who thought they knew how to learn tattooing. (only some of the above paragraph is false, but all of it is sarcastic)

I'm trying to set up an appointment with O'Donnell. He's not taking appointments at the moment apparently, but hopefully I can at least get something scheduled for the distant future.

Maybe if all you want to do is learn the art aspect of it while damaging the trade and a long line of victims, you're onto something. The cool thing about learning to paint is that all your mistakes end up in the trash. They don't get seen, much less affect someon'e life...and tattooing is not just an art, not just another medium in your ArtBin. There are plenty of artists (and people who fancy themselves artists) who don't much to offer of benefit to the craft and it's suffering for their indulging themselves. Funny, the forum guidelines say it's not cool to ask how to break into tattooing -- but to tell someone the way you made up in your head and call it a "thought experiment"...sure, why not?

That's cool as shit, Hands On; I'm going to go with a .0001% chance that you'll run into someone that recognizes the source like you did. Most people will just see that and go "Solid/cool tattoo."

Haha yea its good. Top hops has about 500 bottled and 20 taps

and they have arrogant bastard on tap!

word up. I have not been to radegast, I am down to try it. Peculiar is pretty sweet. thursday shouldnt be to crowded. we can also try the rabbit club on mcdougal. the dude that owns it is an extra cool guy. As long as good beer and the music isnt too loud/top10 im happy.

Hold on a minute, are they organic free range chickens?

It would be easier if we just all wen't to the Bay Area Meet Up..Their having squash,and fresh killed chickens..Let's just fly out to SF and all meet up there.

I can't remember for crap.... I feel like an ass for even posting without having the artist name... but it was too good to not post. I know he got it in Japan by a hori, all hand tapped/poked.... it was the smoothest thing I had ever seen.

just part of the culture of entitlement and narcissism. when doing something for charity, it's not about "you" so suck it up and leave if that's what you are asked to do. i didn't realize "giving up one's saturday" was cause enough to make such a big deal over something. she's quoted as being made to feel like a shoplifter but that's a real stretch because she wasn't arrested for having tattoos, just asked to leave. as far as general acceptance of tattoos, it will come and go. it's a cycle that repeats over time and trust me, there are still really conservative people out there that get freaked out by them. i don't have any problem with that, kinda like it actually. if i volunteer and they ask me to leave i would and then i would just go find another charity or charity event in which to volunteer my time if that's why i was really there. most people do good deeds so that they can feel good about themselves instead of giving as a sacrifice. in general im offended daily by peoples ignorance and narcissism, but i don't feel the need to address or attempt to change all those people. it's a lost cause. instead i enjoy the few moments when someone realizes their error and makes it right on their own, that's far more satisfying.

Great work on here, now I want to do a girl head on the hand...or two. Here's some I did years ago on an old punk rocker from the glory days. [/img] Sorry for the pic quality, had to snag it from a small pic online as our shop computer crashed.

Do whatever you want in this life, but do not bitch about it when someone else doesn't like it. Discrimination is walking through a gated community, being shot and killed, and the police not doing shit about it. Being asked to leave a job that you were not getting paid for is a gift.

@hogg yes. I got heavily tattooed while I worked in that environment but I always wore long sleeves to client meetings, however informal. Tattoos often distract from the matter at hand. If the volunteer worker mentioned here had cared about her charity work, she would have understood that and covered up a little, to best serve the charity she was supposed to be helping. As it stands she failed. The story didn't even mention which charity she was volunteering for. Nor did she wear any evidence of that charity for her victim-style press-shot.

Cool idea, I've been contemplating an X-ray related one since I graduate in June...but a mike Wilson tattoo will do the trick

It feels good to be a Champion.

@dirbab - very, very nice! I just got this from [MENTION=2486]lukemuller[/MENTION] at True Love Tattoo (Brisbane) maybe an hour or so ago. No idea how long it took, but it couldn't have been any longer than 2 hours? (no time limit etc so we just cruised) I got it for the most amazing, awesome and wonderful woman I know ;) I apologise for the bad photo, but my camera just didn't want to do as it was asked lol. I'll get a better one from Luke asap

got this lady from brad stevens @ ny adorned tonight.

Aaron Coleman (not sure if these have been posted before or not?) Immaculate Tattoo - Home

That is one awesome tiger. I don't blame you if you get a kink in your neck starring at it all the time.

from bryan burk yesterday 3.5 hours

I think you were finishing up when I came in for my appointment with Stewart. If it was you it did indeed look absolutely lovely. Got my leg piece finished up with Stewart Robson at Frith Street yesterday. It was my first tattoo and I'm ridiculously pleased. Already saving up for the next one! I'd echo the thanks as well, they made my first tattoo experience really as good as it could have been.

I like Bulleit Bourbon. It is not that expensive, but still very good quality. Also Booker's Bourbon. It is 126 proof, and feels like fire, but it is still very enjoyable.

"I feel FAT"

He's all "well shit, I know I left my cock somewhere ... "

Not everyone who doesn't do tattoos is a know nothing idiot. I know many of you won't believe this but there are some people who are immersed in tattooing who aren't tattooers. No I haven't sat and done tattoos all day but there are people who have been around the shop more and know more about the art than half of the apprentices and a bunch of the tattooers I've met. If you'd open your mind to other things you'd realize that there are crafts that can be compared to tattooing. Not right down to the last detail but there's a lot of things you have to do that other craftsmen also have to do. If you think you know enough about every field out there to say you're better than someone else because of your profession, then you are no better than the people you complain about.

Dan, I'm having a hard time figuring out the tone of your message. I hope you aren't trying to imply with the last sentence that tattooing is a more special thing than other trades. I can assure you there are people who feel as strongly about their trade or craft as tattooers do about theirs. There's people who put as much hard work, time, money, etc. into their craft as a tattooer or tattoo apprentice does.

my advice to anyone wanting to learn how to tattoo is, go find another profession. my advice to people teaching others to tattoo is go find a tall bridge and jump the fuck off.

everyone teaches themselves.

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.

Man, everybody already used my smart-ass answers but the Greg Irons quip was funnier than I could have come up with. But back to the original question. This is one of the newer approaches to tattooing that makes me slightly uncomfortable to be honest. Myself and a few tattooers I know and work with have noticed the trend of customers finding a sense of pride in how long they had to wait for their tattoo. As if that makes the tattoo more worthwhile. With some of the currently living/working tattooers mentioned in this thread, I personally know people (not even on the internet) that have tattoos from all of them. Filip, Horiyoshi III, Shige and Mike Rubendall. Yeah, they had to wait a little while for some of them but not as long as you'd think for others. Mike Roper is a different situation because he makes it deliberately difficult to get in touch with him, which answers the question posed above. But that wasn't really the question that was asked and it's rarely the question that gets asked. The question, or at least the implication, is "who has the longest waiting list' or "who has appointments booked furthest into the future". If I were to be snarky "who gives me the most bragging rights". For me the hardest people to get a tattoo from are the tattooers who are located furthest away from me. The ones where I have to get off my ass and do something about it. Time is easier to overcome than distance although patience is a different matter. It astonishes me that people call our shop from the outskirts of the city expecting us to change the way we work because they are catching a train to get here. On the other hand, we are humbled and honoured by the people who cross seas and continents to get tattooed regularly with us. But that's aside from the issue. Why is it a trend that makes me uncomfortable? Because I've heard people brag about how long they had to wait for 'x' artist and wear that information like a badge of honour. It feels almost as distasteful as bragging about who charges the most. Yeah, tattoos are for tough guys and tough buys like to brag and maybe that seems harmless, but it makes me uncomfortable and I have trouble clearly explaining why. Maybe it's because it's a phenomenon spurred on by the internet and the gossipy world of hearsay. Nobody calls and checks with the artists or shops they want to get tattooed at. Nobody travels down to the shop to ask the question. They just ask random strangers on the internet who have a lot of time on their hands and like to talk about something they know nothing about. Then the reality gets lost or twisted and in the end the real information is lost. I see this a lot with regards to the shop I work at. Forums are (or certainly used to be) bursting with 'facts' about how much we charge, how long we take, how far 'x' and 'y' are booked or how long their waiting lists are. Nobody calls the shop to ask and nobody suggests that the person calls to ask. I know that happens with a lot of things but it seems like this is starting to have a real-world effect, however small. People who wanted tattoos that we would love to do heard that we wouldn't tattoo them at our shop because we were so cool and busy and booked up for decades and rolling around in money 'n' bitches or something. We've heard of this a few times and it seems to be happening more. Yeah, we're busy, you may have to wait a little, maybe not. If someone has contact information, especially a phone number on their website it means that they want you to call. I'm not really going to touch on the tone of the "are they a fad or are they really worth it?" comment, except to say that if you have to ask, the answer is "no". Sorry to jump on this fun thread with a rant. I look forward to more witty quips.

Higgs is pretty hard to nail down too ;)