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Exactly. There's "is it worth it" and "is it worth it for me". For me- nah. Not really. Conn's stuff is super clean and I love looking at it, but has never struck me as someone I'd get tattooed by. Even if his rate was $200 instead of $500. Conversely, if Robert Ryan called me up and said he raised his rates to $500/hr.... I'd just save up and work with that as my budget because getting tattooed by Robert resonates with me and would qualify as 'worth it'.

I've been wanting a butterfly/moth for a while. Theo Mindell does amazing butterflies, and the shop he works at is pretty close to me. Not sure who I would go to for a moth, though. Theo Mindell:

If we started listing the people who are copying CC's girls this would be a long thread.

Ursula: Sorry, but that last comment feels unfair to Chris Cleen.

Just got a new piece from Topper at South Street Philly Eddie's, and he generously threw some stars and dots up on my arm. He did the mini tiger head, too. Anyhow, I think his stars and dots are particularly awesome and thought to share them.

there are a few all around great tattooers, guys that can pull off any style. but when i am asked, two stand out far more than anyone else. Scott Sylvia and Mike Wilson. if you have a tattoos, you need to be tattooed by both of these people. end of story.

I don't think that Cleen's stuff looks anything at all like Conn's. However, his coworker Anderson Luna does some girl heads that remind me of Conn:

My reply Hi David Sorry to be a nuisance. Just one more thing before I retire to my bed. Would it be possible to send the money via the Post Offices money transfer. I can do that online, it's a lot more secure and I can send the money straight to your bank account. It's cheaper too as there are no fees. Western Union want to charge me £12.90. All this FBI stuff got me thinking about the great old time I had with Grandaddy Brady (the one who was in the Black and Tans). Every Sunday I used to go round his house. He would reminisce about the good old days. He loved brass bands and was particularly thrilled when I took up an instrument. We would spend many a joyful Sunday afternoon, in the bedroom, tromboning and if I had done really well Grandmammy Brady would give me a blimpey. You must try one, David, if you're ever in Coleraine, its a local speciality. Anyway sorry for being a silly old chatterbox. Warm regards Mike

I see your point Shawn, but it is still kinda uncool just to drag someone randomly to a discussion and say they arent as good as Conn. Mister Cleen might say the same himself for all I know, but he isnt here :) I think... Edit. My point was that when speaking about art, its different if you say someone isnt good enough than to say I dont like his/hers stuff as much as this persons.

I'm going to politely disagree, Stefan- If we can say that 'Tattooers are artists who can charge $500 an hour" than we can be art critics and say "Chris Cleen's stuff isn't nearly as nice". I think his stuff is derivative and muddy. I'm sure he's a perfectly nice guy. But you don't get to fly the banner of 'artist' if you don't want to have your stuff reviewed by the buying public.

Have you posted any photos of the tattoo you are getting from Brian? I would love to see it.

Moira Hahn

Not a tattoo, but I thought this painting I did it pretty "manly"

Oh yes. I'm going to press him to send me something before I send the payment (and accidentally loose the receipt, of course). I've already worked out the story for that. This will give me the opportunity introduce my brother Greg Brady, just to add to the confusion. Do you get the connection Mike Brady/Greg Brady?

I sent this a couple of minutes ago. Hi David Many thanks for your email. David, please can I ask a question. What is an FBI guarantee letter and can you send me a copy of one please, just for my peace of mind. It's just that I don't want anything to go wrong when I pay the cheque into my bank account as it is such a large sum of money. I'm so excited and thankful to God what with my fathers money and now this, all in the matter of a few weeks. Please excuse my ramblings but my head is spinning at the moment. I just cant believe my luck. I hope you don't mind me asking, David, but are you a real FBI agent? I ask this question because I love anything to do with law enforcement. My old Grandaddy worked for the Black and Tans, in the Public Relations Dept. My favourite film of all time is about the FBI. It's called Brokeback Mountain, have you seen it? Anyway sorry again for all my ramblings. I'll send the money after I hear back from you. Warmest regards Mike

http://youtu.be/zFXczzxWwRU

Yeah just to be clear I wasn't saying it isn't worth it if you've got the money and can justify spending that amount. For me though, I don't feel like spending a grand on a tattoo that size is worth it. I'd rather get something larger from someone else that I like.

He got back to me this morning. A man of very few words. Mike, It can only be released to me when i pay the fund to the department.Today is Friday, you have just today to send the fund so as to get your check to you asap. I've sent this back Hi David I am a bit confused. I thought you said I had won this money but you are now saying I have to send the fee by today. Why is this. You didn't mention this in your original email? I take it I can send the money to your bank account via the post office transfer like I suggested in my email. What will happen if I can't get the money to you today? It's just that I'm not very mobile at the moment and have difficulty getting around. I only came out of hospital last tuesday and I am still recovering after having a strapadictome. Kindest regards Mike

Seems like if people are willing to line up and pay than he is worth it. No one will do the same tattoo he will do for you. If his work is your thing than who is to say what a piece of art is worth. We are talking about art right? Its not like you are going in and picking a piece of flash off the wall and he is hitting you up for 500 an hr.

This one?

@Jennifer Stell awesome especially dig the knee and death rose heres one from yesterday

Well for whatever reason Mr. Conn isn't replying to our emails. Having heard that he's charging $500 an hour though, I kind of don't care now. Anything I'd want from him would be at least a two hour deal and there's no way I'd pay anyone $1000 for a hand sized tattoo. Fuck that. He's an amazing artist but I can get just as good of a tattoo from Mike Wilson, in the same town I live for $150 an hour.

I hate his neck piece. just sayin'

It's not the image. It's how you wear it.

DeVita didnt charge me 2 arms and 2 legs when he tattooed me after he 'quit' Higgs didnt charge me 2 arms and 2 legs after he 'quit' Those 2 names mean a hellova lot more than Conn does IMO. But hey thats just me.

The piece of shit has taken the bait. I recieved this email this morning. Greetings , This is Mr. David Oliver, I am the agent in charge of your transaction (EA2948-910) in the amount of $800,000.00 which shall be made payable to you in form of a cashier’s check. The FBI has investigated this transaction and everything has been arranged. Once we receive the required fees for processing this transaction, we shall immediately dispatch the check to your home address via United Parcel Services (UPS) or FedEx. The required fee of $500.00 is for the following reason: (1) Cashier's Check Conversion Fee ( Fee for converting the Wire Transfer payment into a Certified Cashier's Check ) The total amount of $500.00 is required to have this entire transaction completed. You are therefore advised to make the payment for $500.00 via Western Union Money Transfer to the following information: Name of Receiver: David OLIVER State: London Country: United Kingdom Test Question: Trust? Answer: God Amount to Send: $500.00 Do get back to this office with the following information below after making payment of $500.00 via Western Union Money Transfer Senders Name: Senders Address: Mtcn #/Reference #: If you are able to make this payment immediately, then your cashier's check will be dispatched in less than 24 hours upon receipt of the payment and you will be contacted with a UPS/FedEx tracking number. Immediately have this done and get back to me ASAP. My reply. Hi David Many thanks for your prompt reply. I fully understand the fee but it is in US dollars. My most sincerest apologies if I sound a bit stupid but I have never used Western Union before. How would I be able to send a payment in US dollars when my countries currency is Pounds, Stirling? Also if the cashiers cheque was in US dollars how would I be able to pay that into a UK bank account? Would it be possible for you to send me the cashiers cheque in Pounds Stirling and if so would this incur further fees. Sorry for asking all these questions but with so much money I just wouldn't want anything to go wrong. Kindest regards Mike About 2 minutes later I received this. (He/Shes working late. Its gone 11pm in Lagos) Attn: Mike The check would be converted to pounds sterling and you can cash it in any bank in united kingdom because it comes with an FBI guarantee letter, You are advice to send 316 Pounds to the below information Name of Receiver: David OLIVER State: London Country: United Kingdom Test Question: Trust? Answer: God Amount to Send: $500.00 If you send the money today and confirmed you get your check in less than 24hrs and it takes 48hrs to fund you account. Congratulation one more time David I'll wait a little while before I send the next email.

ahh crap the red X strikes again anyway a couple lovely hours withl Twitter gently tattoing my armpit

This one was done by Aaron Coleman at Immaculate Tattoo. It is a Richard Stell design.

Juan puente just broke the news on instagram that Chris Conn is tattooing again. He's working in LA and can be booked by emailing [email protected] Stoked!!!!!

So stoked! I dreamt about the day I can get tattooed by CC for years, & that day- my heart will be full. Don't mean to switch up in an utterly different direction I know I'm new, but that last statement just reminded me how bad I want to get tattooed by Tron too.

Also, there is an episode of This American Life which follows the journey of three American friends who totally fuck over a scammer like this. It's pretty crazy the things the scammer does to try and get this money. I'm gonna look it up and link the mp3 'cause it's truly amazing and hilarious. ok here's the link, the episode is called "Enforcers" Enforcers | This American Life

Yo dawg I heard you like skulls..

I got a chest piece with the lyrics "destruction is the nature of everyone" from chuck ragan

@Duffa You're welcome. Ha ha

did I mention how much i love this thread......hmmhmhhmm mischeif!!!

Dat Bass

sounds hot

Keep it traditional- giant shunga and namakubi prints everywhere ;)

I like your log.

Not really a funny story around the same subject.... Someone called my grandfather (who's going through chemo for the second time) pretending to be me saying that I was in jail and need 1,500 dollars in order to be bailed out. Since he's not really on his game because of the chemo he went to the bank, got out 1,500 dollars and awaited another phone call saying where to send the money to. He ended up western unioning that shit to Spain. Finally the next day, he calls me and asks me what type of shit I got myself into and why I needed 1,500 dollars. He felt pretty lame when I told him to call the cops and report it. BUT... I found out that my grandfather would bail me out of jail without explanation... which was pretty great.

Capt. Mike had a hummingbird tattoo over his heart in "Benjamin Button"-pretty lame movie, but that guy was an awesome character: and Il Duce had a bad-ass butterfly on his hand in "Boondock Saints" That being said, I've been planning on a butterfly tattoo for awhile (probably inner forearm). In Mexican culture, butterflies are the spirits of ancestors pointing out important lessons or just giving you a reason to pause.

I was the former king of drunk posts on here. I don't drink as much so I can be quite boring on the inter webs.

Mike Volkakis from Artwork Rebels Portland.

Cool thread! That first piece is killer, but her right hand and left arm looks a little bit strange to me. Maybe just the picture, or maybe just me... I don't know. The piece as a whole looks really bad-ass though! Most of you have already seen my front piece, but I found a better picture of it on Marius' blog a while back, so here's to those who haven't seen it already (sorry about the insane size of the photo)

Mike is a tattooers tattooer.

Yes, he is fast. More importantly, he is one of the very best tattooers around.

I get asked this every few months. When I was doing more walk-in type tattoos I got asked every other day, at least. My answer was always: "Most tattoos are pretty weird. It's weird to get tattoos animals you've never had direct experience with or that don't exist onto your body. It's odd to get a tattoo of a prostitute or stripper, or a mode of transportation, or a word out of context, or a reproduction of someone you never met, etc. Mostly tattooing, by it's nature is weird. But the weirdest tattoo I've done is a grocery shopping list on a guys forearm, in neat handwriting, from wrist to ditch." That's weirder than the eyelids, heads, assholes, palms, satanic shit, sexual stuff, dolphin penis guy etc. So that's my answer. I work with Miles, who used to work at IntoYou in London back when tattoos were for weirdos and freaks. Some of that shit blows my mind. Maybe I'll ask him for permission to share his stories. On the other hand, maybe some of tattooing's folk tales need to stay off the internet and remain an oral tradition.

100% fucking hipster bullshit. this is how i can tell a)piles of zines in the background b)stone washed tight pants c)ugly ironic sneakers d)really small fitting hoodie e)pants rolled all the way up so you can see my raggedy old vans and craaaazy socks on Mr. Background d)dude is wearing a friendship bracelet and I'm assuming he's not a 12 year old e) horrible ironic art passing for something real

I'm still partial to my Chest eagle from Bailey Hunter Robinson I get stopped on the street about this one I have from Scott Campbell all the time though But my current favorite is my ribs just finished by Chuck Daly

Ahh. I'm in Richmond, VA. A CNBC "poll" listed us as being the #rd "most tattooed city" due to our shop/population ratio. And as of about a week ago, two strippers (sad but true) are opening a shop here. And to top it off, it's only two doors down from the shop Jessie Smith works at. I think our total number now is around 55-60 shops. And that's not counting the kitchen magicians and trailer tradesmen.