Mel Noir

Hahahahahahahaha look at the "Celebrity guests" page.

Hey Rory, I haven't seen the new issue of Skin Deep, so I can't really comment too much on it, though I have to agree about their demographic. That isn't the first time they've had the guides to getting tattooed, and I've felt the overall feel of the magazine has aimed towards newcomers for a long time. I mean, there's nothing really wrong with that, of course. The tone of that tends to slightly irritate me, since that means it has to be written in a way I feel some people can't really take seriously, so I don't really read it. If there's some great artists in it I may borrow a copy from a friend, but I don't very often. I think everything you say about the picture tags would easily be resolved if they just had one (or two at the most) general rule about where it is, then you'd be able to find and read them really easily, I think. Funnily enough, Stuart Mears, who owns the magazine, also owns 100% Biker. My dad feels exactly the same way about that magazine, haha. There's a lot of controversy around this magazine, though, so I've been trying not to give a penny to it until I understand it. I hear about how Stuart Mears is a very bad man pretty much every day from some English tattooers, haha.

Thanks Alanna :) I'm just lucky, you're definitely right there.

If you like skulls so much, you'd think you'd find someone who can draw sets of eyes that don't look wonky. Ursula's right though, take a look around this website, and see what quality of work we like. Out of interest, did the guy actually draw these or did he have a book of skull themed flash he used for these?

This guy's a troll, surely? I'm hoping so, anyway.

Aw shucks :) Thanks mate! I'm just lucky really, to keep catching great tattooers, haha.

Wow that sounds really cool, MsRad! You'll have to keep us filled in, I really want to see it when it's done! :) Thanks about the new tattoo.. well, I say thanks, it's not like I did anything, lol. I always feel weird saying thanks when someone compliments my tattoos, it's like I'm saying thanks for someone else's work. But you know what I mean :) I love it. Didn't have a picture on my computer of my tattoo from Charlie, but thankfully everything's on the internet these days anyway. Hope this isn't too big...

These videos are keeping me happy today. Especially that Bob Roberts one! :)

You know I'll be using "shatnered" as a real word from now on.

To be honest, none of it makes a difference when your autoclave is an Easy Bake oven, haha.

Thanks for sharing this, Kev. I was gutted to have missed it for living so far away, so seeing your pictures made me feel a little better! :)

Ah well yeah, I'm definitely sure you'll catch him again then! I love your new tattoo, it rocks! Perfect linework, especially on the jacket.

I saw this before on YouTube- there's another one too, where the "new kid" is scrubbing tubes in the toilet, while eating his lunch, haha!

That seems pretty sound, it's cool that you're familiar with who's around. :) I don't want to make choosing worse, but Sarah Schor really rocks, and she's more than capable of neo-traditional stuff. Here's her site: sarah schor | Just another WordPress.com weblog To be honest, there's loads that you can do with that, so I think it's just all down to what you prefer. You could still get a dark owl, I have a picture on my wall in front of me here that Myke Chambers painted of an owl, it's mainly black, red and yellow. As long as you keep you skin protected from the sun, there's no real reason for your tattoos to look like crap really. But make you you use sun BLOCK, not sunscreen. Sunscreen does fuck all most of the time, haha.

Thanks guys :) Ah, David, I'm sure Thomas will come back to you! I thought I missed out the last time he came to Newcastle, as I really wanted one from Charlie Roberts as he came with him- but then a couple of months later, he's back again! I think he'll be back here before the end of the year, too. It'll get to a point where he doesn't want to travel too much anymore, then you'll get your chance, I'm sure.

Well, there's one silver lining to that rubbish show! ;) Welcome to the site!

Oh by the way- if you're not too sure on which tattooers you should be looking at from around your area (or even a little further if you can travel!), feel free to ask. Everyone here is pretty knowledgeable on all this stuff, so we'll be able to help you out and keep you out of crap studios if you're unsure.

Thanks, Ursula. :) Yeah, I wish someone told me that, too, haha. Not that I'd ever laser off my older ones. :)

I am so glad it wasn't just me. I was starting to lose faith in Newcastle, haha. I get the whole, "they look like an Ed Hardy shirt" stuff as well, I think because my tattoos are traditional, mainly. I think those people are living proof of that old phrase- "it's better to keep your mouth shut and be thought of as smart than open it and remove all doubt", haha. Or however that phrase goes, anyway- I've heard a billion variations of it.

That bear tattoo just makes me think, "Ms Rad by name, Ms Rad by nature", haha. Here's a new one from me! This was done just yesterday, so my arm is pretty swollen. It's by Thomas Morgan, who is just finishing a guest spot in Inkslingers in Newcastle. I think he told me he'll be in Paris next, so if you live near there, I'd recommend getting some work from him! Oh yeah, and I kind of thought this was obvious (I'm sure it will be to you guys), but since a couple of friends have asked me- the gypsy head isn't from yesterday- Ian Parkin did that, and it looks FAR better when my arm isn't at a funny angle :P Anyway, here you go, sorry for the bad picture. I never did put that picture of my tattoo from Charlie on here, did I? If anyone wants to see it, I'll gladly put that up too :)

I think maybe you're right- I know some tattooers who are really gentle, and I think one of them can do my other elbow, haha! Actually, one who's really gentle, Hayley Parkin in Newcastle, usually does my tattoos, so maybe I just wasn't expecting it to be so painful after having lots from her! My tattoo (though not all on my elbow!) took about three times the time yours did- another hour and I'd have been crying for me mam, haha.

Those words alone almost gave me a headache! While we're on the subject, has anyone here ever met someone who was surprised to hear from you that Ed Hardy is a real person? I've had this happen once or twice, when people have asked if I like the t shirts, and I say I like him and his artwork instead. I thought even people well outside of tattooing would have known he was at least a real person!

Why thank you, my good man!

Ursula, you must be hard as nails. My elbow still hurts from work I got just this afternoon. I'm kind of pathetic though, to be honest, haha.

Actually, since we're talking about that, the magazine I work for will ask tattooers if it's okay to use their work outside of the magazine (for instance, on a social networking site, with full credit of course), so maybe Tattoo Life have at least done that anyway. Like Stewart said, it's all about trust, really- if they're publishing work in a bad way, it'll come back to them badly anyway, and no one would want that.