David Flores

Yeah last year I went for one day and it wasn't very busy at all. Plus they scheduled it on the same weekend as the State of Grace Convention so that didn't help. I only see a few a names from Portland that interest me on the attending list and I could just go into their shop. You are at Scapegoat Tattoo right? Stopped in there a few times to look around while friends shop in the vegan grocery store. Your stuff looks nice, really liked that shark you posted too.

Get a tattoo from both of them!

Hammerhead shark plane on me.

www.portlandtattooexpo.com/home Oct 7-9 will be the third annual Portland Tattoo Expo in Portland Oregon. Basically I am looking to see if there are any other shops that plan to attend this year or if anyone has any recommendations for any out of town artists listed above. Last year I feel like I missed out, my wife was 9 months pregnant and even though I drug her there I couldn't convince her to let me get tattooed so hopefully it works out this year and I come home with more than some shirts and prints.

The second or third tattoo I got was on my sternum. I had no idea what I was in for, I had a tattoo or two on my upper arms and that was it. Was seeing some girl who wanted to get a tattoo and while I was in the lobby waiting for her to get done, I decided i was going to get one too, so I picked a skull inside a Maltese cross and said put in on my sternum. I don't think me writhing in pain for an hour impressed her that much. The girl is long gone but the tattoo is still there and funny enough one of my current best friends was the guy who put the tattoo on.

That sounds like one hell of a trip you got planned. Can't wait to see the tattoos. I was going to SF around that week but plans fell through and am going to be in Chicago getting tattooed by Mario Desa and hanging with my friends instead. Have fun.

Funny I typed "the only way I could see making that better would be to cover it with a big panther" and got distracted and never posted it. So i guess great minds think alike.

I know this thread below is not about lettering, but it might give a few names of quality shops to look into, since I don't have a clue about Jersey myself. http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/tattoo-101/1007-looking-best-artist-new-jersey-japanese-work.html

First I would like to say thanks for everyone sharing their lists. A lot of very influential and important people in tattooing listed. One other topic that came up while talking over the list was the moment you decided to start tattooing. What or who was the catalyst that made you make the decision to actually pursue tattooing as a career. Ross always tells me the story of getting tattooed and having Freddy Corbin suggest to him to start tattooing. Not quite sure if Freddy was serious Ross thought to call one another friend of his Eric Maaske and see what he thought of the idea and he also thought it was a good idea. So as Ross would put it "Those two are to blame." To me it just seems like a story that wouldn't happen as much today.

Funny there are a lot more in the series but they aren't on his facebook. There was a Cholo shark, a lumberjack shark and a reaper shark just to name a few but hopefully I can find some more. but here is another shark I have on me, its a very rare species. Panther Shark Tattoo by Ross Ferrie (design by Ashley Howell) both from Acme Tattoo.

Okay since it's shark week let's see some shark tattoos. I will start it off with a couple from my friend Ross Carlson of Living Art Tattoo and Artwork Rebels Portland. Ross coined himself the shark guy in town for a minute. The first tattoo is on me and was one of the first sharks he did the second is his latest shark tattoo.

I guess the only thing that is missing is being in a shop. I mean you can take a part a machine all day, but if you don't really know how it's supposed to run what good does that do you. There are so many intangibles that are not in any book, dvd or community college class. Granted there are a lot of tattooers who didn't have a proper apprenticeship, but most stories i hear are more of a trial by fire or them lying about knowing how to tattoo and they just had to pick it up as they go. But the difference is they were picking this stuff up in a shop with talented tattooers. I see a lot of "self taught" people whose tattoos just don't get any better over time because they have no one to show them what they are doing wrong and shops don't want to take them on because they have been tattoing x amount of years and their tattoos still look scrappy.

Funny my son could care less about my tattoos, but he is always attacking the strawberries on my wife's shoulder and the lil stinky on her leg so he must just be selective. He is only 8 months so I'm sure he will notice mine soon. But needless to say I probably won't by him a doll with tattoos. You know I would agree it gets annoying at times when people who really don't have any interest in being tattooed ask you a million questions just to satisfy their curiosity or tell you about their friend who has a tattoo or wants a tattoo or can spell the word tattoo, but I also remember not that long ago i was the kid coming into the shop not knowing shit about shit and probably annoyed a few people along the way. People get the tattoos they deserve and that is enough satisfaction for me.

I know there are a million lists, but I would consider this more of an exercise. Typical day at the shop a topic came up yesterday, who are the top 5 people in the tattoo world that directly influenced you as a tattooer? It's a question that I have seen asked of a lot of aspiring tattooers who come into the shop looking for work, but would love to hear from some of the great tattooers on the forum. Since I am not a tattooer, I will share the best list gathered yesterday from Ross Ferrie of Acme Tattoo (formerly of Deluxe Tattoo) in Portland Oregon. This list personifies his style and attitude perfectly in my opinion. Pinky Yun Freddy Corbin Eric Maaske Chris Conn Terry Tweed

I have always wanted to have someone or all the artists at a particular shop paint a sheet for me of the stuff I got tattooed by them at their shop.

If I was going to get a tattoo in LA I would go to either Spotlight Tattoo or Shamrock Social Club which are also recommended by this forum. Personally I would also recommend this shop, Dolorosa Tattoo, I think Alex Garcia would be your man to see here. You will find a lot of stuff on these shops websites but the portfolios at the shop are probably more comprehensive and up to date. I don't really go looking for Portrait guys, but I know there are people at these shops that can do what you are looking for or send you some place that can. Artists | The Dolorosa Tattoo Co.

Where are you located Marcjuro? There might be a good shop near you that you discuss this is person with a tattoo artist that does portrait or black and grey work. Different people have different takes on this but I would any time you are getting a tattoo that doesn't rely on a bold outline your chances of deterioration are higher. But there are some tattooers doing amazing things with portrait work. I'm not sure exactly what i would around the face but I agree a big black rectangle would be weird. Is it just the image you like or is the tattoo because you like the book itself. What I am thinking is there other ideas that could be added to this tattoo to turn it into a full back piece, make it little more interesting.

The only collection I can think of is my Pint Glass/ Liquor Glass Bar collection I have gotten from visiting different breweries. From 18-21 I pretty much lived out of a backpack. When I moved to Colorado I got an Apartment bought the cheapest TV i could find and bought a couch and some dishes from a thrift store. When I moved to Oregon they got donated back. I have some flash hanging up in my living room and about 150 dvd's and 75 books and that is pretty much what i have acquired in the years since until I met my wife. My Wife on the other hand has about a thousand rubber ducks and or devil ducks. I might be exaggerating but it sure seems like it.

Makes me want to put on shorts and a tank top and go to the rich part of town to try out my new insults.

I am pretty sure the guy is English and just a nut. At first I thought he might be a skinhead, but after talking to him for a bit he just seems a little off. Oh well nice enough guy.

He has a swallow on the other hand and some stuff on his upper arms. Believe me I tried to talk him out of it or at least suggest putting it on his arm, but that's what he wanted.

This guy came in today with a union jack on one hand and a swallow on the other and wanted to get this on his head. So for him I guess his arms and legs are the only areas he won't get tattooed.

I liked this but then realized how stupid that would look. I will just say thanks for the tip and hopefully Black Metal Robin shows up soon.

@dari what news source are you reading? Just want to find a good site covering this story.

Wow, that some crazy shit. Hope everything calms down and nothing further happens.