Bubbleberry

Ok Ursula, heres the deal. Until I joined the other forum that keeps being mentioned I had NEVER had an on-line argument with anyone. I also had no idea until then that tattoo artists were so protective about the industry, and I lived with a gang of them years ago so I assumed I knew a bit about them. But I also admit that I come from a country where tattooing is not so popular, where there are very few artists and even fewer studios, so perhaps people do not need to be so protective. I read things all the time on various forums that I do not agree with or chose to ignore, I would rather be happy than be right, but I also admit that I find it hard to back down when pushed. I now realise that the artists who frequent these forums are fiercely protective, and a tad opinionated and I will make it my business to not ask questions that make others think I want to be the next Ed Hardy. Now, I am off to collect my wife. What she is doing, and how she does may not impress you, but it impresses the hell out of me. I hope we can all come down off our collective soap boxes and forget this shit, in the scheme of things, none of it matters. I hope you enjoy the weekend. Brian

Thanks guys

I have no need for a website, and I am not an artist, but out of curiosity what type of site do you think a tattoo studio should have? I always find that those with an artistic background think they know more about web design than they do, and often go for sites that are either to complex or do not serve their purpose.

Well, lets say I follow your posts, running down everything you say, would that make me a moron. Is this not a public forum about tattoos, is it not ok for people to discuss tattoos and the culture in all its shapes and sizes? I am a member of forums relating to everything from dogs to graphic design, engineering to mechanics. I have NEVER seen anyone treated with such disrespect for asking simple questions. Do you all go around talking to people on a daily basis like this simply because they do not agree with you? You have the option to ignore my posts but you seem to trail around like a sick puppy puking up on everything I say. Could you not just for a second think that I am trying to learn, just like everyone else, I presume, and give me a break?

If I am honest, I got every tattoo when I was drunk or otherwise messed up. Being a while away from drink, and having time to appreciate decent tattoos, I would love to have that skin again, especially my upper arms. There are some AMAZING artists out there, and I look forward to being tattooed by them. As for my wife.. I love her no matter how she looks, what she wears, tattoos or none. I always will. But she comes from Big Sur, a small village/town in Cali, and she is well known as her family have owned a business there for 50 years. I worry that they will treat her like shit, I want to protect her, and I do not want her to be sitting like me in 20 years wishing she had made different choices. But they are her choices, and whatever she does, I support he 100%

Listen fuck wit, if you had bothered to read the thread you would see that I have no interest in building tattoo machines. p.s. grow up

The tattoos I have were admittedly bad choices, made during an altogether crazier time in life. 50 hours under the needle, give or take may not be a lot to some people but when you wish you had that skin bare so you could start again, its enough. I do intend to get alot more, so hopefully I will make better choices. Can I ask Ursula, what up with you?

Thanks Lochlan, that thread on Feminism and Tattoos is perfect. As you say its her choice, but hopefully she can make an informed one. I never for a second thought that women with tattoos get more hassle, but as that thread points out, unfortunately they do.

It seems we all have different experiences of tattoos, different reasons why, and different emotional connections too. What's your story? I first started seeing tattoos as a child, I grew up in Belfast in the middle of the war, and all the kids in school were getting tattoos supporting various terrorist organisations. There were a lot of skin heads in the city back then, and they usually had Nazi tattoos or tattoos relating to other terrorist organisations so tattoos were probably looked down on there more than in any other culture at the time. I had some family friends, older guys who were in the merchant navy that had old school tattoos, collected on their journeys. They seemed mysterious and wise, and I wanted to be just like them. When I was about 13 my cousins took me to a local bar where all the bikers and punks hung out. That was my first experience with booze and marijuana, and I was amazed at all of the tattoos on display. It was the first time I experienced a large group of people who were tattooed, and who were "cool". The fighting was pretty bad at this stage,. Belfast had no night clubs, just a few safe bars, and only 1 tattoo artist. There were no concerts, no festivals or conventions and it was not unusual to have 10 or 20 bomb explosions in the one day. You either got tattooed by school friends using Indian ink and needles, or you went to a guy called skull, who scared the life out of all of us.When I finally got the courage to go, in front of me was an american soldier who was HUGE. He fainted and slipped of the chair when the needle touched his skin, and I was up next, nervous and shaking. I walked out of skulls with the same eagle tattoo that Richard Gere sported in An Officer and a Gentleman, and I felt like the coolest guy in town. I do not remember feeling prouder, as I strolled through Belfast city centre, my shirt rolled up and my tattoo on display. I was 16 and I felt like the king of the world. 10 years later I got that eagle covered with tribal, and its the biggest regret I have. I am having the tribal removed, and hopefully, somewhere below we will find the remains of the eagle, which I hope, will fly again.

So she wants something like the attached, and she asked my advice. Not being a girl, not knowing how a large tattoo like this effects females in every day life, not knowing how older females feel about their tattoos in years to come I have no idea what to say. My personal opinion is that its a huge piece, that will take hours of work. I also sort of feel that she should start on her arms, perhaps getting something smaller to begin with, but it not my decision, so I am asking for advice.

Lochlan, given that your admin, I have a feeling you know exactly who redtardy is, its not rocket science! As was previously translated sarcasm does not translate well, but this thread did put a smile on my face... which is ok I think, life can be far too serious at times.

40 years old, first tattoo at 14, first tattoo in a studio at 16, been around tattoos my whole life. So far I have about 50 hours worth of tattoos,none of which I love but hey, its part of the journey. My wife has just the one, and the reference to her parents... well they blame me for corrupting he (neither of us drink or smoke so its not like she is going crazy ) and refuse to speak to me, so I would like to resolve that situation and her getting a huge leg piece is not going to make them happy. My defensive tone in the forum would no doubt indicates that I care deeply what other people think of me, and I guess that carries into my relationship with her parents. If I cared less, I guess, I would care less.

You know I posted this yesterday morning before the whole dvd conversation, but the moderators had to approve the post. Not feeling so much love right now but hey...

Man I was using the internet when you were still a suckling on your mama !

You know this site is an open forum, where I believe people come to discuss tattooing. That's what I am trying to do. I have a subscription to tattoo life, where I can see thousands of tattoos on-line, I visit lots of forums, I have been hanging out in tattoo shops for 30 years and have access to thousands of publications. My question asked if anyone had thoughts, suggestions etc, if they thought a full leg was too much. I ran a design agency for a long time, I know how to use the internet. I simply wanted to discuss the pros and cons of such a tattoo but as usual you all jump on without reading or trying to understand the question. If you do not want to contribute something useful ignore my thread. IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO DISCUSS TATTOOS GO JOIN ANOTHER FORUM

Of course there is reference.. about 5000 tattoo magazines, hundreds of books, many hundreds of photos, walls of flash. Its a tattoo studio. Ok, so someone guide me here, it seems I am asking all the wrong questions, this is a forum right?

A/ Did you read the posts before posting? B/ I know who the great machine builders, or at least a lot of them. C/ Do I have to use something to enjoy the workings, the design, the feel?

That was a joke by the way !

£100 ??? I am not sure I can afford it... ebay has a great kit for £90, with 6 guns, ink, needles, the whole shabang. Which should I choose?

So my wife has "decided" that she wants a large pink/green fairy/fantasy piece that covers her whole upper leg. Anybody any thoughts, suggestions, advice or reference's? This is her first large tattoo... I think its to much.. but I am also a lot more worried about her parents than she is?

Yep, the tattoo is on my leg. And new week there will be another one... he does not mind her tattooing me, saying that fake skin is crap. I gotta be honest, I really had a hard time choosing what I wanted as I needed something easy for her but that I liked. I guess I wanted my arms finished and had forgot about the legs. It hurt bad in places, especially round the shin as has he kept telling her to push the needle in deeper and deeper..she was holding back trying not to hurt me, he kept telling her to be firmer, I kept squirming in my seat... And off we go again... Poor girl was a nervous wreck at the end of it and I was GRUMPY ! He is a friend so he wants to see her do well, but he also does not want anyone else being harmed as she learns. He will not let her get a machine, or any other equipment, he made her promise that she only tattoos under his guidance etc etc. As for the $50.00, as soon as he says she is allowed one it will be our first purchase. I am not sure who is more excited about her carrer path, me or her.

I agree totally, and he said that it should be a small piece that can be done in within two hours, but the image choice was my fault. My wife is also really slow by nature, she is so laid back, in a positive way, so she takes her time with everything, checking and re checking. But hey, she is learning to do something she loves, and to see her so excited to finally use a tattoo machine was cool.

I simply do not want to bother the guy that is training my wife. I like to learn things myself, slowly at my own pace. I thought it would be helpful for my wife as a reference.I assumed the only people who had watched that dvd were tattoo artists, and never thought for a second that someone would be offended by it. I could understand if I asked for a review on a $10 tattoo gun from china or a dodgy how to tattoo guide. Anyway, it will be the last bit of advice I seek on here, what a bloody drama.

Thank you ! That makes sense. The guy my wife is working with has lots of machines, and he calls it his tattoo graveyard, and he has my wife breaking down machines and putting together again. But we do not have a tattoo machine at home, so I will ask him for an old one to play about with, he's a friend so that parts easy.

OK, that's what I will do, I will by the dvd, and review it on the board... I can only imagine what the reaction would be. Everything has a price..really, a simple " you know that dvd is really geared towards making machines not servicing them " would cost very little and would, at least, be dignified. As for not having respect for tattooing... tattooing can look after itself, it was here long before you or I, it will be here long after, and it needs neither of us to survive. I do have respect for people, of all flavours, sizes, colours and creeds. I try not to take away from, to talk down to, to insult or hurt. If I can offer something positive I will, if not I try to leave well alone. Perhaps you could do the same, and perhaps, just perhaps, you could try not to see intentions in other peoples actions. It makes life easier.