Mike Shishmanian

site is up and running. take a gander! Hudson Valley Tattoo Company

do it.

thank you! we're off to a very busy start. just looking for the right talent to add to the roster.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.264829823679591.1073741833.248239902005250&type=1 a link to pictures of the shop if that sort of thing interests you.

I don't care who you consult or how you come up with the idea initially. that's up to you. as far as when it comes time to convey that idea to me it's very irritating when the person I'm about to mark for life is standing ten feet away and silent while their significant other explains to me what "he wants" or "she wants".

it would be completely fucked up for you to get a piece finished by someone that didn't start it. regardless of them "reaching a certain level". if you're going to a quality tattooer and you sign on to get work from them, you have to see it through unless you're unhappy with the work for some reason. going to someone else to get a piece finished just because you don't want to wait is about as disrespectful as it gets. don't get tattooed if you're going to pull some bullshit like this. people have no respect for tattooing anymore. this isn't a situation where you buy your xbox at target and buy the games at wal mart. this type of attitude pisses me off. why get tattooed by a given artist to begin with if you're going to have someone else finish it? just go to that motherfucker in the first place. whoever you choose to go with be sure they're who you want. book a couple appointments at once if it's large scale work and make the commitment the same way your artist makes the commitment to apply the work to your body. I've had this happen to me more than once not because a client couldn't wait but because they didn't want to pay my very reasonable hourly rate to get the work finished. they'd get their boy down the street to "color" a piece I drew, lined and started. this type of shit will earn you a punch in the mouth if I see you in public.

new shop opening up in wappingers falls, ny (near poughkeepsie, about an hour and a half north of NYC). shop is made up of the best talent in the area. we're looking to continue our reputation of excellence by employing only killer tattooers. our goal is to be the elite shop in upstate,NY. no drugs, no drama. just hard work, great tattoos and making a great living in a beautiful shop in a super busy location right on US RT-9. the shop is called HUDSON VALLEY TATTOO COMPANY and we plan on opening our doors mid-february. guest spots are encouraged. also, we can help you relocate if you're the talent we're looking for. you can check out our work on instagram @hudsonvalleytattooco facebook.com/hudsonvalleytattoo if this interests you please contact - [email protected]

hands are probably my favorite thing to tattoo. I won't do them unless someone is already heavily tattooed but whenever given the opportunity I love doing them. something about how heavy it is to be given that honor by a client is super gratifying.

Kings Avenue is THE place. I had Grez tattoo my chest many years ago. the vibe of the place, the world class talent they have under one roof. so goddamned good. also, the deli two doors down is a great place to eat before you get laced up.

I have a piece that spans the base of my neck to my knees on my back. the bit around my asshole was definitely the worst.

I had the pleasure of working alongside Austin this last summer in Provincetown, Mass. he's a great dude that does killer work. Wendy Pham's work is always blowing my mind. also, Richard Smith and Zac Scheinbaum are two seriously killer NYC artists. would love work from either. great thread.

I'm not positive but Kore Flatmo was definitely the first thought that popped into my head. the black and gray parts especially look like the way he would approach something. killer. - - - Updated - - - oh shit, I didn't see the link you posted up. I guess it IS him. dude's work rules. in a day and age when there are a billion "tattooers" out there, it's pretty awesome when you can recognize someone's work just based on the style they would approach something.

my favorite part of getting tattooed is walking in, day of my appointment and seeing the image for the first time. you should have some basic idea what you'd like to get done but if you've picked a particular artist to do it, there's probably something you love about their work. let them run with it. you will always get the best results and experience if both parties are way into it.

this series is fantastic. very inspiring. these and the tattoo ages get me excited about tattooing all over again even on days where I don't want to hear the word "tattoo" one more time.

pooh ghost!?! genius. yes, please leave your boyfriend / girlfriend at home if they're going to talk for you. nothing chaps my ass more then when I ask the guy what he wants to get done and his girl chimes in for him. grow a set. or I'll be tattooing a girl and she'll bring her friend with her who has one tiny tattoo of a dolphin on her wrist but bitch thinks she knows how it's done. " I heard white hurts more, is that true?"

if a client comes to me with a picture of someone else's tattoo I tell them that we can recreate the concept of the piece but NEVER the same exact piece. if they are not ok with this then they don't need to get work from me. it's that simple. of course, I'm a bit spoiled / lucky that I'm busy enough to turn down any work ( I remember a time when I first started where I would do anything the client wanted) but I just can't bring myself to spend that many hours working on someone and having them walk away with something that I had no part in creating.I just can't put the love in. it's a bummer and completely defeats the purpose of getting a tattoo or making the tattoo for me personally.

thank you! my man Orrin Hurley is doing that for me. that dude is a monster.- - - Updated - - - thank you! - - - Updated - - - thank you! it took me a while to find a nice JCM, but It's the tits!

my name is Shish. I've been tattooing for about 7 years now in upstate, NY. I got my start at millennium tattoo in newburgh, ny for the major portion of my career. I like to travel around as much as I can and do guest spots to keep myself inspired. I most frequently visit Three Kings Tattoo in brooklyn, ny when I'm away from home. In february of this year the doors will be opening to my own shop in Wappingers Falls, ny called the Hudson Valley Tattoo Company. look forward to doing killer work surrounded by other motivated individuals and continuing to do what I love so much. thanks. instagram@shishmania instagram@hudsonvalleytattooco