eisen777

Last time I talked to Thomas H. about people starting to do this style more and more he said something like "Someone needs to, I dont have time to do them all". I still agree that it waters it down, but I still love my thomas tattoos.
My favorite thing about Thomas is when he mixes the classic tattooing/woodcut style with the patterns and dots and less the patterns and dots only.

Nice tattoos! I really like those UFO tattoos he does. I need to get down to Congress Street again and get something like that, I thought the place was super cool when I was there in the summer. Portsmouth is a really nice town in general.

Last time I talked to Thomas H. about people starting to do this style more and more he said something like "Someone needs to, I dont have time to do them all". I still agree that it waters it down, but I still love my thomas tattoos.
My favorite thing about Thomas is when he mixes the classic tattooing/woodcut style with the patterns and dots and less the patterns and dots only.

Last time I talked to Thomas H. about people starting to do this style more and more he said something like "Someone needs to, I dont have time to do them all". I still agree that it waters it down, but I still love my thomas tattoos.
My favorite thing about Thomas is when he mixes the classic tattooing/woodcut style with the patterns and dots and less the patterns and dots only.

I wish this style didn't have a name. As soon as a style is given a name, it seems to give others the impression they can do it too.
The reason I don't do this stuff is because I like Hooper, Jondix and Albrigo as people and friends.
They each seem to take direct influence from each other while still retaining some individuality and nuances of design and layout that make it possible to identify which one of them did it. The same goes for Binnie, Xed, Tomas Tomas, Mike from Athens and Curly. I love the work of each of those guys.
I can't say the same for anyone else doing these styles. It seems to be a "Me too" attitude. They let the first few guys take all the risks and learn what works and find select clients who want to trust in something new. Then they make technically clean but hollow facsimile of something that was interesting.
Maybe thats a bit strong coming from someone who doesn't have a style of his own, but I try to work in existing, classic tattoo styles and sometimes have a little fun with them. The reason I don't do this pattern/skull/mandala/pointilist stuff is the same reason I don't do Biomech, Pacheco painterly colour or straight-up cholo tattoos: They are styles that were developed by people with a specific set of interests and inspirations that managed to filter them into a style of design and execution. Also those pioneers are still alive and working.
Maybe I've opened a nasty can of worms... How soon is 'too soon' so imitate an iconic style? Do we have to wait for the pioneers to die before crotchety fucks stop complaining? To be honest, I'm not interested in the answer. I just notice that every week the internet spits out a new guy who sticks a skull over or under a doily and it's held in the same regard as work by Mike, Jondix and Hooper.
The same as we distinguish between Aaron Cain or Guy Aitchison Biomech, we shouldn't try to coin new phrases and just refer to Thomas Hooper, Jondix or Tomas Tomas Blackwork, dotwork or whatever.
Use the name of the guys that made it what it is. We at least owe them that if we're gonna encourage other people to try it and get it tattooed from the rest of the pack.
note: I'm certainly not anti-new styles and I'd like to say that I'm eagerly awaiting the second generation of artists influenced by these guys who take it somewhere new, now that there's a body of work by a group of artists. That could be exciting!

Cory Ferguson's name is getting skipped over here, and he def has been doing this for quite a little while without biting anything from Jondix/Hooper/etc. Just wanted to give some credit where it is due.

Yes, more tattoo legends are obviously welcome (which you most certainly are). Sassy remarks would probably even be deemed necessary, but I've never seen anything but sincerity from you, @Deb Yarian.

We'd be blessed to have more input from you. Was getting tattooed this weekend and saw the so you want to be a tattooer book and fun was had by all reading it.

I wanted to apologize and give an explanation about something that has been bothering me.
I realize my presence here has been quite scarce in recent months, nonexistent, really.
When this forum first began, I was excited to participate- as there was not another forum that I wished to be part of. So, I looked forward to being a part of this one.
In the beginning I enjoyed the, forum, blogs, interviews and participants and online comeraderie of both tattooists and non tattooists alike. But, what I found happening after awhile, was that my replies and responses were very often, and increasingly defensive and hostile. So,moderators- for that I apologize.
I should have found a way to communicate my thoughts and opinions ( as a tattooer of 30 yrs + ) to tattooers and non tattooers alike.
Looking forward to participating again
Thanks

NEW SAINT VITUS RULESSSSSSSSSSS....doooooooooooooooooooooooommmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

My HOT jamns for the week

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YB2gsoiPNC0

The real thing that upsets me o is if the kid really wanted it and some asshole tells them they cant do it it just makes the kid feel like crap. Its not really about the world of tattooing here for me, more about the children. FOR GOD SAKE WILL SOMEONE THINK OF THE CHILDREN!!!!!!!!!

It was never easy for me. I was born a poor black child.

I hope Greg Christian makes it through for the Austin show in January- I'd love to have him do the other side of my chest.

I agree with the school - if we don't mention tattoos or educate them about tattoos, the kids will simply forget about tattoos. Banning sex education has reduced pregnancy why wouldn't it work for tattoos? Remember - ignorance is power!!!

The real thing that upsets me o is if the kid really wanted it and some asshole tells them they cant do it it just makes the kid feel like crap. Its not really about the world of tattooing here for me, more about the children. FOR GOD SAKE WILL SOMEONE THINK OF THE CHILDREN!!!!!!!!!

More roses? Or just small Mike Malone flash?
And if all else fails, Black Flag bars. Eight of em!

rottys and leonbergers are my favorites. They so big and sweet and can eat you if you forget to feed them.

The real thing that upsets me o is if the kid really wanted it and some asshole tells them they cant do it it just makes the kid feel like crap. Its not really about the world of tattooing here for me, more about the children. FOR GOD SAKE WILL SOMEONE THINK OF THE CHILDREN!!!!!!!!!

Thanks. He was posting his sketch, him tattoing me, and the final piece on Instragram. It was a great experience for me, and I came out of it with more than I expected. I know this is more of a traditional tattoo forum, but I'm OK posting here. Personally a bulk of the traditional tattoo work is not my style, but I've always appreciated a good tattoo regardless of it's genre, and I've seen some awesome traditional work here in my short time in this forum.
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Being from Boston, I only travelled to Columbus because once I had chosen Gunnar I had to go where he was. I'm now looking into getting something added to my eagle, and currently am looking into Russ Abbott who will be guest spotting next year in my neck of the woods. I really don't want to travel again because that added a lot of cost to an already expensive piece.
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As a side note to my Gunnar piece, here's the tattoo surrounded by the three drawings I did that I gave Gunnar as my "concept"

I'm at work right now and can't watch this, but is this such a bad thing? Seems to me that if people want to tattoo they'll figure it out (maybe the proper way with an apprenticeship, maybe not) but there's no good reason to encourage people to tattoo.

Terrible feeling.

Some killer stuff in here!

for perspective:

Done by Greg Christian while he was in NYC at Wooster St Social Club
I had made this appt a while ago and was really looking forward to it. Thought for sure it would get canceled after the Hurricane happened and flooded the city, leaving downtown Manhattan without power all week. Luckily, Greg made it to NYC last minute and I got this tattoo from him a day after the power came back on. It was a really cool ending to a very shitty week. Very fortunate.

November Tattoo Of The Month thread material :D

Rottweilers get no love? Some of the best