Stewart Robson

Maybe I should clarify my point regarding not getting tattoos because of employment: "If you have to ask why, you are not ready to understand." That's a world away from understanding what you do and living with the consequences. Most of us here have made that choice. It's still surprising how many students studying for white collar careers ask for very visible tattoos. They whine about how unfair the world is and that the tattoos don't hinder their performance, yadda, yadda, yawn. That still doesn't change the fact that many will, at best, be passed over for a promotion because of their tattoos. If you decide to shape your working life around your ability to get the tattoos you want, good for you. For many people, visible tattoos aren't everything. Their ability to have a job or career they enjoy or excel at, while sustaining their lifestyle and family, far outweighs a forearm or neck tattoo.

I have 3 "13" tattoos. Each tattooed by Valerie on a different Friday 13. 2 of them are the same as the ones other guys at the shop have. That time I was walking through the Tenderloin in SF and that crazy-looking, face-sleeve wearing, South American, gang-banging motherfucker was fucking staring at me across the street... I bet it wasn't because he could see the three small number 13's, between the tattoos on my arms, under my shirt and jacket. I've never been mistaken for a member of a South American gang because of my tattoos. As a side note, friends of mine with finger tattoos and visible lettering have been asked, by airport security, about gang activity when visiting the States.

At work, when people ask why their tattoos will make their chances of employment/promotion more difficult, I tell them that they shouldn't get the tattoo. It's a fact of life that not everyone likes tattoos. Some people who don't like tattoos REALLY don't like them. Wether you think thats wrong or right is of no consequence to the way they feel. There are plenty of places on your body to get tattooed that are not visible even with short/no sleeves and shorts.

I forgot to add swallows/bluebirds - total classics in just about any style.

Always tigers, roses, fudo myoo, Raijin & Fujin, japanese dragons, pre-1980s japanese bodysuits, daggers, skulls, pretty girls, well-drawn lettering, good black & grey portraits etc. But right now its old Japanese bodysuits with no animals or birds, just peonies, blossom or chrysanthemums and a large deity backpiece. - Blows my fucking mind.

This sounds great. A few of the guys from Frith Street will be there, but Valerie and I will be working in Bruges, Belgium that weekend. We will visit the museum for sure in the future.

Check out Duncan X Thomas Hooper has done some similar stuff too, although often with finer detail and some grey shading.

For me the difference with the interviews here at LST are that they seem to be by tattooers, for tattooers. They are not for onlookers with a casual interest in tattooing. Not to mention the intimate and respectful relationship between the interviewer and subject has allowed the interviews to touch on areas normally untapped in tattooer interviews. I think these things make the interviews unique and hugely more interesting than most interviews. If an hour is too long for some of the very interesting subjects and views in the videos here, that says more about your attention span than the quality of the interview. 30-60 minutes with some of the most insightful, inspirational and respected figures in tattooing? yes please. 10 tabloid questions with a distracted feel and minimal research into the subject? good luck.

While it's probably a total bummer for clients, it's often necessary to be flexible when getting tattooed by traveling tattooers or at conventions. Things can get pretty crazy for us. "Private studio in Brooklyn" doesn't sound sketchy to me. I've been tattooed like that, in Brooklyn too. It was awesome and I got one of my favourite tattoos that way. It seems fairly common for New York tattooers to have a private space. It may seem obvious, but make sure any email correspondence is from the same address. It's confusing as hell to get emails from different addresses or particularly addresses of family members.

Tim was fully booked at the London convention recently. Also he took appointments at Frith Street. Obviously he got booked solid fairly quickly, but the moral to the story is not to presume. Whoever you want to get tattooed by, it's often better to ask or to call whatever shop you want to get tattooed at. It's surprising how quickly you can get an accurate answer that way. Weeks of speculation on the internet doesn't help anyone, it just passes the time...

Yeah, Woody does tattoos, but he's more of a cartoonist. The interviewer isn't the only twat in the frame. So a famously publicity hungry tattooer, who's notoriously fond of gimmicks invests in a super-deluxe tattoo removal lazer. Because he had virtually no tattoos already, he tattoos deliberately inflammatory statements on himself then does a photo shoot and speaks to every interviewer who'll listen. No prizes for guessing what publicity grabbing event happens next... Yeah, this is the same tattooer who called a client and offered to tattoo the Jacko arrest photo with the words "Peado Cunt" FOR FREE. Although the client was a fool to accept the offer, he was a young student with little money who liked tattoos. Who, in that situation would refuse a funny, free tattoo? That client has since had a massive coverup of a traditional eagle. Woody also tattoos drunk metalheads for free at the UK Download festival. I'm a tattooer. Woody does tattoos. We are not doing the same thing. Irresponsible is the kindest thing I can say about his work and work ethic.

This thread got really boring really quickly.

@asradin touché! A pile of reference, thumbnails sketches and red wine later, I haven't ruled out that possibility. I'm stoked though.

@asradin: I guess I should finish drawing it instead of making posts on forums then....

@Johnny, dude, just get a tattoo. Don't presume just because a tattooer is well known or 'famous' that they are expensive. Shitty tattooers can be expensive too. You'll waste hours of your life taking to strangers on the internet but you won't travel 4 hours to get a world-class tattoo? Like the saying goes "Everyone gets the tattoo they deserve." (Yes, I have shitty tattoos too) Really there isn't a 'secret name' we all call you. There is no 'tattoo community' that once you're inside, everything is different. You'll just be the same dude but with a tattoo. Enjoy it. Heavy tattoo coverage of good quality, well that's a different thing entirely. Until you get tattooed, I'll always think of you as a tourist. I appreciate tattoos and tattooing are interesting, but they are our lives. Not just something we spend a lot of time pursuing but the foundation of our lives. The difference with tattooing is when you find a new 'obsession', your tattoo, that you didn't want to pay too much for, will still be there. Try not to confuse procrastination with research. Some of the best things about having tattoos are actually wearing them, being a tattooed person. No amount of research will give you that.

There is, but we can't tell you until you get tattooed. @Johnny, you are in Florida, right? Mike Wilson is in Florida. There's a good chance that your some of your favourite tattooers get tattooed by him. One of my customers just got a tattoo from him while visiting Florida. I got a tattoo from him a few years ago, much to the annoyance of the other guys I work with. Mike works at Inksmith & Rogers in Jacksonville. But the bigger question is: Why do you care so much what internet tattoo snobs think about the tattoo you get? Just get a tattoo from someone who's work you like. We all have tattoos we love that other people don't think so much of. Having a tattoo is way more important than wishing for the perfect design from the perfect person.

@Lance beat me to it. We both pretty much said the same thing.

@Johnny, I wouldn't say that there is a 'general feeling' in tattooing towards anything Japanese style. It's pretty much down to personal preference. Either way isn't better or worse, as long as it's well tattooed. There are many great tattooers (Japanese & Gaijin) who work in a Japanese influenced style that make things 'less Japanese'. Also there are tattooers in the west who's work follows tradition as strictly as their understanding will allow. Personally I prefer to base any Asian influenced tattoos on existing Asian art. Often Asian mythical animals are composed of specific, recognisable real animal parts. If you don't care how authentic it is, go hog-wild and add spiders legs or extra eyes if you want. Just remember the Phoenix is a globally recognised mythical creature. The Japanese way isn't the only way. Agin, it's personal preference. The trick is to find a tattooer who's approach suits your expectations.

@jade1955, @sleepy mel, Stoney called it "a bit of the old come-back". We put a few flakes of it in the black ink. Thanks guys, but I'm trying to maintain a reputation as a tough-guy asshole. You guys are ruining it for me.

Its something Scott Harrison would rather be doing to stretch marks.

I've known Matt for a good few years now and as much as I like him, I think it's a shame that he's becoming the 'spokesperson' for tattooed people. Part of me is pleased for him that he's found a way to make a living as a mostly respected academic/writer, even with visible tattoos. But I don't want a spokesperson, especially one who solely views the world from the halls of academe or maybe the fetish club. While I enjoy and agree with most of his writing, I can't help feeling I read it all somewhere before... maybe 15-20 years ago in TattooTime or International Tattoo Art when Shaw was editing. Ed Hardy already proved to the art world that tattooing wasn't just for sailors and whores. In an age of high-rating reality shows about tattooing with celebrity tattooers I don't think we need to justify tattooing to the 'mainstream' anymore. No matter how well written or researched it may be. Some of us want to take tattooing back underground, some of us want to take the high-profile ball and run with it. Whatever people do, it's gotta be more interesting than regurgitating the same tired articles. What's next? "Women can be tattooers too?" Yawn. As a side note, Mario Desa said (via twitter) recently "Those who call tattooing 'fine art' know nothing abut either."

Richard Pinch is a great tattooer. I think he's a nice man. Strange how people talk of him being 'difficult' or whatever without having tattoos from him. If you want to book your appointment months in advance and have someone draw you 3 coloured versions before you pay a deposit, Richard isn't for you. I imagine most tattooers aren't for you. If you don't mind getting up early and waiting in the shop for a world-class tattoo, Richard Pinch is perfect for you. I second Steven Wrigley at Irezumi in Glasgow, particularly if you are interested in the lineage of european tattooing. Steven's father was Terry Wrigley. Soap is a super-nice guy and would be stoked to tattoo you. Although it's not uncommon for people to travel from Scotland to London to get tattooed...

Hahaa! that's funny. I met a guy in SF a couple of years ago that had 30-40 year old swallows on his hands, tattooed in the same town I went to university in the North of England. I only know because I was the guy who asks strangers about their tattoos too. Also I knew he got tattooed in the UK because of the style and placement of the tattoos, they were awesome. I think it is different to show an educated or involved interest rather than a curious or voyeuristic one. I've got to see a load of awesome tattoos that way, not to mention meet friends of people I know. If it's the same cab driver I'm thinking of, He has an old bodysuit from Binnie. Also the guy in my gallery with the full back and legs is a London cab driver.

Tattoo conventions are packed full of ignorant and rude assholes. We just finished with the London show and because our helpers (and Valerie) are young, tattooed and good looking, cameras were clicking all weekend. The only people who asked permission of any sort were the people who wanted to come inside our booth or who wanted the girls to pose. Most people shot without flash but taking a photo of a girl's chest tattoo, 12 inches away from her face, with flash isn't cool. My gurning and obscene gestures in the background of douche's photos is a different matter. @ian, if you are not a dick, you'll be in the much-appreciated minority. It's a convention. Most people working expect to have pictures taken from a respectful distance. Convention visitors should remember that it's not an exhibition. Tattooers are not there for your amusement.

@NathanShearer, Frank was mentioned one page ago, by Iwar. It's terrifying how quickly Frank learns. I wish he would tattoo more and make music less. I like his tattoos and flash. Miles doesn't have an internet 'presence' other than the Frith Street website but he's been tattooing in and around London or Australia for 20 years. He was at IntoYou for quite a while. Eye-opening stories for sure. 99% of them not fit for the internet. ;)