Abellve

A lot of good input here that I think the people on the receiving end could use. I for one think so much of the trend in realism or turning your nose up at convention and tradition comes from the "look what I can do" mindset when really, it should be, "look what I can offer you" a lot of new school/no school tattooers are so caught up in their own abilities that he guidelines learned through decades of experienced tradesmen before us are seen as an obstruction when they are really the path. A tattoo that only looks good now is about the tattoo artist, one that looks good 5, 15, 30 years later is about the client. I want my work to look good long after my client has forgotten my name.

Uniforms? Hell no. At our shop we all know what we're there to do and are actually trusted to dress ourselves. We're professionals. Our shop stresses customer service too...in cleanliness, demeanor and quality. Hell I've walked customers to their cars when they're scared at night...but no, never a uniform. Frankly, I think uniforms set up an us-and-them vibe and a shop is the last place that needs to be . I'm as likely to wear a Blitz tshirt as a Penguin button down but either way, clean and in good repair and buttoned so it doesn't drag across my tray when reaching for things. Also, our front person acknowledges every client when they walk in, then let's them to it. They know who to talk to. The Rollo remark is dead on. People cry about how no one takes us seriously but show up stinking in a dumpsterdweller costume. That's not usually "that guy's" only problem. Chances are if you show up to work at our shop looking like your clothes came from a rag bag, we're not going to have a sit-down about your clothes but respect and your approach to work.

I remember when I was doing my first tattoos early in my apprenticeship, Joe was looking over my shoulder. He and my mentor are friends. I can say this -- he's definitely a competent and vocal judge of tattoos and the people doing them. He knows his stuff in an objective sense. I am bummed to see him tied to this show. I personally find it unwatchable but they've obviously chosen people based on their appeal to the reality/drama crowd. They all say the same thing..."I've been tattooing for 2 years, it just kinda fell into my lap." right, so you've been tattooing since it blew up and someone with more love for money than tattooing gave you an "apprenticeship". If you've been tattooing for 2 years, stop chasing a camera and do the job. There's a toilet that needs to be cleaned, a floor to be vacuumed and those roses and finger waves aren't going to draw themselves. Perfect your craft. These people don't give a shit about being *good* at tattooing, they want to be *known* for tattooing. Best...pssh.

Here's some that I've done. I don't get into the studio much but I hope to soon and will explore a new direction. All ideas and no time right now. Intaglio prints onto rice paper. I made this for my wife. It's of the antique schooner we sailed on on Maine. This one seems relevant these days...painted just over four years ago.

I love the people that say, "I don't care what you cover it with -- anything -- just make this _______ go away!" then I suggest something and they turn their nose up at it...obviously you care so speak up! I'm not talking craziness like a bowling ball on top of a suitcase either. I mean a rose or something. I tend to tell people to pick a few things they'd get if they had fresh skin there and I'll choose the most workable option or elements that their choices suggest. Then I tell them to expect to go bigger than the tattoo and be open to interpretation because it doesn't just have to look good, it has to look good and cover. I hate coverups that look like coverups.

Hahahaha!

I wondered the same thing.

There's definitely some good examples of healed palms on that thread. This board has a higher caliber of artists than you'll find just bumping around locally too. I didn't intend to sound overly negative. It was that the poster came across as saying if you're good you can do it. I'm just saying we all heal differently and there's a greatly increased likelihood with that spot that it won't hold up. No artist is in control of another person's physiological variables.

Not necessarily true. The best artists in the world can't contend with the limitations of the human body. Some areas are resistant to being tattooed and some will downright fight the tattooing/healing process all the way. That certainly doesn't mean it can't or shouldn't be done. That's anybody's call. Certainly, you'll find...ahem...a handful of well healed palm tattoos but it's case to case on how it's gonna work out and you won't know til you've gotten it. My approach is to tell my clients plainly that it's prone to falling out (it would be a disservice not to) and that I can't guarantee it like my other work. If they know going into it it is likely to fall out and maintenance is going to happen to give it it's best shot at a solid heal, I've got an informed client on my hands and will respect their ability to make an informed decision...but respect the fact that some tattooers don't want to invest their time and reputation into what could very well end up looking like a handful of dirty specks. Find an artist who is both a good fit for your design artistically *and* a particularly good technician and explain that you understand and accept the low success rate and are willing to keep working at it if need be and hope for the best. Also, keep the design simple and bold. Subtlety is likely to be the first thing to go. Fwiw, I've been tattooing for over 11 years and have experience with most parts of the body. ...and welcome to the forum.

It's a shame so many people have traded in their roots for ratings but the core still exists. I look forward to your contribution to this forum, both the art and the intangible. I hope the young and new ones to this trade will pull up a seat and pay attention.

What the?!? It is all too much.

Nice! Those featherbed frames are so roomy you can drop just about anything into them. I'd love to build up a proper cafe racer...but then those low bars and rear sets are the last thing my back needs. When you get it started, drop by britbike.com. There's a lot of knowledge on that board...then post pics!

Those are amazing! I love the one with the wolf. Here's one that's in progress. He told me I could do whatever I wanted. I decided on a girl head...of sorts.

I swear I won't post every hand tattoo I do but here's a recent favorite of mine. This kid was born to be tattooed. I could tattoo him all day...and Ihave.

I've found that for me (and we all know it's different for everyone) typically the outline hurts more but on the worst tattoos, the shading is worse. I don't know why but that's my experience.

Absolutely. I had not heard of this but you are right. This is bad all around but Blick doesn't owe tattooing the debt that someone making money from inside the industry does. Our relationship with tattooing is supposed to be symbiotic but now it's gone one-way for so many people that it'll be sucked dry -- for all of us. And our relationship with outside industry should be limited, cautious and beneficial to our craft. I've bought from them a lot, but will not now and intend to contact both companies.

@hogg and @UrsulaThomson -- wow, those are some well healed elbow tattoos. Here's one I did on our front person. Healed, about a year old. All I have is a cellphone picture he sent me.

Sid Stankovits and a few of his artists

I'm a Christian but generally separate myself from the church. I think you have to these days. I believe in God more than in His people and feel like, collectively, they don't necessarily represent Him, much less me. For example, I don't want to be lumped in with homophobes, bigots and warmongers or have them speak for me. Sorry for the mini-rant but it's a distinction worth making these days. To bring it around to tattoos, I'm fortunate enough to work for/with people who know what I'm about. I'm happy to do tattoos for people that represent other faiths/religions or even darkness and evil, but I don't do anything overtly sacrilegious/antichristian. I celebrate people's ability to get what they want but they won't get it from me. I'll pass it on to my coworker if I'm not into it. I just don't want to make my money doing things that go directly against me or my beliefs like upside-down crosses or Baphomet pentagrams, for example. I hope this doesn't start a debate about imagery. I just do what I can feel good about at the end of the day.

Thanks, @JAllen. I didn't know if it was just the era. I had never considered a more sailor-specific connection.

@Dude: Yeah, that's probably the one I'll get tattooed on me. Both for its symbolism and it's being so central to my early tattoo experience, I can't not get a Rock of Ages and I think the darker and more somber, the better. Despite its lighter iterations, it's a pretty weighty image.

Nice. I guess a third of my life spent in this trade hasn't taught me much. I'll leave this to you experts.

Maybe if all you want to do is learn the art aspect of it while damaging the trade and a long line of victims, you're onto something. The cool thing about learning to paint is that all your mistakes end up in the trash. They don't get seen, much less affect someon'e life...and tattooing is not just an art, not just another medium in your ArtBin. There are plenty of artists (and people who fancy themselves artists) who don't much to offer of benefit to the craft and it's suffering for their indulging themselves. Funny, the forum guidelines say it's not cool to ask how to break into tattooing -- but to tell someone the way you made up in your head and call it a "thought experiment"...sure, why not?

This is not intended to be learned outside of an apprenticeship. Are there a few exceptions? Sure but they are rarities and not part of the conversation. That's what makes them exceptions. Everybody points out the one in a million as if it applies to them. Tattooing is learned through an apprenticeship for a few reasons. There is no other/better way to learn the subtleties and necessities of our business/art/craft/way of living. So much of what you need to know, the vast and overwhelming majority, cannot be learned on a forum, in a stack of books or...gasp...even in a course lasting a few weeks. Hell, I've known people who were actually decent at the tattooing part but still had no business being in the industry -- because there's more to it than that. Just like (since weak comparisons abound) being able to cook doesn't make you a restauranteur. So much of it is about shop conduct, problem solving, decision making and intangible attributes unique to tattooing. Another reason to pass through an apprenticeship is...because we say so. That's how it is designed to work. Who gets to determine the fate and direction of a trade if not the established tradesmen? It's not like wanting to do it is reason enough to be handed a shot. We don't need it to work for eveyone, it works for the craft. We've earned this and whether or not it seems fair to outsiders, part of that is earning our right to remain in it with our heads up by protecting it, often from those who don't respect it. People who are granted legit apprenticeships with qualified individuals are supposed to be few and far between and we reserve the right to be hostile to intruders in this house we've had a hand in building. Chances are if you are being turned down for an apprenticeship, there *is* a reason. Skill, attitude, locale, maybe you (the collective, nonspecific "you") are just a bad fit. If you feel these don't aplly, keep trying...in the way prescribed by the existing legitimate industry, but remember keep your standards hish and keep in mind -- It is the job of established tattooers (and I don't meant stars) to police the growth and protect this thing that is sacred to us, not to provide a "right" way in for everyone who wants to do this. ...and I'm amazed at all the people who will move across the country to study for a career in some other field, even study abroad but when it comes to tattooing, stall out at their city's border, throw their hands up and say, "I've asked everyone in town for an apprenticeship, time to buy some pigskins." @Ursula: It's not better or more important than other trades, just unique in its history and challenges. You can look around and see the result of a bloated industry being struck with bad legislation, bad press and hacks determining the viability, appearance and tattooing's outcome due to sheer volume. I genuinely believe everyone or almost everyone here respects what you and so many others do in your/their respective line of work -- speaking for myself, I do.