CultExciter

Magical thread. I am kinda glad it got revisited. Virginia born and raised. I grew up on a tobacco farm in southern Virginia right on the North Carolina border. Typical happy upbringing with really wonderful parents. I discovered skateboarding and punk rock and started playing in bands. I went off to college, got a degree in English, and moved to Philadelphia. Hated it and moved to Washington DC. I worked for the feds for a bit, but ultimately went back to school and studied communication design. Now I live in the mountain town of Harrisonburg, Virginia where I work for an e-commerce company. I've been getting tattooed since I was 19, I'm 31 now. Over the past 12 years my passion for tattoos (and tattooing in general) obviously just kept growing. It's the most important thing in the world to me. In January I was offered an apprenticeship working with someone I greatly respect (I say offered, but I had to put myself out there). So now, I'm working my day job and spending all my spare time at the shop, and drawing, and getting tattooed, and drawing. You get the picture.

Such a tease @Bunny Switchblade, we want pics! - - - Updated - - - It looks like you were at his studio, that place is so nice.

@Avery Taylor incredible. One of my best friends and coworkers moved here from Seattle, and he has amazing work from Matt. I need to jump on this boat.

i am anxiously awaiting the statik selektah "extended play" record on vinyl. i need to go ahead and buy run the jewels on vinyl as well.

Haha. Attract mates, repel rivals/deter foes. This is my seat!

I'm gonna add, I'm so glad I don't have to pick just one.

This is a tough one. But I'd have to go with Andrew Conner. He's immensely slept on but that keeps him incredibly accessible. He's a great friend, artist, and intellectual and he never ceases to amaze me with his creativity. Plus he has a soft hand and that rules when you're getting tattooed for hours. Close second would be Matt Brotka.

Typically this: Amazon.com: Krylon 6-Ounce Crystal Clear Acrylic Coating Aerosol Spray: Arts, Crafts & Sewing Sometimes a glaze: Amazon.com: Design Master 11-Ounce Surface Treatment Aerosol Spray, Dresden Clear Glaze: Arts, Crafts & Sewing Most of this should be at you local art store, or worse, Michaels.

@cltattooing I've noticed that after I clear coat things a lot of the stains and areas that bleed a little are not as noticeable. And they most surely are not noticeable by most people other than ourselves. My mentor constantly tells me that with doing paintings, just keeping at it. Apparently progress isn't an overnight thing.

pretty dang clean @cltattooing

Tattoo Shop Reviews | Last Sparrow Tattoo

He's a gem. Truly.

LST is always 5 clicks away from Hitler, like Wikipedia.

@Rob I that snake makes me think of this: Very rad!

I wish I was able to, but I'll be in the tattoo shop scrubbing tubes.

That sure is pretty. I love Jensen frames.

Yeah, that and Eleven Fourteen are on my piggy bank save up list.

Not literature, but I just purchased Nick and Cody's Flash 400 and Scott's Rose Design book. I'm kinda stoked. Thanks for the click'n'ship @steve1461686340

Forego the tree and get Jason Brooks to do a phoenix. Like...your whole back. :) In all seriousness, welcome, and I hope you find this forum useful.

Mike is a real nice guy. I'd definitely recommend getting something from him.

Bivetto rules! @jayessebee has numerous tattoos from him. He was working at Tantrum Tattoo in Petersburg, Virginia (my birthplace!) with George Archer.

I was going to write Chris Lain in here, but saw that @Avery Taylor beat me to it, like 2 years ago.

I'm jealous. Jason is one of my favorite tattooers.

Well, I've been running, and shedding a little bit of the layers that I let pile up during my second time through university and desk-monkeying. I'm running my first marathon in Richmond in November, I'm gonna find a way to weasel a little banger from Mike Adams the same day.

@Delicious, who is Dave Gibson? My dear, you met a legend.