Anisya

Americans are bigger, that is one of the obvious, stereotypical thing one notices straight away. I don't live in the States but as for the food in the UK, comparing to W. European food, I can only say that I've gained 10kg in 2 weeks after coming to the UK. Honest I haven't changed what and how much I ate, the same types of food carrie so much more calories in here because it is produced with all sorts of unhealthy ingredients! Even salads are made with mayo! I think USA might be even worse. There is nothing in ready meal section I can eat. I suppose I'd be starving in the US....

Ha ha! here's something from those parts of the world: Traditional Croatian tattoos: Flickr: croatiantattoo's Photostream I don't see any guy getting those though, women only!

'Our lives are in God's hands' is depicted in the following way: I am not religious myself but if I wanted a tattoo of the psalm you've mentioned I would make it symbolic using this image (or some customization of it) with the number 66:9 somewhere.

Agreed. I didn't know what hipsters were either, but now I can honestly say that not only some of the students but also some of the tutors at my Uni (Manchester, Media City UK) are of the hipster kind. Some are my friends though, so it makes me vulnerable to their logic....

P.S. I just wanted to add that I despise the attention seeking behaviour of so called 'celebrities' but I can't pretend not to like the look of Rob G. You can hate me for it but there is just something magnetic about him....

Well, yeah, kinda obvious. This is why it is soo pathetic.

I'd just add this guy to the many stupid idiots who want to be famous. Getting tattooed is the the only way for them to get some attention, apparently... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9Bpyzo4eXU&feature=youtube_gdata_player It's not even funny...just stupid

The shape, the colours, the energy. Amazing. I definitely want one too.

BTW I just found Horiyoshi III app and 100 Demons (also Horiyoshi III). There is one with Sailor Jerry's flash too.

"I think tattooing is the great art of piracy...it's a totally bastardised art. Tattoo artists have always taken images from anything available that customers might want to have tattooed on them. Ed Hardy "Memoirs of a Tattooist"

I am all for it! It's so amazing I found this forum actually, if you think about it I am like a 5 year old child as I have been ignorant most of my life (coming from where I come from, no roots, nothing to build on when it comes to tattoo art and history) I learn fast though. So yeah, teach me please! Ritchie Clark is top of my list now as Liverpool is close enough to make as many visits to the shop as I need. And nice of you all to reply, though the original thread was kinda stupid, thanks @kylegrey @David Flores @Ursula @JAllen. And as the issue of owning the art goes I think I might still be in a different mind set. I love art. I love to have it though I can't afford too much of it. I have apps that are galleries of art. Books, networking sites and such....but I am not so sure anymore that it would have any sense to own flash....or to make an app of it. But I'll check Hardymarks. Yeah.

Hi, I'm quite new here as well and share the same problem- I'm broke at the moment and my 'tattoo fund' is growing so slowly...gives me time to get some info I suppose. I need two cover-ups and also I want a tiger on my tigh, already forund a design I love thanks to the contributors on this forum! Good luck!

Well, I thought about buying whole books, yeah. But to buy them all is a bit much. And yeah, I don't know why I want them so much. But I want the real thing- to buy from the artist who created the design. I suppose I am the only person in the world with a desire like that....can't blame you for being confused, I confuse the hell out of myself sometimes....

Thanks @Gregor. As we are on the subject of North West UK, any opinions about Forever True Tattoo studio in Liverpool? forevertruetattoo.co.uk One of my friends loves this guy and gets regular tattoos from him so I'm planning to pay them a visit too.

Not sure about his celebrity status, I'm easily intimidated ;)

The first two quote exactly what I will never do. Maybe I'm crazy but there is just something so wrong with that... Second, I'm Eastern European who emigrated to the UK, no US consulat will give me a visa as I have 'no ties to the country' so they'll think I am planning to stay in the US illegally, meaning forever (and it is not exaggeration, it is true). And yes, Frith Street is first on my list. And I get your point, all of your points. Mostly agree. Still want to own flash designs as a customer, tattoo enthusiast. And I want to pay for them, not steal the designs off the net.

Just realised that the whole idea could be simplified by just saying 'I wish I could buy single designs off flash sheets featured on Tattoo Elite International' without buying a whole book. What would I do with a book anyway?...but hell I want to own some of those and get them done! And I realise it is exactly the opposite to what a tattoo artist wants to hear but I like some of the designs exactly as they are and wouldn't want to have them customised too much. Does it make sense? And I know where I'd like to have them.... I know for certain I will never get a tattoo in the USA as no one will give me a visa, but I still want to have a design made by Tim Lehi...so yeah, I want this to happen....though I know it never will...

I was thinking more in the likes of Behance network combined with Society 6, where I could browse good flash designs and look through artists profiles. If I liked something I could buy it, see how it looks on me. I can agree with @Lochlan that there is nothing that could replace going to a tattoo shop but having access to some really good design options beforehand would be great in my humble opinion. And yes, you are right that the flash available online in useless and that is another reason why I would like real artists to make their designs available to browse through by tattoo lovers. Although taking into consideration the average persons tastes and copyright issues it might not work in a real world. Shame though. I'd still like to have this app if it existed.

Yeah, you're right. The problem is that none of those apps is usable if you are really thinking of getting a tattoo. The designs are useless.

Ok, this might be the stupidest idea I've ever had, but I'll post it anyway: What if there was an app allowing people to 'try on' tattoo designs? Like taking a picture of themselves or part of their body and blending a flash design with it to see yourself with a tattoo. The art would be available to buy once you've decided which design you like most. I know it sounds odd and childish but think about it. People would have a chance to get to know the flash creators and buy their favourite design and then take it to their trusted tattoo artist to get it done. Others might simply just browse through flash art or post the 'how would I look with a tattoo' pictures. Is this like totally insane idea or would you consider selling your art in this way? I know people can already find a lot of designs online and print them without paying but I wouldn't personally do that. If there was an app like that I'd be playing with it all the time, though.... Thoughts?

And this anonymous claims to be tattooing for over two years....

Have you seen this? I Heart Chaos — Is this man the worst professional tattoo artist ever?

@StewartRobson @CultExciter @dooktruck @JAllen And that is excatly why I love this forum. No mindless chit-chat but real conversations. Thank You all. Since it was me who derailed this thread I hope this will get it back on track:

@JAllen,Oh no, I am not a graphic designer. I study Sound and Video Technology. It includes producing animated graphics and captions, subtitles and such. I am constantly around frustrated people who worked, work or will work in 'media'. And that includes graphic designers (students, lectureres and professionals). There is a lot of grief and a lot of complains....that is why I thought it might be the reason someone would have a Helvetica tattoo....but it seems he might have got it out of love.... Oh, we all watched this film and several other documentaries during lectures, but I am glad you posted it here. And I am taking your advice on board, I am on this blog to learn something, like it or not but you are educating a newbie.