Avery Taylor

You can't nail him down because so many people have nailed him up on a tattoo cross.

Today, the grieving mother and sister of one of my son's friends came in to my shop.
The friend, a 17 year old, recently died as a result of alcohol consumption.
They are returning tomorrow to get tattooed. Like so many customers before them, coming not only to memorialize their loved one- but I believe to experience a physical pain, a sacrifice for the one they lost.
I mention this because after they left I was thinking that i was glad that we could help them.
I have recently posted here in regards to the newest reality show, NY Ink and in regards to tattoo magazines in general. I was vocal about not wanting to watch , let alone read what led one to get tattooed and the drama and often gratuitous display of emotion that goes with the explanation. Didn't someone say " oh another dead child in the first
episode".
So after their visit today and thinking about it I realized what it is about the media and their focus on tattooing that bothers me, actually offends me.
it's the intrusion in to my life, in to my business! It sensationalizes and trivializes at the same time. It turns a tattooer into a caricature of one -see Corey Miller in LA Ink prompting the character "oh, that must have been terrible, how did that make you feel?" (nothing against Corey) just tv Corey.
It makes what was once private, public. What was once secret or mysterious- familiar.
Really, I don't resent my clients and their need for meaning in their tattoos, and I'm more than a little honored that they choose me to help them preserve the memory of someone they lost.
It just translates so differently on TV.
Alright, I'm losing my train of thought.
That's my two cents.

I know that people will hate me for saying this, but I will anyway. I feel sorry for Kat Von D. To me she is exactly what reality tv producers look for. An extremely insecure (bordering on mentally ill) person that outwardly appears to be confident and uncaring of what others think. Gordon Ramsay, the cast of any of the Real World MTV, Jersey Shore, the Kardashians, etc...
These people are perfect because they can be easily lead by anyone that compliments them and validates their behavior. The producers take the most extreme parts of their personality and manipulate them into making that their whole personality. They then ride the person into the ground. It reminds me of the scene in True Grit where they ride the horse until it dies.
My guess is that tattooing will survive this period in its long history, but Kat Von D will not. She will be used up by the producers and the advertisers, and left for dead like that horse in True Grit. Then she will turn back to tattooing and find out that it has abandoned her as well.
I'm not saying that she does not deserve this. I'm not really sure what she deserves on either side of the coin, but I will say this. It is all very sad to me. I was getting tattooed at True Tattoo before anyone there was on TV, and it was a fun place to be. My memories of Kat are of a young girl that really looked up to Tim and Chris, and was becoming a pretty good tattooer herself. I don't have a lot or respect for the decisions she has made since that time, but I also do not think that she is completely to blame.

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This thing is fucking great. I think that it is as perfect of a tattoo as I have ever seen. I know that Nick is on this forum so I hope that he doesn't mind me posting this link here.

I agree with Stewart. I check out this kid's blog, and I enjoy it, but this tattoo really bugs me. I will say that since the kid that has this has a face full of tattoos, the tiresome explanation of tattoos is already a big part of his life.

I agree with Stewart. I check out this kid's blog, and I enjoy it, but this tattoo really bugs me. I will say that since the kid that has this has a face full of tattoos, the tiresome explanation of tattoos is already a big part of his life.

Derrick Snodgrass and Jason Mcaffe. Both of those dudes make great tattoos and they seem to be able to work in any style.

i've hung out with mike before, am a fan of his graffiti and drawings, have nothing against the guy, but...his tattoos are awful. his style doesn't translate well to the body at all and he has no real concept of tattoo design and it seems no intention of learning how to correctly design tattoos and execute them well. it seems that the main reason people want tattoos from him is they are fans of his other artwork. you're better off buying a print or drawing i think.
i also read that interview where he says flat-out that the clothing label pays him more so he quit tattooing. pretty fucking lame. but, to each their own. we all pay our own bills in the end.

Bolohead if you are happy with this tattoo ,then that is all that matters.
As journeymen, skilled craftsmen in the trade of tattooing we look at tattoos from a technical standpoint.
You must have looked through the portfolio of the person that did your design, prior to getting the tattoo, and chose to get it.
My only recommendation is to leave it as it is.

I think that a lot of the tattooers with the longest waits are the ones that do mostly large scale work. If someone is getting tattooed by Mike Rubendall (Chris Trevino, Mike Roper, etc..) then it is probably going to be a large piece that takes multiple sessions, and that person books multiple appointments. This means that one person's tattoo takes up a lot of that tattooers time so they end up tattooing less people. On the other side of things the dudes at Smith Street do mostly one shot tattoos, and are not booked out for years in advanced.
Personally I would never book an appointment more than six months in advance, unless it was based on travel.

Did the upside down, red script say "Ink"?

Here are a couple of Brooks daggers I found online. I am in agreement with Bart on all points.

I think that a lot of the tattooers with the longest waits are the ones that do mostly large scale work. If someone is getting tattooed by Mike Rubendall (Chris Trevino, Mike Roper, etc..) then it is probably going to be a large piece that takes multiple sessions, and that person books multiple appointments. This means that one person's tattoo takes up a lot of that tattooers time so they end up tattooing less people. On the other side of things the dudes at Smith Street do mostly one shot tattoos, and are not booked out for years in advanced.
Personally I would never book an appointment more than six months in advance, unless it was based on travel.

My wife and I just booked with Stuart Cripwell. We are stoked!

here's the back of my legs by Scott. there's some stretch marks from when I couldn't walk for 4 months and my legs shrunk down

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This thing is fucking great. I think that it is as perfect of a tattoo as I have ever seen. I know that Nick is on this forum so I hope that he doesn't mind me posting this link here.

Did the upside down, red script say "Ink"?

Did the upside down, red script say "Ink"?

Did the upside down, red script say "Ink"?

Here is a video that I found on Marcus's Facebook.

I know that people will hate me for saying this, but I will anyway. I feel sorry for Kat Von D. To me she is exactly what reality tv producers look for. An extremely insecure (bordering on mentally ill) person that outwardly appears to be confident and uncaring of what others think. Gordon Ramsay, the cast of any of the Real World MTV, Jersey Shore, the Kardashians, etc...
These people are perfect because they can be easily lead by anyone that compliments them and validates their behavior. The producers take the most extreme parts of their personality and manipulate them into making that their whole personality. They then ride the person into the ground. It reminds me of the scene in True Grit where they ride the horse until it dies.
My guess is that tattooing will survive this period in its long history, but Kat Von D will not. She will be used up by the producers and the advertisers, and left for dead like that horse in True Grit. Then she will turn back to tattooing and find out that it has abandoned her as well.
I'm not saying that she does not deserve this. I'm not really sure what she deserves on either side of the coin, but I will say this. It is all very sad to me. I was getting tattooed at True Tattoo before anyone there was on TV, and it was a fun place to be. My memories of Kat are of a young girl that really looked up to Tim and Chris, and was becoming a pretty good tattooer herself. I don't have a lot or respect for the decisions she has made since that time, but I also do not think that she is completely to blame.

Wanted to share my torso piece, I don't have a pic right now of it finished, but this session was the 2nd to last before we did everything else. This was done by Nick Ley, and we plan on doing background on my ribs and fill up toward my shoulders in 2 months. We started this piece back in 2007, finished it 2010.

Smith Street in Brooklyn. I think that Chad Koeplinger is there this weekend as well as the rest of the guys. Also Derrick Snodgrass is at Flyrite. Virginia Elwood NY Adorned. Sarah Schor Kings Ave.

Smith Street in Brooklyn. I think that Chad Koeplinger is there this weekend as well as the rest of the guys. Also Derrick Snodgrass is at Flyrite. Virginia Elwood NY Adorned. Sarah Schor Kings Ave.

I think that a lot of the tattooers with the longest waits are the ones that do mostly large scale work. If someone is getting tattooed by Mike Rubendall (Chris Trevino, Mike Roper, etc..) then it is probably going to be a large piece that takes multiple sessions, and that person books multiple appointments. This means that one person's tattoo takes up a lot of that tattooers time so they end up tattooing less people. On the other side of things the dudes at Smith Street do mostly one shot tattoos, and are not booked out for years in advanced.
Personally I would never book an appointment more than six months in advance, unless it was based on travel.