Graeme

It's probably too much to ask, but I feel like the first and the last rule when it comes to this stuff should be DON'T BE A DICK.

Danny Rossiter is in Manchester and does really nice Japanese tattoos: Danny Rossiter | Rain City Tattoo Collective

Yeah, I know! So weird to see that. Way ahead of his time, I suppose.

I believe that came from @SeeSea and agreed on it being a really great observation. It made me think of a blog I came across a couple of years ago from a local (visual) artist who was kicked out of a tattoo apprenticeship after a day because he had no tattoos and didn't seem to even really want any. Putting aside all questions of why this guy was offered an apprenticeship in this first place, what struck me about the post, and why I still think of it, was the extent to which this guy seemed like a total egotistical jerk, like he felt he was entitled to put his art on people. Conversely, I also thought about that Vice interview with Mike Brown where he talks about mostly tattooing hibiscus flowers on tourists, because he's a tattooer and that's what people want. we need more Mike Browns and fewer art school douchebags.

I've been working on this painting for the past couple of months, and I think I'm finally calling this layer done and now I'll let it dry a bit and then glaze it. I'm really happy with this one, I feel it's the first painting I've done where I've felt like I'm starting to get a feel for oils and how they work and that I'm actually beginning to paint instead of drawing with paint, if that makes any sense. It isn't a great photo because of glare, etc., I'll try to take better ones when it's finished. It's 12" x 36" on canvas.

It will be with Dave Cummings from PSC Tattoo in Montreal.

@phickey GODDAMN!

@MrToby inner bicep is no fun at all. Really glad I have no more of those left. I'm getting a tiger fighting a snake, shoulders to back of thighs.

@MrToby give me a few days and I'm going to regret like hell saying this, but short tattoos almost seem like they would hurt more than long ones because the start of a tattoo always sucks before the endorphins kick in. The last tattoo I had was a small one on my calf, it took about an hour, and at the start of it I was like "why do I do this to myself, tattoos hurt!" because those first few lines are always awful. I am doubtlessly going to regret saying this because I start my back on Thursday. I visited the shop and saw the drawing for it today and it's amazing and I am super excited, but the plan for the first session seems pretty ambitious! It's going to be rad though, I'm super stoked on getting started and watching it come together. I'll post pictures after the first session.

Nice tattoos and you have some great ones lined up, welcome!

You ever see an old guy with his shirt off? Your chest is going to sag whether or not you lose that twenty pounds.

Those bats look super cool. Welcome!

@9Years Monga's tattoos are the coolest. What are you planning on getting from him?

@Mark Bee You are starting to scare the shit out of me because you're getting tattooed on your kneecap instead of on your back. What am I getting myself into next week?

Flag over armband for sure. I don't know to what extent you plan on getting tattooed, but a flag tattoo gives you a lot more options in terms of future tattoos because you'll be able to work more things around it, whereas with an armband you're bisecting that space and really limiting what else you can put on your arm.

Darcy Nutt at Chalice, dude. Her tattoos are bright, bold, colorful, and she's super versatile. If I was anywhere near Boise I'd get tattooed by her for sure.

John Joseph is unlikely to write a poem about his fixed gear bicycle though so he's cool. - - - Updated - - - Though if John Joseph wrote a song that was like "FIXED GEAR COMIN YOUR WAY" it would be hard as fuck.

It rules that he has lots of empty space on his chest but none on his face.

@Jack Wright Where in Spain are you? I just got tattooed at Aloha in Barcelona and I would enthusiastically recommend it.

You should have added that being a viking has nothing to do with how well-groomed your beard is, it's about HOW WELL YOU FIGHT. I wouldn't want one of these vegan milquetoasts having my back.

I'm almost tempted to disagree with #1 too. Maybe this guy was just pulling my leg, though I don't think so, but I know a local tattooer who says that swimming in salt water is great for a healing tattoo and that he learned this when he was tattooing in the Marquesas. He recently went down to Austin and got this incredible reaper with flames from Chris Trevino on the side of his stomach going up into his armpit and he said he went swimming in the Gulf of Mexico three or four days after getting tattooed, the scabs all washed off, and the thing healed up beautifully. I've seen it, the tattoo is bright, solid, an all-around exceptional tattoo. I wouldn't do it personally, but it seems to have worked for him.

Welcome! Where do you tattoo?

I got tattooed at Aloha Tattoos in Barcelona last week and one of the many cool things about that shop is that it's also a "tattoo art gallery" with lots of art and prints for sale. Currently they have an exhibition of Matt Bivetto's drawings, which are really fantastic and I wish I had the spare money to buy one of them (and/or get down to NYC and get tattooed by him). I did pick up this really cool print from El Carlo though: The website for La Cobra Negra is here: La Cobra Negra Tattoo Art Gallery — Home and they have a bunch of prints, originals, flash, sketchbooks, etc., for sale. There's a lot of really cool stuff there.

@JimmyS Any idea what you're going to get? I have that Myths, Gods, Legends book he did and there is so much awesome stuff in there. I know it's a long way off still, but I hope you'll keep us updated when you do start.

Welcome, and you should go to Chalice Tattoo in Boise. Boise Idaho Tattoos Chalice Tattoo Studio