Deb Yarian

hi!!

I'd like to hear your policies on deposits. I've had a rash of reschedules and no shows and i'm thinking of changing the way I do business. Thank you for your input and replies Deb

Ok, i'll give to proceeds of my next 5 book sales on here to Last Sparrow Send me a photo/ screen shot whatever of your $ 20 or $25- donation to Last Sparrow along w your address and i'll send you a copy of this - non instructional, satirically humorous book.

I 'll donate the sales $ from the next 5 copies of ( my non- instructional satirically humorous book) " So you want to be a tattoo artist?" But I first have to figure out how and where to post a pic again

good luck

Best of luck with this Stewart- Really loved watching the clips!!!

Genie of the West--- You make the assumption that I don't eat properly or excercise. I'm 5'2 --- I'd like to be taller, that's not going to happen. I had my thyroid surgically removed because of thyroid cancer and I must take medicine, which keeps me in a hypothyroid state. I will never be thin. That being said, we must work with what we have. If you want your tattoos to be as outstanding as possible, working with your skin color and tone, Then I suggest a clear easy to read design, in black- whatever the genre. And I will wear clothing that best suits my figure! Also, extreme as it may sound- on my husband's recent trip to a laser treatment practitioner,to remove a tattoo, they discussed the different settings necessary for light and dark skin tones. Laser treatments are available for evening out uneven skin, spots,blotches, vitiligo etc. perhaps laser treatments are a viable option for your darker areas, so that your tattoos will be more outstanding.

I'm@debyarian and @eaglerivertattoo on instagram. See you there

Genie of the West I know it's discouraging to not be able to get what you want and have it look the way you want it to look but that's life. I love high fashion and would love to wear sleek clothes and high heels - but i'm short and fat. So, I can wear them -- but they just won't look so good.

Yes Genie of the West, completely avoid black and gray fine line tattoos with lots of little details. Yes, just go for larger, distinctly shaped designs. If on the scale of white to black ,white being 1 and black being 10, your skin color is 8 and above--- I would not get any gray-just black. If your skin on different areas of your body is lighter, say a 6 - 7- then a brighter red might work or a blue. But that depends on what undertones your skin has--- reddish would tend to then cancel out the red etc.

My husband was a platoon sgt at Ft.Campbell till 97

My husband, Don, was in the army for 20 years. From 82-2002. He retired as an E-8 First Sergeant ( only one rank below E-9, the highest rank one can achieve as an enlisted man). By the early 90s he was fully sleeved, had his back, one side and numerous tattoos on his legs. He also began tattooing less than 1/2 way through his military career and worked both jobs, when able, till he retired from the service and only tattoos now. To my knowledge, he never had any issues and it didn't prevent him from rising in the ranks. I know that during the war in Iraq, the army relaxed it's standards to allow hand and neck tattoos, but has since reversed that. Much of our tattoo business is either army or air force- it hasn't changed much since I started tattooing, years ago.

Genie of the west-- You say that your tattoos raise up where your skin is the darkest, I think this may be because this is the part of your body that is exposed to the sun more often- perhaps? Over the years I have seen my own tattoos, as well as many of my clients tattoos raise up- could be the heat, the sun, irritation etc. But there are specific concerns when tattooing very dark skin.So you are not being paranoid. The tattoo does not lay on top of your skin, but below it- so the appearance of your tattoo is directly related to the color of your skin. Imagine any tattoo on a pale leg, then think of that tattoo with a tan stocking over it,coffee colored, brown and then finally black. It is the same with a tattoo, first applied and then when the skin grows over it. Unfortunately some tattooers make the mistake of applying lighter pigments to darker skin tones. Very often when the tattoo heals it is barely visible. Also many darker skin tones, of all types, are prone to keloid scarring. The formation of raised excessive scarring. My advice to anyone with very, very dark skin is to choose larger, more open, simplified designs with strong bold outlines vs. detailed, convoluted over shaded designs. Good luck

Remember the saying " It's a black thing, you wouldn't understand"? i think that may be part of the issue in a mixed forum. So, i'm going to use that metaphorically. in a mixed forum, people can talk about cultural and political issues,personal musical and literary tastes and all contribute and all gain from the experience--- but as soon as one person starts talking about bigotry that they, as a black person- have encountered, or have a question about hair relaxer, a division occurs. I think many non-tattooers , certainly can empathize with tattooers about an issue specific to them--- just like many tattooers can still relate to non- tattooers in matters of , let's say design,artist shop choice etc. But when you get to a certain point that division can occur. Just my thought on what may be going on.

I don't think anyone mentioned-- Ms Sofia (formerly Ms Deborah formerly Mrs.Inksmith) she began a little over 30 yrs ago and is a super tattooer!!! - - - Updated - - - Thank you for the kind mention, Jennifer, and for including me in any thread that has "legendary" in it's title.ha ha. - - - Updated - - - It is a small world Shawn! Where and when and what did I tattoo on your brother?

In the 1980s, I, along with most of my friends,who tattooed- made an above average living. Today I make an average living. Granted, I still get paid well, considering that I love what I do-- just don't make more than the average ( middle income American wage earner)

Well,I've already voiced my opinion on this subject- but.... One thing nobody has mentioned is that there are still shops out there willing to take on an apprentice- for payment. In the 70s I knew of a few people that were charging thousands of dollars for the opportunity to learn and work at an established shop. ( Set up equipment usually went w the deal.)Today it would not be unrealistic to be asked to pay tens of thousands of dollars. Think of the money you would pay to attend a trade school or university. If a person is serious and committed, a financial obligation along with an agreed upon length of time/work commitment- isn't unreasonable. So find a shop that you love, get tattooed there and ask if they would be willing to take you on as an apprentice for 2-3 years, if you would be willing to pay them ( what ever amt) you agree upon, $10-$15,000 a year, let's say. Unless you just want them to give it to you, which seems to be what everybody wants.

Sorry!! Moderator, please delete. I'm technologically inept. Thank you moderator.

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I've always been overweight, chubby or fat. I have both arms covered and quite a bit of each leg tattooed - I love my tattoos. And beautiful tattoos look great on any size body! From a personal standpoint, it is simply my vanity and insecurity that has kept me from getting my back, buttocks and ribs tattooed-- and that is because I wouldn't be comfortable naked in front of most people. My husband ( who is a tattooer will most probably be the one to tattoo my back and sides) As a tattooer, I like big people with big tattoos and small people with big tattoos too> Best of luck

What a vey nice thing to say!!! Stewart, often I think to comment on a post- and then you do, so articulately, that I just feel like writing "ditto"

Okay- i'll start my own morning column here. Ha ha. Thank you for the kind words

I have a photo of that at my station that Mike sent to me when he got it. It's one of my favorites.

I recently apologized for my inactivity here. I still enjoy looking through and reading new posts - but haven 't contributed or posted as much as I used to--- I don't know if it's because I'm old or just an old tattooer --- but I felt like many of my responses lacked empathy and came off impatient or preachy. Sorry, i'll try harder

Hi Kirk!!!!!