JeffK

Yeah cheapness is another thing to blame on bad tattoos. The impatience to get something "now" without being able to afford a good artist really screws people. I understand not have the cash. I make little enough cash to be able to qualify for government aid for some things. I am not rich by any means. I just save up when it comes to the tattoos. I'd rather wait and get something awesome from someone good, meaning aside, then be impatient and just go get something cheap. I think the impatience some people have is a big reason for bad tattoos. BTW, when I say bad I'm not totally talking about what they're getting, but the quality of it. Will it last, will the design look good in 10 years? 20? 50?

Youth. I blame youth. Or rather, poorly guided youth. My "worst" tattoos exist because it was the late 90's, I was young, and no one gave me the guidance of shops/artists/designs. I work with a 20 y/o who tells me what he's going to get and at some no-where-strip-mall shop. I try to guide him, but dude won't listen. In 5-10 years maybe he will. It's all super generic cliche' crap too, which is OK and all if you have a reason or understand what you're getting, but he just wants these things because it's what his friends have or because it's what he's seen in movies and shit. I'm not saying all really young people are nimrods who'll do this. Just some. Then they grow up and become older nimrods. And the cycle grows. Cut this off early enough, and we'll get some progress. I've met plenty of awesome people younger then me (lol I'm 32, listen to me talking like I'm 90) who don't need the guidance or have had it.

Yeah I know, I just can't think of what to put around it that'll fit well. I don't care for ships (on myself) and don't want more flowers. An eagle wouldn't fit well as content, my wife gives no shits about eagles. So I want to get something that balances on traditional and weird, since my wife is weird. I have enough time to decide though. I always get asked "What if you divorce?" (always lovely to hear) and I always say I'll get Raul Julia as M. Bison behind it and slap an "R." on it. And I will if I have the space.

Like, an hour? There's a few dudes I wanna go and hit up, but with school and work and a kid and blah blah blah it just doesn't happen. I was considering heading about 4 hours out this summer to get something by Troy at Timeless Tattoo in Kansas City, MO when he's in IN, but I hate tattoo's in the summer and I'll be in the middle of school still. Maybe.....

Nothing fancy, and like 5 year old pic. I keep meaning to add lots of stuff around it and fill the area up I just don't now with what yet.

LSD or Pizza Hut or both late at night.

If you're really regretting it or afraid of consequences or anything BUT you don't want to deal with removal, you can get it covered up or altered....a lot. I'd say that'd be a cheaper choice and still OK as long as the image is changed enough. Maybe keep the owl itself and have something else cover the hat and replace the crowbar with something else? Toss in some extra junk, roses, a banner, whatever. I love those books and designs. But getting one would be like getting an American gang tattoo. I'm not a criminal first of all, and don't want anyone to think so. Secondly I don't want to disrespect those people who are by making their life some novelty (not saying you did, just speaking in general.) Finally, I've heard people who've gotten them say things like "Well I'll never go to Russia" or "I'll just not show it if I go." Still, it's not like there's not Russians here. Or others who know. Or that doesn't make it "OK" to me. Anyway, I don't care what country or gang or whatever it's representing, to make a novelty out of it is disrespectful and the last thing I wanna do is disrespect guys like that. I may not agree with their lifestyle or choices, but shit, some didn't even choose it ESPECIALLY in Russia (and even more so the USSR where many of those originated.) Again, not saying you did any of that, I was just saying in general.

I think it's weird that any shop advertises price PERIOD! I mean "discount" could mean "full price" in reality. I think shop specials are fun. Sailor Jerry day, or Halloween or Friday the 13th. Usually things like that, now a days, aren't on the radio or tv and only popped up on Instagram a few days earlier. The only people who'd know are those following anyway. But I've seen "Get $100 of tattoo work for $60!" banners. It turns me off. I'm already like "what would you consider '$100 worth' of tattoo work?" The best artists I know don't go around advertising their prices, they're always fair and awesome and have no need for that crap. I've gotten a few "specials" at shops that I've gotten full pricers from too. Which reminds me, today's Rollo's birthday (RIP) and there's a special going on....I need a baby sitter.

These dudes all look legit Downtown Tattoo near Fremont. I'm visiting my mom there in May and it's the only place I found online that seems like it's not a tramp stamp depot Downtown Tattoo | Las Vegas, NV

At Taylor Street Tattooo they have a "Get What You Get" deal where you pay $50, get a token, slide it into a capsule machine (like at grocery stores for toys and candy) and whatever flash is in that capsule you get. I've done it and got a "Hot Stuff" tattoo and was thrilled. It's all classic stuff and fun. I may not go out and get it "right away" but like within a week or 2. In fact most of mine are like that. My most recent "Morning Star" tattoo was booked only a week in advance and it came to me right before I called to get the appointment. I've learned stuff I thought of too long I always eventually scrap then come up with something out of no where and it's way better and just run to get it. It's how I work I guess. I like to keep things loose. Sometimes it's fun to just roll in and pick some awesome wall art. I remember a time where that was looked down on vs. "custom" tattoos but as someone once said to me about wall art "it's done by guys who've been tattooing for years and years and know what'll look good so you can't lose."

I feel this way about ANY business. Eat at home or the restaurant but not in a records store or clothing store or dentists office or tattoo shops. I mean, why can't you just sit and eat and move on? I see that crap all the time and it's one of the rudest things one can do.

I like Doom/Stoner when I'm sitting to zone out to. Luckily that's what's almost always playing when I go somewhere. That or old country. Once the artist asked if I liked Bob Seger. I said not really and he goes "well....you do today" So really if the person doing the work is into it I can't complain.

The tattoo's on my inner-forearms do that everytime. Get's red/pink, swells more then other spots, get's warm and all that (and I'm OCD about wound care since I work at a hospital.) It's just how my skin reacts there is all. It calms down after about 4-5 days and totally stops around 5-6. The skin on different parts of your body is different and may react different to the process.

By fresh I'm sure whoever said that meant still healing/open wound/peeling stage.

I have a few tattoo's that don't "match" the rest. I didn't get them because the style was hot at the time (it wasn't) I was just 20 and that's what I was into. Then what I was into when I was 30 was different. I think about getting them covered, but it's like why? It's a road map of my life (lame way to put it, I know, it only sounds cool if you're a Russian prisoner) and so it's just what I was into when I was that age. I get more OCD about colors matching than styles on a certain limb or part. I also prefer, for myself, patchwork style. A ton of random tattoos, vs. 1 big sleeve or piece. Except the back, that large slab of skin with no nipples was made for 1 big ass tattoo.

He is at Taylor Street still. I tried reaching him via email 2 months back for something and never heard back. I'm assuming the dude's just busy. I've hit Taylor Street a few times in the last 6 months for work and have only seen him there maybe once. I should have asked then. As someone said to me recently "he's a tough dude to nail down" for sure.

Well for me it's kind of the flip. I look very much like I do everything but don't touch anything. Not "Straight Edge" I hate that title, and I'm not against most, just not for me. I usually get a weird look when going out with my daughter because she's all in pink and crap and I'm all in black with metal shirts and tattoos. It's fun that way though. Luckily she looks like me so people don't think I kidnapped her. Anyway, another note about my dad, he respected me much more that I just went and did it and told him even if he was against it. He'd rather me have not lied. Another important thought for some.

Haha, it blows them away more that a guy who looks like I do doesn't drink or do drugs. No judgments, just not my thing.

That's why I hate tattoos in the summer. I love taking my daughter to the beach so I'll be done after June for a while unless someone awesome guest spots who I can't miss. I think in May me and my wife will be picking out each others (not as sweet as you think, we're both assholes) and getting that. We've decided wall flash only, no drug related art, no words. We'll probably hit Taylor Street again since they're fun and down with that sort of crap.

It was directed at the person who wants a palm sized tattoo but thought a snake that size wouldn't look good. Knives in every animals head makes for a good tattoo every time.-

Why would a palm sized snake NOT look good? If it's all coiled up, I think it'd look awesome. Or, since I brought it up in another thread, bent back lady-skulls are always cool! If you don't mind boobs on your tattoo. Or yeah, fuck it, I'll second tiger head.

I grew up lower middle class listening to metal and punk in a major urban area. I don't think either of my parents were surprised. My dad didn't like them, but he knew he couldn't do anything to stop me once I was old enough. I think that's important. Everyone I know or have heard stories from, even if the parent is doing something like paying for college or rent and they threaten to cut that if you get a tattoo, all it does is promote lying. The person still gets their tattoo. They just lie and hide it. I'm glad my parents have always had that mindset. They knew they couldn't stop me. As long as it was my money, it was my choice. Every time I got a new one my dad kinda just made a face. My mom even got one at one point. I have a daughter and get asked by people who, you can tell, don't like tattoos "what are you gonna do if she wants one?" Um....really? Like you think I'd be against it? I have 15 and counting. What the hell do you think? I'd rather her consult me and go somewhere good than to some crap hole and not tell me. I don't know if they're implying that as a parent my mind would change or since because she's female I'd be against it? I dunno. Weird assholes who think they can control people. They weird me out sometimes.

Ien Levin is pretty awesome, in the Ukraine I believe. IEN LEVIN

Cool thanks. Yeah I wasn't sure if it could be traced back to someone or something specific or if it was just a thing that kind of built up during an era. Totally want one someday.

I'm more of a thrash guy, but have been getting into doom lately. Conan http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPoIlknNd5o Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats Summoner http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9MB6jBzt_Y