Bunny Switchblade

Welcome!!!

Locals Only.....he he he One of the best descriptions I have heard of it in a long time! Yup....they destroyed it! These are posted just for you @irezumi! ;)

Birdhouse Brian Sumner Graphic -- Rabbit Skull It's on my left forearm......I forgot what year the deck came out! Tattoo is about 9 years old.... Art was done by Sean Cliver Taz had a chance to buy the original art from him and Taz has been kicking himself for not doing it ever since....LOL - - - Updated - - - Art by Wes Humpston (Dogtown fame) Production deck is the one I skated by Bulldog Art on the right (I was just a cruiser....not a ripper) Hand Painted deck (on left) was done by Wes and given to me as a Wedding anniversary gift from Taz! The tattoo is in the center of my back and was done by Brian Bruno at Read Street Tattoo! Are you shocked a girl who grew up in Lansdowne would have skate tattoos @irezumi?

******** IREZUMI MADE AN IMPORTANT POST EVERYONE!!! ********* There is ALWAYS someone better you have never heard of........You DON"t have to go to people who have a "name" just because they have a name! I think most people here don't do anything like that because everyone here usually posts about liking the style of the tattoo artists they seem to be choosing! It's like in music when you see an incredible musician BUT you know there is some kids sitting in his/her basement jamming away who could probably already blow that other guy off the stage! It's like that with anything....including tattooing! My heroes.....especially now that i am tattooing....are those people who just go to their shop everyday and tattoo for the love of tattooing! They put in their time....make beautiful tattoos that last.....if someone walks in and wants a name they do it....if some one wants kanji they do it....and if someone what's a full on dragon back piece then they do it! Usually no egos.....just a humble person who loves what he does and has been blessed with the talent and skill to pull it off! ;)

The thing about this is.......the people I have mostly chosen have put their time in, in the craft/business of tattooing! It would be very hard to get a bad tattoo from some of them honestly......but then some of these guys are getting up in their years and the tattoo i get now may not be the one I would have gotten 10-15 years ago! Some never were the most technically great tattooers maybe BUT like I said....I am honored to have their work on me because they tattooed in a time when it wasn't mainstream and they made a good honorable living from it....it was their profession and they did it not only for the money but because they truly loved what they did! And on the flip side of this....the tattoo I got from them now will never be replicated again because if these guys didn;t share some of their "tricks"....it dies with them! ;)

@irezumi......I am sure you have seen this before??? [Chicago Slices raw: Gary Tattoo Parlor] I don't know.....but to me....that is a tattoo shop! <3

And these are definitely the people who need to hear that kind of message...... But I think we both know that they aren't going to "get it" or they just don't care.....and that really is disheartening!

Perfect!!!

And @Zillah......much like me.....I don't think some people realize the impact of a simple post they make here! Most of the comments are meant to help....it is a good group of people here who post.....but sometimes something meant to help doesn't always hit it's target with everyone! I am looking forward to seeing the tattoos you get from now on! The ones you are ready have are a part of you and it really doesn't matter what anyone but YOU thinks of them in the whole scheme of things! <3

Just remember.....we all have opinions! Mine are not always going to be liked by some people and I am not always going to like what others have to say.....BUT......never let the opinions of others make you feel ashamed of who you are!

But don't discount the comment by @slayer9019 (a moderator here) in that thread... "There are very rare examples of people with only good tattoos in my personal experience. I guess it is just a part of the process" I'm sorry you felt that way doll......BUT his comment is dead on and very true! Most people's first tattoos are not that good! It is all a learning experience that I think a lot of people seem to forget! This site though now exists to help people who have been tattooed BUT also you'll see a lot of people seeking info about getting a first tattoo as well and they will maybe learn from this site! I can't say I haven't thought that myself......and I struggle with it....which is why I put this all out there!

Just to clarify......when I say "poor choices"....I am speaking more toward home-made done tattoos! (the super bad ones) But even with me using those words "poor choices" you can see what I am talking about.....even I am not immune to making comments like that I guess without even realizing it! This site is about helping and sometimes I think we try so hard to help that we don't always accomplish that goal! @Zillah......don't ever feel ashamed or let someone make you feel ashamed of your tattoos! If I did just now then I apologize as I am struggling with myself to not be part of the problem but hoping to maybe be part of the solution? If you don't know....then you don't know! BUT.....if you come here and you see what is out there and you don't seek to get something better then at least you can't say you didn't know that better work can be done! Some people still aren't worried about that though......and honestly.....as long as they are going to a clean shop where the people have been trained properly....then it really shouldn't matter as long as they are happy with their tattoos!

Okay.....I haven't started a thread here in a very long time.....if ever.....LOL Hang in there I will get to my question I promise....... This seems to be a newer thing......with the age of technology and media capitalizing on the tattoo community people who never would have been tattooed 20 years ago are now seeing tattooing as a type of art form and because society deems it okay now....they have now done a flip flop and are getting tattooed! There was a time you had to rely on just magazines or word of mouth to find a tattoo artist of a higher caliber and most people back then really weren't concerned with the quality as much as just getting the mark! Now with technology it is easy to find a tattoo artist who can put in a solid tattoo that will still look good in 30 years if taken care of.....of course most people still don't seem as concerned with that still.....but that does seem to be changing! BUT....with the media being so involved now in the craft and the internet being the source of most people's information on tattooing......it seems to have given rise to the people who want to be "tattoo collectors" I never really enjoyed being labeled that by tattoo artists BUT as time went on it is what I actually became...... BUT.....in my "collecting" it really was never about the quality of the tattoo BUT the person doing the tattoo.....people who had put their time in and had a history in the business! The new "collectors" seem to be totally about quality tattoos AND there is definitely NO shame in that......it's awesome!!! So here it is....and thanks for hanging in there and reading all this...... Do you notice people being treated (or do you seem to treat people differently) who have a lesser quality tattoo??? I mean sometimes I find myself just shaking my head anymore and thinking WTF were they thinking......but I still do my best not to treat them as a lesser person because they made a bad choice...... I do however see others and hear others making comments behind backs and I am sure I am even guilty of this too in the past! I am however trying to correct that behavior in myself even though I know these people would never listen to me about trying to steer them in a better direction! Any thoughts or comments???

I will warn everyone.....some of Walter's stories are a little explicit and def not for children's ears......LOL

Oh....they are never said to your face....only on the sidelines behind your back and you don't say anything because of the politics involved! Why? Because if you've ever seen the US play soccer you know that they never field the best possible team they could! If they did they would dominate the world with the talent pool they have to draw from! Most of the real talent drops out because of the cost.....or the elitist politics involved in it all! Trust me.....if said to my face where my kids would have had nothing to loose.....I would have knocked some of their teeth out and broken a few of those nicely constructed noses! Sorry to go off topic there......

Duh....I am one of them....and long before it was fashionable to be tattooed! My kid was in the Olympic Development Program and if you had been tattooed back then and around that crowd....you would know the BS stares and comments I had to put up with! LMFAO......I knew someone wasn't going to be able to help themselves and was going to have a comment!

I tend to respect most people ideologies or opinions....even if I do not agree with them....if presented in a respectful way! I think what Irezumi said to me was done respectfully therefore I don;t mind taking his views into consideration....coupled with the fact that I know him well enough to know he has earned my respect in this craft and has paid his dues! I would expect him to......and want him to....call me out if he saw me posting something he didn't agree with....or I would learn nothing and continue down the same path! That doesn't apply to everyone here though! ;) I think if most people were a tad bit more respectful online....and on this site as well......there would be more participation! - - - Updated - - - Thank you @irezumi.....I am honored! I think you know....at least I hope you know...I have the highest level of respect for you as well which is one reason I have no problem backing up and taking a look at my views! I also think your example is spot on! I am who I am......it has gotten me far in life......BUT I won't learn if i don't listen and digest what others have to say to me! ;) Again.....Thank you!

Which is why something should have been said! I totally get what you are saying BUT we do know this type of thing did and still does go on and in some places....not all....especially anymore....this kind of banter is the norm! I don't know....maybe because I was schooled early and grew up with trash I pretty much am oblivious to it all and learned to get up and walk out of anywhere if I didn't like the way I've been treated! This is mild compared to some of the things I guess I have been through in life....so i apologize if I take it nonchalant or insensitively but I would have personally stood up and punched him myself or at least gotten up for a break....grabbed my shit...and gotten the fuck out of there! If I am that intimidated by someone I find a way to get out of the situation and leave my money in the register! Again....sorry if I seem insensitive but I guess I am different than most! I have only felt uncomfortable one time in a shop and spoke up immediately and it stopped right there....no fucked up tattoo....and no apology to me! I respect you @irezumi and will revisit my views for that reason....or maybe not speak on this in the future....but some my experiences in a lot of shops would leave most soccer moms feeling very uncomfortable to say the least! ("soccer mom" is not directed in anyone in general) Would I say this to a client and would it be tolerate in the shop i am in....I think you know I wouldn't nor would it be the type of thing my mentor would allow.....but it still happens as it did in the past....and i am not shocked by it! And if you feel i need to revisit this ideology Irezumi....I will take your opinion into consideration.....thank you for saying something! - - - Updated - - - I understand the need for this function (like if someone is harassing you or something) BUT it just seems using it as a way to weed out any ones opinion who doesn't match your own is just close minded! You may absolutely....totally...disagree with someones view on something BUT you may miss out on some tiny important piece of information that might help you with something in the future by using the feature in a close minded way! I have never thought about using this function here.....just seems silly....differing opinions is what makes this place interesting!

Yeah....they feel for the vein so I really have never had anyone have a problem with taking blood! I haven't had any other issues where my tattoos have caused any problems other than the health care workers wanting to discuss both of our tattoos every time.....and for me that really isn't a problem but I know some people do get annoyed with that!

It's great @irezumi ...... Marvin's brother interviewed their dad (Walter) before he passed and pieced together a lot of the stories and the history from when they tattooed down on the Bowery to when tattooing became illegal in NYC and he and Stan were the first tattoo artist to tattoo on Long Island.....and even them having to fight to keep tattooing out on LI! I love it and thought I would bring this thread back to life in case there were some others out there interested in what tattooing was really like......Walter Moskowitz's mouth to your ear! :)

Just dragging this post out and dusting it off.....thought some of the people that are new and into real tattoo history might want to know about this! Marvin (Walter's son) gave me this set of CD's on a visit to him when he tattooed me out on Long Island and I think I have probably listened to it 20+ time over and over! Some of you may be interested in checking it out!

If you think he is staring at your dick then ask him if you should maybe whip it out and see what he says..... ;) I just hope for your sake there isn't a hammer close by! :D

You hit the nail on the head........I wouldn't expect you to understand..... I'll go back to watching the blog videos! No fight here......honestly this thread is a battle not worth even discussing here anymore.....at least for me! ;) I said my 2 cents and stand by what i feel.....

You feel uncomfortable then tell the guy to stop.....get up....and walk out! I'm not saying that silence is consent BUT if you say nothing then nothing changes! I have been a tattooed female for 30 years now and I have heard all kinds of shit come out of tattooers mouths both male and female! The business has changed drastically I guess BUT when I was first getting tattooed.....it was always assumed if you weren't tough enough to take the banter then MAYBE you shouldn't get tattooed because the world was gonna give you a whole lot more shit about being a tattooed woman than the banter you were gonna get in the shop.....including this statement! I was terrified to walk into the shop when i got my first tattoo in fact the two ladies that went with me didn't go in and I went in on my own! I had heard all kinds of things about tattoo shops and although they were cool to me I am sure they weren't to everyone! Anyway.....what i am saying is they didn't offer wine and cheese like the "salons" do now! Most were street shops and this kind of comment probably would have been said as you were walking through the door instead of them waiting for you to get into the chair! I am sorry that you had a bad experience BUT this is honestly mild compared to some of the things I have seen and probably even said to men and women in tattoo shops! I am a year and a half into my apprenticeship....and I like women! Would I make a comment like this? Probably not.....but I can't honestly say! I do know I have said much worse......it's a tattoo shop after all! If people don't like my opinion oh well.....but don't try to change it because you won't! ;) And of course there weren't tattoo shops on every corner of the city either so if you wanted to be tattooed then you had to deal with whatever was thrown your way! I HATE what these stupid ass TV shows have done to this business.....I enjoyed the way it was much more....too bad the new generation had it ruined for them!

Ummmmm.....sounds pretty normal to me! Not saying it is appropriate or saying it is right......but hearing this doesn't shock me in the least!