Dan Martin

I thought the shows were pretty bad. I could care less about the drama( there's so much of that crap on tv anyway ) but the thing that blew me away the most was an ad for a Spaulding starter kit aired during L. A. Ink!!! It was a slap in the face! They should have sold Kat V face tat stickers instead.

Sanchez that posters amazing!

That day of the dead gypsy head is on the side of a taco truck in the machete movie!!! Remember tribal around the naval? Ah, good times...

I literally have made a name for myself covering up bad tattoos. It seems there are so many scratchers out there that I rarely come across a piece done by a " professional " that needs to be fixed. I have however finished a clients arm who flew out of state to have a big name artist work on him. It was his second appointment, and when he got there he was told the artist was in Hawaii. No phone call, no apology, just rock star bull shit. I figured if he was too cool to bother with someone specifically seeking him out, it wouldn't matter if I finished it.

I was turned on to the drawing small concept just recently by clients and friends of Trevino. Its the best. I wish I had learned about it years ago.

My buddy got tattooed by Richard stell once. He draw this hyeinna 16 or 17 times. Then went back to the first one.

I have to redraw, it's just knowing when to stop.

I think another problem I have is instead of picturing it in my head, then sketching it, then referencing and refining. I go straight to the reference and my idea or vision kind of takes a back seat.

Thanks everyone. Id agree that I spend as much time drawing as I do tattooing also but hardly ever find the time to create art for prints, flash, etc. With my family life I have to work on most of my stuff when everyone has gone to bed so it leads to some pretty late hours even now that I try and get out of the shop earlier. I sometimes wonder if I'm stretching myself to far ( trying things, maybe I shouldn't ) because I have to draw things over and over. Maybe my dedication is a good thing but sometimes I feel I kill a piece that way also.

I was just curious as to how much time other tattooers spend drawing for tattoos outside the shop. On average for me, I can spend an hour or two doing research and/ or looking at reference before I actually start drawing. And an additional 2 to 4 hours ( depending on subject matter ) on drawing something about the size of a foot ball or say half sleeve. Part 2 of this thread: I was also curious about how much time tattooers spend painting or creating additional art not directly for a tattoo, IE: prints, flash,tshirt designs,etc. And how important is that aspect of being a tattooer? Thanks everyone - Dan Martin

My first tattoo was a skull with fangs about the size of a dime, smack in the middle of my upper arm. When I went home for Christmas I covered it with a bandaid. But, the fangs poked out a bit. My dad saw it and asked if it was a tattoo. I told him it was a pimple I had scratched at. End of conversation. When I finally made it back to Houston, a thousand miles away, I called him and told him it was a tattoo. What could he do then? Also, when I got my first sleeve started my mother told me " I think you have enough tattoos that people know what you do. ( I tattoo ) she never even considered that I might be getting the tattoos because I loved them myself! Now 16 years into my career she's very proud and knows I made the right decision for me.

I've made it a point to never have a tv in the shop. I'm a huge movie fan but don't think the two mix. Side note: Goodfellas is still the shit!

A former client of mine really liked my work and got me to tattoo a 13 on him. He introduced me to his girlfriend and told her I should do her work. Long story short we ended up getting together on the 13th and now were going on our 13th anniversary. AND, an ex-employee of mine met and married our shop helper.

Yeah, that's how you do it! Amazing.

No one mentioned Richard Stell. His Cats in general are amazing!

just curious, where is her belly button?

TAM, state of grace books, art of the mark Oh, and of course, Tattoo times! Ive used it so many times, it fell apart so I had to get another!

Hey Shotsie, do you have any additional comments on where we've landed thus far?

We tell everyone aquaphor then lubriderm or coco butter but I tell a lot of clients that are having issues to dry heal them for a few days then switch to lotion. I think most people mess with their tattoos entirely too much initially and don't wash thoroughly after it's first done.