Paul Shachtman

Hardy's? Better question: Why am I even on this shit?

Svintmaney's one of the hardest M.C.'s out there. Why would you get your legs tatted?? Ain't nobody can see that shit. You make out with bitches with your face. Ain't nobody can't see that shit. Think about it. Deep. Like fathoms, yo. Peace.

Dave Fox's old commemorative whale hunting tattoos always persist!! - - - Updated - - - My turd supervisor at my security guard job insists that "tattoos entitle you to disability benefits in the State of California." No wonder everyone has sik tatz in SF!!!

Not that anyone cares, or should, but, for the record, given my minimal experience with the guy, I have nothing bad to say about Chris Conn. And I'm a grouchy hypercritical misanthropic bitch.

I agree with the above. I was lucky enough to get tattooed by Conn for $115/hr. in 2003. He seemed pretty disillusioned with tattooing, and I can't blame him in the least. If he can get $500/hr., more power to him. At the same time, there are a good number of outstanding, distinctive traditional tattooers (Bryan Burke, Richard Stell, Theo Mindell, Jason Brooks, Cory Lenherr, Aaron Coleman, among others) who're actively tattooing. When I got tattooed by Conn nine years ago he wasn't a God. At all. Just saying. Not that I'll cringe at looking at any new tattoos the guy does. They're great. Elevate someone to mythical stature, then coattail ride the inflated status. I'm not into it. I'm into captivating art. - - - Updated - - - I think irezumi's saying he wouldn't . . . - - - Updated - - - "Producing videos about yourself" indubitably alters the landscape . . . - - - Updated - - - I don't know anything about Wood's or Grez's influences, but, from what I understand, Vargas was deeply influenced by Conn. That says a lot. I have some cool Hardy and Higgs flash tattooed on me, but it'd probably look better if those guys did them.

"Hunting with bated breath . . ." -Slayer, Mandatory Suicide Behold feral tat hunter. ":)"

I didn't even know Thomas Morgan was on that show . . .

The photos are what matter. I would argue that Tim's and Jason's priorities ("art" over ego) might have something to do with what they produce. Who knows, maybe I'm wrong. All I know is I'm not comfortable around the accolade acolytes.

Both guys are heavily Kuronuma-influenced: This is VERY strong, and I think Brooks' traditional stuff is even stronger: Log In | Facebook Brooks paints very well, too. Lehi eclipses brutality: http://tattooartistmagazine.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/tim-lehi-2.jpeg

Speaking of reality, anyone see Brooks' interview of Lehi in TAM? Nice to read a streamlined interview. Just the facts, ma'am. Both of those guys are absolute elite echelon tattoo artists. They've done their Japanese homework. It shows.

I just read the rest of the subsequent comments (page 12) . . . $20,000 an episode for "Tattoo Highway?" I never saw it, but I struggle to believe that. Then again, only thing I know about TV is that I watch too much of it.

Seriously, Nunez gets more than Peck, just because he was on "Miami Ink?" I guess I shouldn't be surprised. If I got jaded enough with tattooing, and my back and eyes hurt, I'd probably do the same thing as Peck. There will always be zombies. Might as well capitalize. From what I know, Peck's contributed enough to tattooing to justify such reward. Tattooers don't get paid enough, especially really good ones.

Anyone care to take a stab at how much Peck pulls in per episode? He's the only legitimate aspect of the show. Helluva tattooer. I've only heard good things about him. Nice guy when I met him, briefly. I bet the omnipresent toothpick sits under his tongue, its end barbed like a chastity belt. How else can he keep from crying with laughter?

Um, er, regarding proportionate hydro-propulsion, do you think Nunez is touchy about carp composition because HE did this a few months ago?: Log In | Facebook I'm just glad they didn't get Tim Lehi, Mike Rubendall, Mike Roper, Jason Brooks, Filip Leu, Chris Trevino, and Brian Bruno to compete, with Horiyoshi III judging. Those guys fucking suck.

Fuck tattoos, Al Fliction has unGodly taste in haute couture eyewear.

Please, Jesus, for one night, grant me numbness from the inherent pain of existence with visions of B-Tat's cherry plum roses.

Pardon my bile. Tattoo "culture" is just so damn adolescent. It's demeaning to what's legitimate. Guess what time it is!!! NAME DROP TIME. Freddy Corbin told me that when he worked with Mike Malone, Malone insisted upon calling tattoos "tattoos", to bestow legitimacy upon "the craft." Made sense to me. I think that such a relationship to tattooing manifests when you've been doing it (very well) for a while. At that point, the honeymoon's long over. Infatuation's dead. If you really like tattoos and tattooing, you're going to detest most of what presents itself as such. It's always been that way. Read "American Tattoo Master", or one of Malone's letters to Keith Underwood. Those guys hated everything.

When someone says "nice work", I immediately know they have a great eye for the "ink" aesthetic. They should just fart on my salad and get it over with. With all due respect, the concept of an exclusionist dialect for "tatterz only" is about as "awesome" as the fact that a bud of mine was not allowed to buy an issue of TAM that his "sik work" was in. Multiple times. In one issue. Wait, my disgusting ass is going to be in an upcoming issue. I'll guess I'll have to kiss some "fantastic" "ink under the pink artiste" ass to get a hold of an "amazing" issue. All tattoos are "amazing." I am an "amazing collector." I hate language. I hate tattoos. God Bless.

Shit's fucking retarded. There are infinitely more resources available to learn electric tattooing than tebori. Like the initial post stated, only guys who should consider fucking with tebori are those who've mastered electric Japanese tattooing. I'd think you might need someone legitimate to TEACH you, as well. Anyone know who taught Horitomo? Was it Horiyoshi III? Shit's impressive. I liked Stewart's description of pathetic wanna-be Polynesian tattooers. How stupid can you be? Apparently, a lot dumber than me. And I'm a shithead. 99.9% of everything tattoo-related is rank idiocy. I can't take it. And I'm not even a tattooer, for Christ's sake. People need to stop being full of shit.

I collect Malone crap. "Bull's Eyes and Black Eyes" is an excellent primer, not to mention a steal compared to what other tattoo books go for. Like someone said, if you keep your eye on eBay, reprints, sometimes painted by others, show up. I got ten high-quality reprint sheets of lined and shaded stuff for about $60 on eBay a few years ago. I'd like to get a look at anyone's Malone tattoos, if they're willing to post them. Here's what I got from him: Facebook Facebook Funny, looking at that Malone skull again, struck me further just how minimalistic that tattoo is. Seth Ciferri did a spider near it at one point, and described it as being "belligerently simple", or something up that vein. It's like a skeleton in cool boxers.

I collect Malone crap. "Bull's Eyes and Black Eyes" is an excellent primer, not to mention a steal compared to what other tattoo books go for. Like someone said, if you keep your eye on eBay, reprints, sometimes painted by others, show up. I got ten high-quality reprint sheets of lined and shaded stuff for about $60 on eBay a few years ago. I'd like to get a look at anyone's Malone tattoos, if they're willing to post them. Here's what I got from him: Facebook Facebook Funny, looking at that Malone skull again, struck me further just how minimalistic that tattoo is. Seth Ciferri did a spider near it at one point, and described it as being "belligerently simple", or something up that vein. It's like a skeleton in cool boxers.

At the same time, I must admit Megan Massacre's contribution to Inked Magazine obliterates what Hardy Marks Publishing has accomplished. Put the fucking crackpipe down and find someone to teach you something. If an idiot like me can develop somewhat of an eye for tattooing, anyone can. I had no idea what I was doing when I first started getting tattooed (hence, 36 laser removal sessions). However, when Adam Ciferri kept shoving Jerry flash books in my face, I listened. When he strongly suggested I get tattooed by Mike Malone, I did. When he showed me Greg Irons' flash, I looked at it, even though I didn't get it. Ami James? I'm not here to shitbag anyone, but if you asked him to compare his contribution to the evolution of American tattooing to Hardy's, his eyes would look like saucers. They sure as fuck better. Dude's making money. That's it. You see all that aboriginal-derivative "tribal" imagery adorning motorcycle tanks and douchebags' t-shirts? Thank Ed Hardy, Mike Malone, and Leo Zulueta for that. How do I know this? I read it in a Malone interview, in which he bemoaned the fact that no one knows this shit. Ami James is a "tattooer." Ed Hardy is arguably the greatest tattooer in American history. Period. Wanna see real tattooing? Buy Kuronuma's "Horiyoshi's World." Zeke Owens, Jerry, and Hardy all pored over any 5x7 photo they could get of that guy's shit. He's the greatest tattooer I know of. I need to leave the coffee alone.

This question stupefies me almost as much as the actual video I watched last night of two nineteen year-old Ukrainian dudes slowly bludgeoning an innocent 48 year-old man to death. (Google "Dnepropetrovsk Maniacs Murder Video", if feeling particularly intrepid.) It disturbed and nauseated me. With all due respect, for Christ's sake, do your homework. Read, study the tattoo aesthetic for a decade or so, then reconsider your question. I personally can't wait for "Tattoo School" to debut. It looks hott and hopeless.

"Don't go chasing waterfalls, stick to the dicks and balls that you're used to." -TLC I mean that with respect. All crass adolescent joking aside, I honestly can't wait for this program to commence. It sounds phenomenal. Hilarious. Sexy.