tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66689997321189015812024-03-06T12:03:35.653-08:00Tattoo Nerd Information for tattoo artists, tattoo collectors, and people interested in the tattoo industry. Everything from technical advice to opinions on trends. Jason Sorrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09793926939250996738noreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668999732118901581.post-67969854459457885122020-09-08T12:24:00.001-07:002020-09-08T12:24:12.212-07:00The Business Realities of the Tattoo Apprenticeship<p style="text-align: justify;"> I was inspired by a person commenting on my <a href="https://thetattoonerd.blogspot.com/2014/11/using-pig-skin-to-practice-tattooing.html" target="_blank">Using Pigskin to Practice Tattooing</a> post to write a new post about the apprenticeship aspect of tattooing. His comment...</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> "I fully agree with the apprenticeship but most shops refuse to have apprentices and if they do they will pick the cute little girl with no art talent over a guy with art talent. Or they want 10, 20 thousand up front with no guarantee they will even teach you. Have had a couple friends burned on that one."</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> ...comes from one side of the window, looking in, on the tattoo apprenticeship. He is also not incorrect.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> Let me start right-off and say that getting an apprenticeship is a vastly superior way to learn to tattoo. As a shop owner I would ask about a potential tattooer's apprenticeship (Surprise! Most shops do not) but the lack of an apprenticeship would not be a deciding factor in hiring. I am a strong advocate of apprenticeships in tattooing, but there are some realities that need to be addressed.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> I want to unpack the comment above into key, distinct points:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li style="text-align: justify;">Most shops refuse to take on apprentices.</li><li style="text-align: justify;">Women are "preferred" apprentices.</li><li style="text-align: justify;">Art talent and tattooing.</li><li style="text-align: justify;">The apprenticeship price-tag.</li><li style="text-align: justify;">NO guarantees.</li></ul><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Most shops refuse to take on apprentices.</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"> There are a number of business factors which must be taken into account when taking on an apprentice. A tattooer teaching someone new is potentially training their future competition. Even if they work at the same shop, they are drawing from the same local pool of tattoo-clients as the tattoo-mentor. For the shop the apprentice is another mouth to feed; taking up space, using resources, and not generating for a year or more any income. The apprentice will also be a reflection of the tattoo-mentor and shop, good or bad. This is inherent to both the apprentice's skill as a tattooer and their personality. A bad tattooer talking about how they learned from your shop is just has negatively impactful as a tattooer with a bad attitude talking about his being one of your apprentices. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"> This means that the reason a shop or tattooer takes on an apprentice must outweigh or offset the business risks. Tattooing is a craft (more on this later), and a craftsmen may ultimately wish to see the craft continue beyond them and to pass on the techniques they have developed to improve that craft and keep it vibrant. Taking on an apprentice could be a way of ensuring that the knowledge acquired by a tattooer is not lost. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"> When selecting a person to pass their knowledge to, a tattooer will naturally want that person to share their ideals about tattooing and have similar perspectives as the tattooer about life in general. They want the apprentice to be a known-quantity, not an unknown variable. Will the apprentice promote the tattoo-mentor and the shop regardless of the outcome of their apprenticeship? Will they appreciate both the opportunity being given and the knowledge being passed? Apprentices tend to be drawn from a circle of family members and close friends, people who the tattoo-mentor or the shop have an established relationship with and can be counted upon.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Women are "preferred" apprentices.</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"> Shops selecting an apprentice operate to a degree on a risk vs reward model. If offering an apprenticeship and considering an "unknown" for the role, what does that person bring to the business that outweighs their risk? You may have noted that the pronouns I have been using for most this post are male. Tattooing is a primarily male industry; the majority of tattooers and tattoo-clients are men. This is in no way an endorsement of men as tattooers over women, this is just the reality.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> That said, for the first 6 months to a year of the apprenticeship, the new apprentice will mainly be "shop-help". They will clean, run errands, manage customers, and observe the tattooers and their practices. For the business, this shop-help is better than free, the apprentice may be paying for the privilege. Given, again, that the client base is primarily male, there is an (unfortunate, I know) appeal to having a woman at the counter, especially if she is attractive. An apprentice will receive tattoos over the course of their apprenticeship, and a female model offers something different in a tattooer's portfolio. A woman in the shop will also potentially increase the female clientele for the shop, drawing in additional income.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> I cannot say that it is the right choice to select a woman as an apprentice for that reason alone, but I recognize the factors that go into the decision. A woman being taken on as an apprentice should be concerned about a shop or tattooer accepting them because they are a woman (the sleaze-factor goes way up under those circumstances), but I would also not fault a person, man or woman, for doing what they needed to get to where they wanted to be.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Art talent and tattooing.</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"> Tattooing is a craft. You can bring a great deal of artistry and nuance to a craft, but at the end of the day it is still at its base a mechanical process. The primary goal of an apprenticeship is to impart to the apprentice how to execute the mechanical aspects of the tattoo proficiently and safely. As art relies on talent, it largely cannot be taught. There are technical aspects to drawing, and especially to tattoo design (tattoos are meant to be applied to the body and factors related to the "canvass" must be taken into consideration) that can be taught, but the ability to do something with those tools is inherent to the person using them. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"> In short, a good artist does not a good tattooer make. It can definitely help, and most tattooer/shops will seek out and train talent if they want an apprentice, but it is well down the list of priorities.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> <b>The apprenticeship price-tag.</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"> $10-20,000 sounds about right. The apprentice is getting the equivalent of a technical degree, skills and tools they will be able to use to generate income, even go into business for themselves, for the rest of their lives. The comment that inspired this blog stated that the payment was expected "up front", and while that is often far from reality it could be because once the apprentice is shown how to set-up a workstation and machine and the basic principles of using a tattoo machine they could (and frequently do) choose to end their apprenticeship and start tattooing.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> Often badly, but they could be on their way.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> In my experience, the "up front" requirement, and even the price-tag, is not set in stone. The potential apprentice is an unknown factor. Before a tattooer or shop invests their time and effort in training someone, they need to be able to gauge if that person will appreciate what is being offered. Will they be committed to the training? Do they have the needed respect for the industry to be worth the effort? How bad do they want to be a tattooer? How creative can this person be to overcome the obstacles to get to their goal? How tenacious are they?</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> $10-20,000 is by no means out of the question for a tattoo apprenticeship, and could easily be earned back in the first year as a tattooer. Payment plans are a more common arrangement, and may be offered to a potential apprentice who demonstrates the necessary drive and tenacity.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> The comment also mentioned a couple of friends being "burned" by paying this fee and learning nothing. It is typical for an apprentice to be nothing but shop-help for many months to a year. While ideally they will be shown some things directly, it is expected that the apprentice is practicing drawing tattoos (distinct from other types of art), learn to manage the day-to-day tattoo-shop operations and customer service, and to observe the tattooer's techniques. How does a tattooer move about their station? Set-up and tear-down practices for the station? What do they do with their hands while tattooing? A person who spends even a day in a tattoo shop and learns nothing is not cut-out to be a tattooer.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> <b>NO guarantees.</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"> The tattoo apprenticeship is an agreement between a tattoo-mentor/shop and the apprentice. The mentor/shop will teach in the manner the tattoo-mentor/shop sees fit the basic skills needed to tattoo in a safe and technically proficient manner. The apprentice will abide by the additional terms of the agreement and learn from the mentor/shop the techniques taught in the manner that mentor/shop trains the apprentice.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> There are no guarantees. The first few months are a trial period in most apprenticeships. How bad does the apprentice want to be a tattooer? Are they willing to show-up, day-after-day, cleaning, greeting customers, and watching tattoos happen? What do they do with their relatively unstructured time? Are they practicing drawing, studying any available materials, observing and asking questions, or do they mostly just stand around and take-up space waiting for someone else to take initiative? If they are the latter, it is likely that the mentor/shop will wish to end the apprenticeship.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> Even if the apprentice shows initiative and drive and makes it to the active phase of the apprenticeship, there is no guarantee that the apprentice will learn what is being taught. Does the apprentice try to take short-cuts in setting up a tattoo station? Does he have poor interpersonal skills that come to light? Is there some unknown impediment to their learning the practices behind tattooing? These issues are not the responsibility of the mentor/shop, and may be reason to end the apprenticeship.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> Once the apprenticeship is completed, there is no guarantee that the newly minted tattooer will have a position with the shop they apprenticed under. They may even have a non-compete clause in their agreement with their mentor/shop to practice tattooing only outside a certain area some distance from the shop for a certain number of years (a clause that is less frequent now-a-days and has often been nigh impossible to enforce). </p><p style="text-align: justify;"> As the shop cannot guarantee that the apprentice will meet the expectations placed upon them, no guarantee can be made by the shop to the apprentice.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> <b>All that said...</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"> Tattooing is a craft. It is important that I re-iterate that point. Tattooing is a craft. Learning a craft through the mentor-ship of a seasoned professional is vastly superior to learning said craft on one's own. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"> In the tattoo industry, for all its benefits, the apprenticeship model is not always ideal and not always adhered to. I have known many tattooers who are highly skilled and in demand who learned tattooing completely on their own. I know people who became tattooers by opening a tattoo-shop and learning from the tattooers they hired. The reality is that the apprenticeship tradition has been more of a means of control in our industry, a means of reducing potential competition. The availability of both tattoo equipment and information/training means that the genie is out of the bottle. Skill and drive are now the determining factors in a tattooer's success among competitors. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"> I will not endorse people learning to tattoo outside the apprenticeship model, but I recognize that not all mentors are equal. Not every apprenticeship is offered with the purest intentions. There are no shortage of stories of apprenticeships being offered for the wrong reason, primarily that $10-20,000 price-tag discussed above. There are tattooers who have little business teaching others; their own practices may be lacking, their skills may not be developed enough to offer any real insight to an apprentice. While an apprenticeship in my mind may be the ideal way to learn, it would be foolish to suggest it is the only way.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> The bottom line is this. A tattoo shop is seeking to hire a tattooer. Candidates are interviewed. Their portfolios are reviewed. They are asked to perform an audition tattoo. Based on their performance, they may be hired. How they learned to tattoo is rarely a part of the conversation. A self-taught tattooer should probably not brag about that fact, but being self-taught has not prevented tattooers from being successful.</p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Jason Sorrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09793926939250996738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668999732118901581.post-21921998460686669262017-02-14T22:18:00.000-08:002017-04-10T12:38:22.127-07:00Claim your ink<br />
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have probably discussed
this topic in several different ways, but it bears repeating. I also recently
did a tattoo consultation so it is fresh in my mind?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> Don’t know what a tattoo
consultation is? You need a better tattooer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> So, you are thinking about
getting a tattoo, but you are not certain what you want. You have a concept,
but that is about it. How does one get from a fuzzy idea in their head to the
actual tattoo? Talking to a tattooer is a great start, but there is a lot you
can do before you have that conversation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> 1. Determine what the
tattoo means to you. If you want a military tattoo to honor a family member,
you may want other items as filler related to that person. If a military tattoo
is meant to be a reflection of your own service, then filler could be other
aspects of that service. The meaning of the tattoo could take your concept in
different directions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> 2. Once you have an idea,
start looking for references. Collect images of things related to your concept,
even if they are just things that could be part of your tattoo.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> 3. Add to these concept
references tattoo references; images of tattoos that you like. This serves two
purposes; it will help to define the style of tattoo you want, and it will also
indicate the limitations of tattoo design relative to your other reference
material.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsy4DuS8zBLzCIbWX3TVO_EgBatzLKihCk2cD9tlDkQ61qY548wDI6WQqepMTDVVI5AI-8PyVMi5QPKo7RoiVUhAVMt3RBkAhuroG35LkME4oBz0JcVcfFcrxz3wq0R5yoRfiHoXxfbuuW/s1600/rosebyname100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsy4DuS8zBLzCIbWX3TVO_EgBatzLKihCk2cD9tlDkQ61qY548wDI6WQqepMTDVVI5AI-8PyVMi5QPKo7RoiVUhAVMt3RBkAhuroG35LkME4oBz0JcVcfFcrxz3wq0R5yoRfiHoXxfbuuW/s320/rosebyname100.jpg" width="241" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> What I mean by that is you
will develop an understanding that the three-dimensional CGI image you have as
a reference will look different when rendered as a tattoo. It may sound
obvious, but people often seem to think anything can be rendered as a tattoo in
the skin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">4. Identify your tattoo style. As you are collecting references of
tattoos you like (related to your concept or not), a stylistic theme may
emerge. You need not know that you are looking at American Traditional designs,
but recognizing that you like this type of tattoo more than another, and being
able to provide your tattooer examples, will help bring your design to life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">5. Determine where on your body you will get your tattoo. Location
will impact both the size of the tattoo and how the design is organized. A
design created for a forearm is often not the same as one created for a
shoulder.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">6. Be realistic about the limitations of the tattoo design and the
style you want. More often than not, images rendered as a tattoo are
simplified. Location on your body and size limitations also impact the amount
of detail that can be reasonably included. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">7. Be aware that you concept may be interpreted in multiple ways,
and be prepared to allow the tattooer some creative input on the design. Your
tattooer will have more experience with design as it is applied to tattoos; how
certain elements should be arranged given the location of the tattoo and the
style, what colors will work best and in what combinations, and so on. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI64WeisoxB1MnepcKkIAXkWfGDLdWmAPilN47ZIzsCE2_B5ywwCvx9bMbb-VRaiyNnF6OA3xAdYi1Wfp5eR96p6uHrEv618jBfn2bWqIFo6oNCBrymhE1lVA0m3UEvCqAyZJjd98OJEBa/s1600/tardis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI64WeisoxB1MnepcKkIAXkWfGDLdWmAPilN47ZIzsCE2_B5ywwCvx9bMbb-VRaiyNnF6OA3xAdYi1Wfp5eR96p6uHrEv618jBfn2bWqIFo6oNCBrymhE1lVA0m3UEvCqAyZJjd98OJEBa/s320/tardis.jpg" width="213" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">8. The flipside of the same coin is being certain that the design is
what you really want. If you feel pressured to depart from your ideas in a way
that you do not like, or that the rendering is not living-up to your
expectations, then don’t get the tattoo. The design should be something you are
excited about getting, and your tattoo should be flexible enough to get it to
where you want (within reason).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">9. Decide if this will be your only tattoo for a while, or if it
will be the first of many in the same location on your body. If your tattoo
plan includes additional tattoo building on or being near the current tattoo,
those future plans need to be taken into account in the design.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">10. Be responsible for your tattoo and take your time. Do your
research, look at portfolios, and talk to a number of tattooers. Ideally, you
want an experienced tattooer who works in your chosen style and who is excited
about the project. A tattoo is an investment, so take you time with it.</span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jason Sorrell is a writer, tattoo artist, satirist, artist, and generally nice guy living in Austin, TX. He loves answering questions about tattoos. Shoot him an email at <a href="mailto:sorrellart@hotmail.com" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/tattoonerdz/</a></span></i></div>
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Jason Sorrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09793926939250996738noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668999732118901581.post-9241293268300995082017-01-09T11:33:00.000-08:002017-01-09T11:33:53.631-08:00Friday the 13th Tattoo Events<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Jason Sorrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09793926939250996738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668999732118901581.post-2486036834237025422016-12-04T19:36:00.002-08:002017-04-10T12:39:49.895-07:00Tattoos and Pain: Do They Hurt, Where Do They Hurt the Most/Least?<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> If you are a tattooer, or just have tattoos, you will be inevitably asked, "Does it hurt?". While this may seem like a ridiculous question (of course it hurts!), it should not be surprising that it would be asked. According to a survey taken in 2012, only 21% of the people in the United States have a tattoo. That means that if you have a tattoo, you are likely to encounter four people who have no clue what the experience of getting a tattoo is like. Given the taboos still associated with tattoos, the rise in cultural awareness and interest in tattoos, and the conflict that arises in a person's mind when they consider that someone willingly endured pain for the sake of adornment, those four people should be naturally curious.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The initial question, "Does it hurt?", is typically just an ice-breaker. The real question on the non-tattooed person's mind is, "What does getting a tattoo feel like?". The problem is that the experience of getting a tattoo is unique. While the pain can be compared to other common experiences in order to provide some context, ultimately any description falls short of the actual feeling of getting a tattoo.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> In medical terms, a tattoo is a wound, more specifically an abrasion. Though nothing is scraped away by the tattooing process, the damage is superficial, going no deeper than the epidermis. Many people have experienced skin abrasion. The difference between that an a tattoo is that normally the abrasion happens suddenly, while a tattoo is a drawn-out process. The immediate pain of a tattoo is less significant than most people imagine, but the prolonged sensation of that pain is often not accounted for. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The tattoo process involves a configuration of needles (typically) repeatedly perforating the epidermis of the skin. Another experience common to most every is being stuck with a pin or needle. That sensation is often far worse and more damaging than the immediate pain caused by a tattoo needle; more often than not such injuries are more grievous than what a tattoo needle causes. Being stuck by a pin or needle may draw blood, while a tattoo needle should never go deep enough for that to happen. Again, the difference is that the tattoo process is repeated at over 100 cycles per second, while the more common experience is (hopefully) only one perforation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> It is not uncommon for a person getting their first tattoo to report that the experience was not nearly as bad as they imagined. This is also reflected in the fact that those who get a tattoo often will get more than one. The sensation is no longer a mystery or source of trepidation. Yes, you may need to occasionally grit your teeth or clench your fist while getting a tattoo, but it is likely that you have experienced far worse.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The next question about tattoos and pain will inevitably be about what location hurts the most or least. It should be kept in mind that every person experiences and processes pain in a different manner. Some have a greater pain tolerance than others, while others are more or less sensitive in some areas. Some even find getting a tattoo pleasurable. One of my earliest tattoos was in a spot within the client's pantie-line, and at one point she interrupted the procedure because she was having an orgasm. This was most likely due to the vibration of the machine near a sensitive area, but it demonstrates that the pain from the tattoo was not so great as to overcome other biological responses to stimulation. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuFWALJA1INXFCoUaeRhYeNhon0WIBapywoAFQLPA0ZiQIRECyqW3bOYe8jqswQAT1uF6jo5R19gkP5U8-2-VHheLZ6mwi-toQDFeZLn1-fTbH9HzIdBAhnuchM6EPZAWCUhVlV63Oct2_/s1600/painchartj.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuFWALJA1INXFCoUaeRhYeNhon0WIBapywoAFQLPA0ZiQIRECyqW3bOYe8jqswQAT1uF6jo5R19gkP5U8-2-VHheLZ6mwi-toQDFeZLn1-fTbH9HzIdBAhnuchM6EPZAWCUhVlV63Oct2_/s400/painchartj.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Given that we each have different experiences with pain, any guide to what will hurt more or less should be considered anecdotal. There are, however, some commonalities to consider.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <b>How much tissue is between the skin and the bone?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Tattoos that are in skin that has less tissue, fat or muscle, between the skin and the bone tend to be more painful. This is most likely because there is less cushion to resist the impact of the needle. Hands, feet, knees, collar bones, and the sternum are all typically more sensitive areas. The spine is often doubly so, due to the increase in nerve fibers and the bone being closer to the skin. The head, with very little tissue between the skin and skull and increased sensitivity, may be the most extreme example of this condition.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <b>How ticklish is the spot?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The more responsive an area is to stimulation, the more painful tattooing that area may be. Even if you are not generally ticklish, areas of the body that are less exposed to stimulus tend to be more sensitive, and thus more pained when tattooed. The inside of the arm is more painful (typically) than the outside. The inner thighs are painful areas, as are the sides of the torso (or rib-cage... bones!). Add to these areas any inner bend on the body; back of the knee, crook of the elbow, the armpit, bottoms of feet, palms of hands, and especially the neck/throat.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <b>What is the condition of the skin?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Skin that has been damaged in the past is often more sensitive than skin that has not been damaged, though this is not always the case. Scar tissue can either be more sensitive or less sensitive (or have variations of both throughout to scar). Mild but chronic sun-damaged skin can also be more or less sensitive. Surprising to many people is the discovery that previously tattooed areas tend to be more sensitive. While this is expected with new tattoos being touched-up, people are often surprised to feel more pain touching-up or covering tattoos they have had for months, sometimes even years. A tattoo, even when fully healed, is still a wounded area of the skin, and thus more sensitive.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <b>Line work, shading, or color?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Another concern is the type of work being done, or the phase of the tattoo. Most tattoos begin with line work, tattooing the lines that define the design. A lining needle is a set of needles configured into a point. Most people are more sensitive to this configuration because the needles are perforating the skin in a more concentrated manner. Shading and coloring needles are configured more like a painter's brush, with a wider spread than a lining needle with the same number of needle-points. Shading is often considered less painful both because of the needle configuration and the manner with which a shading needle is used (the stroke tends to be more brush-like and intentionally lighter). Coloring needles, though like the shading needles in configuration, often require more concentration of perforation to achieve a solid color, so is often considered somewhere between shading and lining. However, some report that the shading or coloring is more painful. The reason for this may be that the area being tattooed is more sensitive after the line-work is completed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <b>Are you a man, or a woman?</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> While this is something that you no doubt have little control over, which gender takes a tattoo better is often something people are curious about. Women take a tattoo better. I believe that this is the result of biological necessity. Men are very capable when it comes to sudden, extreme pain; being punched, cut, etc. Women, on the contrary, are biologically geared toward enduring pain over long periods of time. The tattoo procedure does not cause sudden, extreme pain, but is instead a prolonged irritation, something women are simply better able to handle.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> With these conditions understood, the least painful areas to tattoo are those with large tissues masses under the skin, on the outer edges of the body, with skin that is in prime condition. The skin over the deltoid muscle (shoulder), forearms, and thighs tend to be prime tattoo locations. Interestingly, the least sensitive area may be the inside of the lower lip. This is unexpected until you consider the amount of damage the mouth endures; accidental bites, burns, and contact with certain foods. A tattoo needle will cause relatively minimal discomfort compared to what is typically experienced in the mouth.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The pain of getting a tattoo, while not something that can always be shrugged off, is rarely so extreme that it cannot be endured. Prior to getting a tattoo, get a good night's sleep, eat a decent meal a few hours prior to your tattoo appointment, be well hydrated, and be excited about the prospect of a new tattoo! The experience is unique, but shortly after the tattoo starts, you will realize that it is nowhere near as bad as you may have imagined.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jason Sorrell is a writer, tattoo artist, satirist, artist, and generally nice guy living in Austin, TX. He loves answering questions about tattoos. Shoot him an email at <a href="mailto:sorrellart@hotmail.com" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/tattoonerdz/</a></span></i></div>
Jason Sorrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09793926939250996738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668999732118901581.post-75972086272142123482016-11-08T22:45:00.002-08:002017-04-10T12:40:49.605-07:00It's the Most Wonderful Time for a Tattoo<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqw5rxgo0jlIwQ4nEDUGUySfnp54odJmYM0Hmm8kHb7CqO_Rh78VXQlaReJgz6m0nh1WPy8jC6fBAMYlAjbl7GfgMPND8_-AAtDTAgVN5u4cwpHeV08G_0Y-usg_iXldgKokPrEYwot4cx/s1600/sledgirl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqw5rxgo0jlIwQ4nEDUGUySfnp54odJmYM0Hmm8kHb7CqO_Rh78VXQlaReJgz6m0nh1WPy8jC6fBAMYlAjbl7GfgMPND8_-AAtDTAgVN5u4cwpHeV08G_0Y-usg_iXldgKokPrEYwot4cx/s320/sledgirl.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She's probably covered in ink.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Each Spring and Summer, thousands of people get tattoos. The sun is out, they are wearing clothes that shows off more skin, they are vacationing... You would think this would be the best time to get a tattoo, right?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Actually, no.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> If you have a choice (and there are only a handful of reasons you would not have a choice), the best time to get a tattoo would be during the Fall and Winter months (roughly November through March for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere). During the colder months, several factors align making getting a tattoo at that time the smart way to go.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> "But Jason", you say, "I want to show of my tattoo. I can't do that while wearing a parka!" While it may be true that you want to show off your tattoo in the warmer seasons, consider a couple of things your tattooer tells you about your new tattoo and how to take care of it. I am certain the following two phrases will sound familiar to tattoo collectors:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Keep your new tattoo out of the sun as much as possible.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> and</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Do not go swimming or submerge your tattoo in a body of water for the first two weeks.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfC4XKQCWXHjKxrCv9qyjKURwJarq_smIDtnZslgMASHa21WGCQCfAzNR1cshywV5JGVd19U6epkkVCt3TqFW6c-wPOyU9y2cHXajOYG-_2xx_IizTB_8MRNa7X9-cihuQD6t4AWgHYgdl/s1600/sunburn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfC4XKQCWXHjKxrCv9qyjKURwJarq_smIDtnZslgMASHa21WGCQCfAzNR1cshywV5JGVd19U6epkkVCt3TqFW6c-wPOyU9y2cHXajOYG-_2xx_IizTB_8MRNa7X9-cihuQD6t4AWgHYgdl/s320/sunburn.jpg" width="281" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sun... Bad!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The sun is the enemy of a tattoo, especially while it is healing. Sunlight fades your tattoo, and while the tattoo is healing your skin is damaged. That damage is less resistant to ultraviolet rays and more prone to burn in intense sunlight, which will do your new tattoo even more damage. In the Spring and Summer, the sun is almost unavoidable, but in the Fall and Winter your skin will be well protected from sunlight in clothing designed to keep you warm. This makes healing for your new tattoo easier, and come the Spring and Summer months your ink will look fresh, vibrant, and fully healed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Have you seen a tattoo while it is healing? Check out my article about the healing process <a href="http://thetattoonerd.blogspot.com/2013/10/a-tattoo-healing-process.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Next, no swimming while your tattoo is healing. I cannot count the number of times I have tattooed clients who were on vacation and were disappointed to hear that if they wanted to take care of their new tattoo they could not go tubing on the river or to the nearby water-slide park. A tattoo is an open wound. Until a tattoo is healed, the water you put it in gets into the skin, causing you to share intimately all the fungi, bacteria, toxins, viruses, and other contaminants in said public and/or natural bodies of water. Even if the pool you are in is the cleanest pool to have ever been known by man, that water will still get into your tattoo and carry some of that expensive ink out of your skin.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> So, when you get your tattoo in June, you will need to be sitting in the shade somewhere while your tattooed peer who thought ahead and got their new tattoo in January is enjoying the water and sun with your friends. Worse, if you decide to not listen to your tattooer, you could be facing an infection, allergic reaction, and a costly touch-up. Your friend tattooed in Winter need not worry about any of that.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLFwM0XExlCHfRjKEdrXj4JiffmOOL-CRreyrrMmP8awiuQWplPYHtDF42ZUP8PanNmbpTiHXNd_eWQc5x_WLRpOYk-XBlyS11yNxo7DgmagafHxnDjRSC-dvs4lcfbMjoq0-vhKdI2oBZ/s1600/creature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLFwM0XExlCHfRjKEdrXj4JiffmOOL-CRreyrrMmP8awiuQWplPYHtDF42ZUP8PanNmbpTiHXNd_eWQc5x_WLRpOYk-XBlyS11yNxo7DgmagafHxnDjRSC-dvs4lcfbMjoq0-vhKdI2oBZ/s320/creature.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Get this in Winter, show it off in Summer.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Those reasons alone should have you considering how to budget your next tattoo into your holidays, but let's also discuss the financial wisdom behind a Winter tattoo. The Fall and Winter is the slow season for most tattooers. I know tattooers who either travel to the Southern Hemisphere or go on vacation during the Winter Months because of how slow things get. On a Saturday night in July, a tattooer cannot keep-up with the number of customers walking through the door, and those customers are paying a premium rate for the tattooer's time and effort.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> In the Winter, through, many tattooers are feeling the pinch of the season. They are buying presents for family and friends and dealing with Winter expenses just like you, but their income is not consistent. During these times, when you might be the only client they have seen in days, a tattooer can be more flexible about pricing a tattoo. During the slow season, your new tattoo can cost you less than what you would pay for it in the Spring. Your tattooer will often have more time to dedicate to your tattoo, giving you more for your money, even at a discount. Financially, getting a tattoo in the Fall or Winter is simply smart.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> So, keep all that in mind for the next few months. If you are thinking about getting a tattoo, now is the time. You will avoid the worst effects of the sun, you will be able to swim when you want to be in water, and you might even get more bang for your buck. Fall and Winter truly is the most wonderful time for a tattoo.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jason Sorrell is a writer, tattoo artist, satirist, artist, and generally nice guy living in Austin, TX. He loves answering questions about tattoos. Shoot him an email at <a href="mailto:sorrellart@hotmail.com" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/tattoonerdz/</a></span></i></span></div>
Jason Sorrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09793926939250996738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668999732118901581.post-19011328701965091492016-10-06T23:50:00.001-07:002017-04-10T12:41:16.793-07:00Createmytattoo.com<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr5cWE9Z_hBHee5CBBfhlvDGHLqtw6Lw1s719KXcEqUqjiwpapPMwu3Rx99WzJbKKgFZgVMkuc0PApGK7Rb1Vu9Bmqfofmn4rsjpJUaa8dboxZGNE8U-KAt1-nmaWdMrgwTCYFRFkwKwyv/s1600/create1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr5cWE9Z_hBHee5CBBfhlvDGHLqtw6Lw1s719KXcEqUqjiwpapPMwu3Rx99WzJbKKgFZgVMkuc0PApGK7Rb1Vu9Bmqfofmn4rsjpJUaa8dboxZGNE8U-KAt1-nmaWdMrgwTCYFRFkwKwyv/s400/create1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.createmytattoo.com/" target="_blank">CreateMyTattoo.com</a> is a user-content driven marketplace where tattoo patrons connect with tattoo designers to have a unique tattoo design created, but you probably figured that out based on the name. The way it works is that a patron creates a "Tattoo Contest", pledging at least $20 (but the amounts go up into the hundreds), and gives designers 10-16 days to create a design based on their concept. Along the way, they offer feedback to the designers who can tweak their designs to meet the vision of the patron. At the end of the contest, the patron picks a design (maybe), and the winning designer is paid for the work.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Now, I know several of my tattoo friends are looking at all that and saying to themselves, "Why would I do that? I don't get paid for my effort unless I win, and I have better things to do with my time." Ah, but my friends, as one who has worked in several tattoo studios, I know that is not the case for most tattooers. I have found it often surprising how little we do with our down-time. Cleaning, equipment maintenance, and drawing for our next client... That tends to be the extent of what many average tattooers do. It is shocking when I think of all the ways a tattooer can be making money as an artist that are not taken advantage of, especially when I can point to the industry leaders who have built their reputations based on what the do in and out of their tattoo stations.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> But, this is not about the money.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Seriously, this is not about the money.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> First, the positive view.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> I draw a lot. Not as much as I should, in my opinion, but a lot. I tend to draw pinup art. It is my niche. I think we, as artists, all develop a niche, a thing we are good at. That can be problematic, especially if your niche isn't in vogue at the moment, and your clients cannot see the technical skill and style beyond the subject matter.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> And, we all know that most cannot.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <a href="http://www.createmytattoo.com/" target="_blank">CreateMyTattoo.com</a> provides you are regularly updated list of tattoo concepts that allow you to broaden your scope and refine your style (or, for many new tattooers, begin to discover and define a style). The financial incentive is merely icing on the cake. If you don't win a contest, you still walk away with the following:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> -an addition to your design portfolio.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> -honing of your skill-set.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> -examples of your style be applied to varied subject matter.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> -art which can be applied to other venues (merchandising).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> -an increased public awareness of your name and skills.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Plus, it gives you something to do with your downtime. Activity attracts activity. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> And now, the negative view.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> When going through the existing contests, I counted a total of 70+ contests with no winner selected. The rules state that if a patron does not select a design, they cannot legally use any of the submissions. How many of you have seen that stop a customer from coming in and asking for a tattoo they saw online, or stop less reputable tattooers from copying another person's work? Of those 70+ contests, nearly 900 entries were submitted. That is a lot of effort to have someone just back-out of the process, probably with a tattoo design in hand. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> This is why it cannot be about the money.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Most of your competition on the site are clearly not tattooers, that or they are mostly the lowest common denominator among tattooers. Many of the entries are clearly photoshopped copies of designs found on-line. While your initial thinking might be that this would give a solid tattoo designer a huge advantage, most of the winners have been selected from what are low-quality designs. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> So, then what do I propose as the best way to use the site? Assuming that the contests are being created by actual patrons (and not internally by the site administrators), then it can perhaps be used as a gauge for what are popular tattoo requests. If you post your work to the site through contests, assume that you are giving your work away, but then again this is the assumption every tattooer should make whenever they post their designs online. If you don't post, the site at least provides a source of concepts that you may not have come up with yourself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <a href="http://www.createmytattoo.com/" target="_blank">CreateMyTattoo.com</a> might be worth checking out, if one's expectations are really low and you are looking for a little creative shot-in-the-arm.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jason Sorrell is a writer, tattoo artist, satirist, artist, and generally nice guy living in Austin, TX. He loves answering questions about tattoos. Shoot him an email at <a href="mailto:sorrellart@hotmail.com" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/tattoonerdz/</a></span></i></div>
Jason Sorrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09793926939250996738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668999732118901581.post-31741497359119721462016-08-31T22:46:00.000-07:002017-04-10T12:45:44.675-07:00Who's Confident?<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This will be a bit of a rant, so let me set this up properly.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> I get a text message from a friend who asked, "If you were getting a tattoo tonight, what tattoo shop would you go to?" For me, that is both a simple and difficult question. I have a tattooer who is AMAZING but who may not have been available for a walk-in tattoo. His shop was the first on my list in my response. I have the privilege of knowing a lot of great tattooers in Austin, guys and gals who I would happily get work from at any time. From that set, I listed four other tattoo studios that I consider highly reputable and who host consistently great tattooers. My friend hit me up simply because she was confident in my opinion and knowledge about the local tattoo offerings.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> A little bit later, I get another question. "Do you ever setup without gloves?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> No.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Hell no.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Being the inquisitive type, I asked why. What was happening was her boyfriend was in the mood for the sweet, sweet feel of a tattoo needle, and wanted to get some ink. Not being familiar with what might be available, especially since I was not (available), they asked my opinion. Trusting me (and that is important), they went to one of the shops I recommended.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Let me reiterate: I recommended the shop they went to. They went to this shop on my recommendation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The tattooer at this particular shop was not the tattooer I would go to at this shop. At the time, that was simply because I did not know the guy like I know one of his co-workers. He does, however, have a favorable reputation locally. He happened to be available the night my friends went to the shop I recommended. When a tattoo design was selected and a price agreed upon, this tattooer went about setting up his station.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> He did so without gloves.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> My friend, herself a tattoo collector, questioned this. She recognized that she was seeing something that in her years of getting ink she had not seen before. Her dude asked the tattooer about the lack of gloves. The tattooer's response?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> "I am confident in my method."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> I am not going to name names, or put anyone on blast. The shop this guy works at is a great shop, and should not be besmirched by this guys lackadaisical attitude and ego. I DID, however, recommend to my friend that she contact the owner. When she asked if they should stay or go (they had not paid yet), my advice was to walk.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> My friends on Facebook agreed (they must read my blog).</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjO8QQFZZ2nY4HtVLli_DRxutxo2kHw0JZZmc-Z1tDAfZhFPRSfcgBchz91w51Vm9rSAUmmRw6lj_VVGhtE_T3Ho93NaNYbHF2s7YuhJJtmY-f6tqxalFAF9jpksa9nYr_euKC_iI9eRaD/s1600/response.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjO8QQFZZ2nY4HtVLli_DRxutxo2kHw0JZZmc-Z1tDAfZhFPRSfcgBchz91w51Vm9rSAUmmRw6lj_VVGhtE_T3Ho93NaNYbHF2s7YuhJJtmY-f6tqxalFAF9jpksa9nYr_euKC_iI9eRaD/s640/response.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">People must be reading my blog...</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> I am not even going to rail on the BASIC NECESSITY of wearing gloves when you setup, about how your station should be as close to a small surgical bay as possible, and how gloved hands should be the only things that make contact with the tools used to tattoo anytime. No, that is not what this rant is about.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> He said, "I am confident in my method."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Is he really the one who should be confident in his method? Friends, I do not care how cock-sure your tattooer is, YOU need to be confident about what they are doing. If you feel something is amiss, a professional tattooer will do what is necessary to address your concerns. It is your tattoo. If something bothers you, your worry should not be casually dismissed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The proper tattooer response to, "Hey, aren't you supposed to wear gloves when you setup?", is to stop what you are doing, agree with your client, apologize for letting this simple step slip your mind, tear down your station, clean everything your touched, and setup with clean gloves on. There is no other excusable response.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Gang, I don't care if he had a bucket of hand-sanitizer at his station that he was dipping into every few minutes. He is leaving bits of himself on everything he touches, bits of himself he would then be sharing WITH HIS CLIENT. We make mistakes. The professional thing to do is own it and correct it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Blowing-off your client's concern is a dirt-bag move. It suggests a lack of character and confidence; trying to ignore your mistake instead of admitting it. The sad thing is that this guy is a good tattooer, but moves like the ones he is making kill careers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Added to this is the fact that I recommended his shop. Maybe not him, but in the minds' of his clients and my friends there is no distinction. If asked again about where to get a tattoo, or getting a tattoo at this particular shop, I would still recommend it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> But I would add a caution about that particular tattooer. For the sake of my reputation and their safety, I would tell whoever was asking to not get work from that guy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> To my friends who trusted in my recommendation and had this poor experience, I am sorry. I know this is not my fault, but it is the kind of thing that brings all tattooers down.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jason Sorrell is a writer, tattoo artist, satirist, artist, and generally nice guy living in Austin, TX. He loves answering questions about tattoos. Shoot him an email at <a href="mailto:sorrellart@hotmail.com" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/tattoonerdz/</a></span></i></div>
Jason Sorrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09793926939250996738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668999732118901581.post-39621645547736037112016-08-10T08:38:00.001-07:002017-04-10T12:46:28.779-07:00Tips for Getting Your Next Tattoo<div style="margin-bottom: 22px; padding: 0px;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1z9UH5iiqgQLigvBuaktUg0tOnGYsjDvG0tfE4oZNi1CWye3sW9J2BNPIBI1tPXfLDTb447TaT6xgGpoScnhnQef_shWZCewEk6z382UL1mSGmF75skGixBh3Q_eKhTT8riVLeTfdwZLf/s1600/tiger2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1z9UH5iiqgQLigvBuaktUg0tOnGYsjDvG0tfE4oZNi1CWye3sW9J2BNPIBI1tPXfLDTb447TaT6xgGpoScnhnQef_shWZCewEk6z382UL1mSGmF75skGixBh3Q_eKhTT8riVLeTfdwZLf/s320/tiger2.jpg" width="251" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: clear; color: white;"><span style="background-color: clear;"> </span><span style="background-color: clear; color: white;">Getting a tattoo is not a common experience for most people. You walk into a studio wanting a tattoo, there's art an the walls, tattooed people behind the counter, and no clear instructions on how to proceed. Professional tattooers will happily walk you through the process, answer your questions, and make the experience a positive one for you. However, with a little forethought and planning, you can make that experience a great one.</span></span><br />
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<b>1. Know what you want (at least in general).</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: clear; color: white;"> Walking into a tattoo studio just to get a tattoo is rarely a good idea and leads more often to tattoo regret, especially since those that do are often looking for what they can get within their budget rather than a great tattoo. Have a tattoo concept in mind before you go to a studio. Know where you want it on your body. Bring reference material to help your tattooer understand what you want, as well as offer some inspiration for your tattoo design.</span></div>
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<strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: clear; color: white;">2. Do some research.</span></strong></div>
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<span style="background-color: clear; color: white;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </strong><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Once you have your tattoo concept and know where you want it on your body, it is time to start looking for a tattooer and tattoo studio. Talk to a few studios in your area and find out about their rates to establish an average price per hour. Keep in mind that some tattooers price their work by the piece, but most have a general hourly rate they can offer as a guide. Knowing the local average tells you what you would pay for an average tattoo... And, no one should want an average tattoo! This will help you gauge your price when you find a tattooer and shop that suits your needs. Keep in mind that good tattoos are not cheap, and cheap tattoos are not good. Check online reviews, ask others about their tattoos and their experiences with local studios, and get a feel for what to expect as you shop.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <b>3. Select a tattooer based on their style.</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> Every tattooer develops a particular style that they specialize in, a style that will be apparent in their tattoo portfolio. A tattooer may be willing to work outside their style, but you may be happier with a tattooer who works in the style you want (as well as get a better price getting a tattoo in the style the tattooer is familiar with). Look for a style that you find aesthetically pleasing, one that you would like your concept translated into. Be open to your tattooers ideas and suggestions. As a tattoo-professional, they will have an understanding of tattoo design and placement on your body that will provide a more pleasing result. Tattooers are artists, and always tend to work better when unfettered.</span></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: clear; color: white;">4. Express all your concerns about the tattoo while it is being designed.</span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: clear; color: white;"> Tattoos should be a unique expression of your concept by your tattooer. While you should listen to their suggestions about your tattoo, you should also be confident in discussing what it is you want. Don't settle for a design that you think is "alright", point out the areas you have concern about! Once you are in the tattoo chair and the needle is in your skin, it is typically too late to bring-up concerns about the design. Ultimately, it is your tattoo, and if you and your tattooer cannot agree on a design that excites you, you may want look for a different tattooer.</span></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: clear; color: white;">5. A tattoo is an investment.</span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: clear; color: white;"> Be prepared to pay for the work you want. If you find a tattooer and a studio you like, then accept the price-point being quoted. Knowing the average price in your area, you should be prepared to pay an additional 50-100% of that rate, based on the quality of work you seek. Haggling for a better price is a delicate matter, as trying to low-ball your tattooer or bringing-up the prices offered at other shops almost always leads to a negative situation. If the price is more than you can afford, tell your tattooer and see what they may be able to do for you. Your tattooer may be willing to work in sessions, allowing you to pay for the work in installments, or may be willing to come down on their initial quote slightly. Ultimately. however, a good tattoo in the style you like is worth the price your tattooer quotes.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS1tb6A1pzgJX5UjLBaTO9zONJJVdI1lS5qHfcm1tPFBDkO_vEeC2L_SrKZEqVvh3LAdKHmHkxOoEj5ujc5_blbvGZxUEReJ27f9JhdFcjXDZ1MxHHpDLqwaCSYMGvP0tw5oul2wWYcyZV/s1600/tardis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="background-color: clear; color: white;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS1tb6A1pzgJX5UjLBaTO9zONJJVdI1lS5qHfcm1tPFBDkO_vEeC2L_SrKZEqVvh3LAdKHmHkxOoEj5ujc5_blbvGZxUEReJ27f9JhdFcjXDZ1MxHHpDLqwaCSYMGvP0tw5oul2wWYcyZV/s320/tardis.jpg" width="213" /></span></a><b><span style="background-color: clear; color: white;">6. Plan ahead for your tattoo appointment.</span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: clear; color: white;"> Usually, you are welcome to bring a friend, but don't bring your whole crew. If you have children, make arrangements for childcare. Don't bring your kids to the studio, even if you have a friend to watch them for you (your kids will want your attention). Plan to allow for as much time as necessary for your tattooer. A good rule of thumb is to double whatever your tattooer estimated time is (if your tattooer says the tattoo will take two hours, be prepared to spend four). Have a snack an hour or two prior to your appointment, but bring yourself something to drink during your session. Let your friends and family know you are getting a tattoo and not to call you on your cellphone unless it is an emergency.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "opensans" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">7. Practice some basic etiquette. </span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "opensans" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"> Arrive for your appointment at least 15 minutes in advance, and be prepared to wait while the tattooer's station is set for your tattoo (calling your tattooer in advance to tell him or her you are on your way can help reduce the wait). Arrive sober to your appointment. Do your tattooer a favor and also make certain your have showered recently and brushed your teeth. They try to smell good for you, do the same for them. Plan on not eating while you are at the studio, or if it is going to be a long session on eating during a meal-break. Try to keep your breaks to no more than once every hour or two.</span></div>
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<b style="font-family: opensans, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><span style="background-color: clear; color: white;">8. Be prepared to tip.</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "opensans" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"> While tipping your tattooer is not necessary, it is greatly appreciated. 10-20% is a fair tip.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "opensans" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><b style="background-color: clear;">9. Pay attention to the after-care instructions.</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "opensans" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"> The vast majority of problems with a tattoo are the result of the customer not taking care of it while it heals. Listen to the instructions given by your tattooer. Do some research about tattoo care prior to your appointment, and ask any questions you may have about what you need to do. Put clean sheets on your bed before going to sleep. You've spent some serious money on your art, do what you can to protect it.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "opensans" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><b style="background-color: clear;">10. Celebrate your tattoo and tattooer.</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "opensans" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"> Your solicitation of a tattooer for a tattoo is a compliment. Your tipping the tattooer after the tattoo is appreciated. Celebrating your tattoo and your tattooer takes it to a whole new level. Grab a stack of business cards from your tattooer and the tattoo studio on the way out the door, and pass them our to your friends. Tell people on social media about your experience, befriend your tattooer, like their tattoo pages, and post your tattoo. Your advertising their work will mean the world to them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "opensans" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jason Sorrell is a writer, tattoo artist, satirist, artist, and generally nice guy living in Austin, TX. He loves answering questions about tattoos. Shoot him an email at <a href="mailto:sorrellart@hotmail.com" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/tattoonerdz/</a></span></i></span></span></div>
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Jason Sorrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09793926939250996738noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668999732118901581.post-22978919934128744452016-07-02T15:05:00.001-07:002017-04-10T12:47:35.687-07:00Things to Consider About UV Reactive (Blacklight) Tattoo Ink<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj5DJr0K24HCGN1_fr8Ib-v4uFMPc-gKviX9GL7k0fDqvqAUsxXWaz8qU-kkzqvXcOhuGUw6n6118VLylRAHt4OYhQcwn8bU9J1rBRRcvpQt-Z9sp09dNvhh6iYDrRyz74dfw1uCRVTzJw/s1600/glow3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj5DJr0K24HCGN1_fr8Ib-v4uFMPc-gKviX9GL7k0fDqvqAUsxXWaz8qU-kkzqvXcOhuGUw6n6118VLylRAHt4OYhQcwn8bU9J1rBRRcvpQt-Z9sp09dNvhh6iYDrRyz74dfw1uCRVTzJw/s320/glow3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Skincandy, the only well-known brand I could find.</td></tr>
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While the novelty of "blacklight" tattoos seems to have had its day, it remains and option some tattoo collectors consider. For many, it is a conservative alternative to the traditional tattoo; under normal light the tattoo is supposed to be invisible, but under UV light the tattoo glows. This means that one might safely have their arms exposed or neck tattooed while at work or around family where having a tattoo might be inconvenient, but have an obvious tattoo that stands out when at a nightclub.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> This, however, may not be the case. During the tattoo healing process, which can last for months (two-weeks being the common amount of time that needs to pass before a tattoo is healed enough to be touched-up), a UV reactive ink tattoo will have the same potential redness from irritation as a regular tattoo (without the benefit of there being an obvious tattoo to explain the irritation). There is an equal chance of minor scaring or raised skin for a UV reactive tattoo, more so if the artist is inexperienced with working with UV reactive ink. After the tattoo is fully healed, the UV reactive ink in the skin may take on a brownish hue. While typically not dark enough to be noticed from a distance, the tattoo may be visible under regular light to those in close proximity. Colored UV reactive tattoo ink often appears washed-out in regular light, and can also take on a rusty hue in time.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu4emvxVsd7pDmF1ofkwvTzvf0EROM9beA0Hklr9ULF7ZVZjYDUmwCBvPHc9J290CRtMaHajCAsz4xtD-wafYDi7uZAlfJSjK5h_S5ZXY4vF4hxlqRNy4SFsxKzdBLUHZAXag5uXpq3ZCg/s1600/glow1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu4emvxVsd7pDmF1ofkwvTzvf0EROM9beA0Hklr9ULF7ZVZjYDUmwCBvPHc9J290CRtMaHajCAsz4xtD-wafYDi7uZAlfJSjK5h_S5ZXY4vF4hxlqRNy4SFsxKzdBLUHZAXag5uXpq3ZCg/s320/glow1.jpg" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Note the visibility in regular light.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> When selecting the location of your UV ink tattoo, it may be wise to pick a spot that can be easily covered if one has concerns about the tattoo being seen.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> You should expect to pay more for a UV reactive tattoo. UV reactive tattoos are not frequently requested, requiring a tattooer to purchase the more expensive ink specifically for your tattoo (and with a high likelihood that the ink will expire before another client asks for a UV reactive tattoo). The set-up for the tattoo requires the introduction of specific equipment; a UV lamp, in order to see the progress of the tattoo. The tattoo process will also take longer, as the added step of checking line work and the effectiveness of fill and shading require turning on the UV lamp to inspect the work. The tattooer will work in regular light in order to see the tattoo stencil and the needle during the tattoo application. There is also a greater likelihood of the tattoo requiring a touch-up. All of these factors can lead to a UV reactive tattoo costing twice as much as a tattoo using conventional inks. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The ink itself may also be a point of concern. A collector needs to be aware that tattoo-ink standards are maintained by the industry itself, not any government regulating body. The only cases in which the FDA has ruled on the use of inks is in the tattooing of food-animals, and in those cases the inks used must be safe for human consumption. This lack of regulation has the benefit of keeping the price of inks (and therefore tattoos) lower than they would be with regulation, but it also means that you, as the collector, need to be confident about what is going into your skin. The chemicals used to make the ink glow, such as phosphor (typically a copper or silver activated zinc-sulfide) can cause an allergic reaction in some people. Insist that your artist use a brand that has a solid reputation for safety and consistency in the industry, and if you are unsure about the ink your tattooer wants to use, ask around. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSd1tdgpp9PBUxn625HMmt9qqJf1XAGwIFRS7rkQEjV85A2vlifdcegERqxn8HIYa89osf_Jovvcx6C1UcDk-T5QR6Wz6zS5_ybDPA-79UEfZFA5qp7BLIcDk4YnThvI9GDO3VteXsYie2/s1600/glow2white.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSd1tdgpp9PBUxn625HMmt9qqJf1XAGwIFRS7rkQEjV85A2vlifdcegERqxn8HIYa89osf_Jovvcx6C1UcDk-T5QR6Wz6zS5_ybDPA-79UEfZFA5qp7BLIcDk4YnThvI9GDO3VteXsYie2/s320/glow2white.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This white-ink tattoo shows how UV ink may look healed.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Shopping three currently popular tattoo ink brands; Eternal, Fusion, and Intenze, I found that none offer UV reactive inks. Of the companies I did find, Skincandy was the only brand name I recognized. Please be aware that this is not a recommendation or endorsement of their product. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The final point of consideration with UV reactive tattoo inks is that they have not been in use long enough to know all the potential long-term hazards. While there is nothing at this time to suggest any long-term risk, we simply do not have the amount of data regarding the UV reactive inks as we do other inks with which we in the industry can be confident about. With UV reactive ink, it is even more imperative that the tattoo collector be aware that they are signing a waiver absolving their tattooer and tattoo shop of responsibility when getting a tattoo. The UV reactivity of the ink may only last for a few years or less, but may still have an unforeseen impact in the future. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> While the point is often re-iterated in my articles about tattooing, it is worth repeating: think before you ink.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jason Sorrell is a writer, tattoo artist, satirist, artist, and generally nice guy living in Austin, TX. He loves answering questions about tattoos. Shoot him a message at <a href="mailto:sorrellart@hotmail.com" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/tattoonerdz/</a></span></i></div>
Jason Sorrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09793926939250996738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668999732118901581.post-77505178820515426412016-05-31T23:52:00.000-07:002017-04-10T12:48:10.208-07:00 A Stick-and-Poke Tattoo Kit. You Have Got to Be Kidding.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9FYJOWB8qe5QTosK8ImnlfCzZqROziH7OkzgjeVi7XGEKlmYFcmrUKxmKtOvmtPjHOr_BM6Wot58FtIsdDbVGb0EfJxItSg7bk3okrc2Ri_YlCKVTLEJIi7_Wz8vgLMRfcq_mw64j48Nb/s1600/stick.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9FYJOWB8qe5QTosK8ImnlfCzZqROziH7OkzgjeVi7XGEKlmYFcmrUKxmKtOvmtPjHOr_BM6Wot58FtIsdDbVGb0EfJxItSg7bk3okrc2Ri_YlCKVTLEJIi7_Wz8vgLMRfcq_mw64j48Nb/s320/stick.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Gang, I wrestled with the need to write this article. Some of you will skim through this and decide to buy this product. Please... PLEASE! Read what I am saying here. This is simply a bad idea. Inevitable, yes, but still bad.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Here's the idea, based on what Stick and Poke Tattoo Kit (that's the name of the company) tells its potential patron up-front. Tattoos done at home by amateurs are dangerous. They tell you that the possible dangers include:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> -Blood Borne Pathogens</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> -Toxic Ink</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> -Inadequate/Unclean Supplies</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> -Dirty Needles, Ink, or Thread</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Let's discuss these dangers for a moment. Blood Borne Pathogens are generally a concern when you are dealing with multiple people getting tattoos. This is why tattoo studios strive for cleanliness and use aseptic techniques. Keeping things clean reduces the likelihood of cross-contamination and the spread of blood borne pathogens. "Toxic" ink must refer to inks that are manufactured cheaply and with little concern about the potential effects of the materials used on the human body. Inks purchased on-line from unknown sources are often of a low-quality and their safety is suspect. Inadequate or unclean supplies are a concern when dealing with "kitchen magicians" that use whatever they have around or re-use the tools they have to administer a tattoo to multiple people. Dirty needles, ink, and thread are right in-line with the previous point.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv8e6BeWr3O4Dxe7tKeYIt4O7wItCaxTqUuRrlaNme9R58Jou1L0YlLvrdTqa76HVdx23o69vUPpv5pYP1BWRUtIJhxsEfgxCAp_B62objCPPrLIAYb6ekwS4ecR6MB_UxeoQm_TVmZETY/s1600/stick1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv8e6BeWr3O4Dxe7tKeYIt4O7wItCaxTqUuRrlaNme9R58Jou1L0YlLvrdTqa76HVdx23o69vUPpv5pYP1BWRUtIJhxsEfgxCAp_B62objCPPrLIAYb6ekwS4ecR6MB_UxeoQm_TVmZETY/s1600/stick1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Because this can happen.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The solution, dear readers, is to not get tattoos from an amateur "tattoo artist" working from home. And, guess what you are when you administer your own tattoo at your kitchen table! Do not get a "stick-and-poke" tattoo. Just don't do it. Get tattoos from professionals in a licensed studio, and if you want to be a tattoo artist have respect for yourself, your clients, and the industry by learning to do so safely and properly through an apprenticeship.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Companies like Stick and Poke Tattoo Kit only compound the problem. A kit which provides "professional" supplies to allow you or your friends to tattoo you is a completely irresponsible grab for your money with no regard for your safety.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The kit includes 1/2 oz of "professional" tattoo ink. Before we get into what "professional" means, can you be certain? We are dealing with a company that is encouraging people to engage in an unsafe practice, going against every industry standard in order to make a buck. Can you trust these people and what they say about anything they offer?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> "Professional" simply means that it is a product most commonly used by professional tattooers. Generally, such inks come from known and reputable manufacturers who have earned the trust of their patrons through the consistency and performance of their product. The brands of ink displayed on the Stick and Poke Tattoo Kit site are none that I recognize. And, I write BRANDS in the plural because there site features at least three different bottle and label types, suggesting at least three different manufacturers. You cannot even be certain that the product you receive is the product pictured on the site, let alone that the inks are anywhere near the quality used by professionals (protip: that probably means they are not).</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT7N4rj8oaASBjorymtjOVeDZBLMSM2svUZJYZte66KQZZlnhIQRkjS3UwPvPFpQ7HG75RDs3mC5-6AcbLH1Gi8WCCD4EFR4TMHsZ_YF34ac8udjnGFk6UqpwMg8rdMYsaC7nOvcGE3VdD/s1600/stick2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT7N4rj8oaASBjorymtjOVeDZBLMSM2svUZJYZte66KQZZlnhIQRkjS3UwPvPFpQ7HG75RDs3mC5-6AcbLH1Gi8WCCD4EFR4TMHsZ_YF34ac8udjnGFk6UqpwMg8rdMYsaC7nOvcGE3VdD/s320/stick2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Luckily, most of this will fall out.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> You get a 5RL and a 3RL needle. In the photo, it appears that they are in blister packs common to the tattoo industry, sealed in sterile inert gas. If so, they are clean... at least until you open the package. What happens then? Does Stick and Poke Tattoo Kit assume that everyone knows how to handle the needles in order to keep them from getting contaminated before they are used and while the tattoo is being administered? Their instructions don't mention how to handle the needle. These needles are designed for use in a tattoo machine, not to be held in hand. What is the likelihood that the needle will slip while someone is poking themselves with it? Fairly high, I would imagine. When that needle comes into contact with the floor, the kitchen table, or any other non-antiseptic surface, you are inviting problems.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The kit also comes with two nitrile gloves. Ask a tattoo artist how flimsy gloves are, and how easily they rip. This is why a tattoo work station includes a container filled with gloves. Now imagine holding a thin needle bar in your hand and trying to poke yourself with the needle without sliding down the bar and tearing the glove on the solder point for the needle group. Will the persons purchasing this kit have the sense to buy extra gloves, or will they just continue the procedure without?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The aftercare balm is called "hustle butter". I could point out that again you need to question the source, but need I say more? Who is being "hustled"?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> You also get gauze, a band-aid, a witch-hazel wipe, two ink cups (aren't those the paper condiment cups used as fast-food restaurants?), a medical surface covering, and an instruction book. A PDF of the book is on their website.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The instruction book is 28 pages long. THE FIRST FIVE PAGES INCLUDE WARNINGS ABOUT THE RISKS OF USING THIS KIT! Stick and Poke Tattoo Kit clearly does not want you to seek legal damages from them in the event that their product harms you. They can point to their book and demonstrate that nearly 20% of the information provided was a warning not to use their product. Buyer beware! </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0oRiX3UQ8DzZOhzsvpt0S3Pu29Ji1C-0PiTFakfxFCGPY1vf54_WvET38iKAQCbm4Nnd_9CuWql0AymqsMt6VhkbAM0lQO4fOEigfL6gOdPKHF-474sPxkFxwpSVRjKvm5I4tmCkT4IDh/s1600/stick3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0oRiX3UQ8DzZOhzsvpt0S3Pu29Ji1C-0PiTFakfxFCGPY1vf54_WvET38iKAQCbm4Nnd_9CuWql0AymqsMt6VhkbAM0lQO4fOEigfL6gOdPKHF-474sPxkFxwpSVRjKvm5I4tmCkT4IDh/s320/stick3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gorgeous, huh?</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The funniest line in this book is on page 8; "Tips for Your Design". The sixth and final tip is "consult a professional". WHAT PROFESSIONAL TATTOOER IS GOING TO ASSIST SOMEONE IN DESIGNING THEIR STICK-AND-POKE TATTOO? That's right, gang, not one. You walk into a tattoo shop and ask about advice on your DIY stick-and-poke tattoo design, and the best you can hope for is a lecture about what a moronic idea that is. This simply points to the probability that the makers of the Stick and Poke Tattoo Kit have no experience with the tattoo industry and is out to simply make a quick buck.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The instructions include some real gems as well. "Create a clean area" (but no information on how to properly create a clean area). "Poke the skin with amount of pressure enough to puncture only the top few layers of skin" (how do you gauge that without any training or experience?). They also make some solid suggestions that most people will never follow, like take your sharps to a proper sharps disposal facility or mark your container for your used materials with the word "biohazard". The people who are cutting corners by getting this kit are already beyond any sound advice regarding public safety.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> It is this kind of product that actually threatens the industry as a whole. Tattooing has gained legitimacy in our society by demanding a rigorous adherence to safety by those who practice the art. Enough DIY tattoos gone wrong and we will find professional tattoo studios driven back underground as legislators are given an excuse to demand tighter restrictions. Just keep in mind that the person who purchase a tattoo kit to give themselves a tattoo probably has an idiot for a tattooer.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><i style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jason Sorrell is a writer, tattoo artist, satirist, artist, and generally nice guy living in Austin, TX. He loves answering questions about tattoos. Shoot him a message at <a href="mailto:tattoonerdz@gmail.com" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/tattoonerdz/</a></span></i></div>
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Jason Sorrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09793926939250996738noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668999732118901581.post-80344451578026558952016-05-01T12:40:00.000-07:002017-04-10T12:48:41.652-07:00"Sailor Jerry's Tattoo Stencils" Books I and II<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicsResa9UYroxXlCvLz6F79OCeETIZ_Gws-bNR4X5TaSKv7uKvUbOGQ3xypk_TpKoHKEB-2P2Iv7Eazyp6gEFQdGE6QkKUjmxNWRwHYISdCSp9VIxLfX6jYoutCviRE1FxHhDLNLF_pxIJ/s1600/IMG_20160308_103620.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicsResa9UYroxXlCvLz6F79OCeETIZ_Gws-bNR4X5TaSKv7uKvUbOGQ3xypk_TpKoHKEB-2P2Iv7Eazyp6gEFQdGE6QkKUjmxNWRwHYISdCSp9VIxLfX6jYoutCviRE1FxHhDLNLF_pxIJ/s320/IMG_20160308_103620.jpg" width="320" /></a> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Before you buy "Sailor Jerry's Tattoo Stencils" by Kate Hellenbrand, you need to understand the title. I recommend that any aspiring tattooer get a copy of these books, but you need to know what you are getting. This is not, technically, a collection of Norman "Sailor Jerry" Collin's flash. Rather, these are actual transfers from those flash designs, the first stage of the actual tattoos. What you will get are raw, unadorned examples of the very foundation of a tattoo. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This collection gathered by Kate "Shanghai Kate" Hellenbrand, demonstrates the root of the "American Traditional" tattoo design, the style that many tattoo purists describe as the defining style of a "good" tattoo. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The American Traditional tattoo style developed not from an aesthetic choice, but rather the limitations of the tools used to take a design from paper to the skin. Before the advent of the thermograph transfer, tattooers would cut their designs into a thin, plastic sheet. Grooves cut into the acetate would be filled by rubbing graphite into them. The skin was prepared with a thin coat of petroleum jelly. The acetate stencil would be laid onto the skin, transferring the graphite from the stencil to the jelly. This provided a fragile pattern for the tattooer to follow with his needle.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipcbFpbaYXCnhiwJTfiFHLSDE8MY193ZDAInbrANOP91WVPrH0ozIjVcSVdSnjmJXKlBlzhmrY4yWKvTyPU7Zc-9wYv-PzS8d2vGWpROCTp-e63De47h7XbD-SaB69CQb0mY44sZimCFU-/s1600/IMG_20160308_103710.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipcbFpbaYXCnhiwJTfiFHLSDE8MY193ZDAInbrANOP91WVPrH0ozIjVcSVdSnjmJXKlBlzhmrY4yWKvTyPU7Zc-9wYv-PzS8d2vGWpROCTp-e63De47h7XbD-SaB69CQb0mY44sZimCFU-/s320/IMG_20160308_103710.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The nature of this process limited the complexity and detail of the designs. If a design was too intricate, it would be difficult (if not impossible) and extremely time-consuming to cut into acetate. Thus, American Traditional designs are defined by simple, bold lines, with often no more than two to three line-widths. The transfer process and materials also limited selection. Tattoo designs tended to be limited to what was popular to those getting tattoos in those early years; Naval or other Military images, primitive pin-up girls, and well-known cartoon characters. The same acetate stencil would be the basis for multiple tattoos, with variation introduced during the tattoo process. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPXhAUReq3-ItArebbkjixn-BmoTTQw0RDBQgLpWFFFoj1C9G-26Ewrmo8zqhGYG5omnqjNAyp96B1reLzDAFtaxtFwjPP1AI7-TcJu_2zaMFxgEVYYHJ5n2oT2lua05fJUcb4acjB_OcD/s1600/IMG_20160308_103644.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPXhAUReq3-ItArebbkjixn-BmoTTQw0RDBQgLpWFFFoj1C9G-26Ewrmo8zqhGYG5omnqjNAyp96B1reLzDAFtaxtFwjPP1AI7-TcJu_2zaMFxgEVYYHJ5n2oT2lua05fJUcb4acjB_OcD/s320/IMG_20160308_103644.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Color in these tattoos, usually red, green, blue, yellow, and black, were also limited by the technology of the time. Tattooers often made their own ink, and there were limits to what could be successfully and economically produced. Again, the American Traditional style was a result not of aesthetics, but of the practical limitations of the technology of the time. These limitations came to set the expectations of what a tattoo should look like. Today, technological advancements allows for a variety of styles to be replicated in the skin, but "Tattoo Art" has become defined in the social consciousness as consisting of strong lines, a bold but limited color pallet, and traditional subject matter. Put simply, this style is recognized as a tattoo, regardless if it is in skin or on paper.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> These collections offer insight into the foundations of an art form. With an understanding of the technical limitations, they also highlight the innovative and creative talent of Sailor Jerry. While these books will have very little value to most tattoo clients seeking a design, they represent an excellent resource for the tattooer who wishes to create tattoo designs rooted in traditional methods and recognized as tattoo art.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jason Sorrell is a writer, tattoo artist, satirist, artist, and generally nice guy living in Austin, TX. He loves answering questions about tattoos. Shoot him a message at <a href="mailto:sorrellart@hotmail.com" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/tattoonerdz/</a></span></i></div>
Jason Sorrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09793926939250996738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668999732118901581.post-18143783497197393072016-04-04T10:39:00.001-07:002017-04-10T12:49:25.335-07:00Size Matters<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMi_CKLCiETf7RBchxQn5VZAHdMYkk8qaYAFfx0SLUlj9dbgdHX7q3_kmCwapHdrcPqlyfteDwgJkbLowHHSBpZy0xFI1RWLJEz3dj4j-3enmtqdfZVr3jae9yQnw98NQJBq0TJxHZFimc/s1600/freaks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMi_CKLCiETf7RBchxQn5VZAHdMYkk8qaYAFfx0SLUlj9dbgdHX7q3_kmCwapHdrcPqlyfteDwgJkbLowHHSBpZy0xFI1RWLJEz3dj4j-3enmtqdfZVr3jae9yQnw98NQJBq0TJxHZFimc/s320/freaks.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A tattoo that fits the calf.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i>"But, Tattoo Nerd, it's not the size of the ship. It's the motion of the ocean, right?"</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> That is not what I am writing about, my little friend. No, what I am writing about is the size of your tattoo. One major cause of 'tattoo regret' is getting a tattoo that is too small. Getting a tattoo that is too small is a common mistake when people first start getting tattoos. Whether it is a matter of wanting something small to get past the "unknown" factor, or a matter of expense, first-timers tend to lean toward tiny tattoos. For many tattooers, the little tattoo that someone gets because they felt the urge to walk-in and "just get a tattoo" is their bread-and-butter. However, when given the opportunity, most tattooers would prefer you come in and get a tattoo designed to fit the place on your body you want.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> You may be thinking that a tattooer wanting to do a larger tattoo is all about the money. While it is true that a larger tattoo will typically cost more, that is not your tattooer's primary motivation. Your tattooer wants to do a tattoo that looks good. Especially if it is your first tattoo, your tattooer knows you are going to tell your friends and show-off the tattoo. They want their work to be well represented, and they want you to come back for more tattoos. Tiny tattoos have their place, especially for women who want that accent tattoo behind their ear or on their hip. The size of the tattoo should be determined by the location on the body. A tiny tattoo may be expertly executed, but if it is floating in a large, empty space, it simply does not look as good. As a customer, you may think initially that a small tattoo is a good way to start or the best for your budget, but odds are that you will regret your choice and blame your tattooer for allowing you to make it.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWQzAvp78lvwQtNHPUIc7beK7swxN7jwF_m7OoZTslDh5hFqBWgf0Jj3vcPdhnldbY2_CkqT3OFQQN27bb61PyuyuZ9BidFfd9YnNWYfVoepTDmS2n5Pupy07xxd5h6xXgXu3oUMHcS8U0/s1600/treesmall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWQzAvp78lvwQtNHPUIc7beK7swxN7jwF_m7OoZTslDh5hFqBWgf0Jj3vcPdhnldbY2_CkqT3OFQQN27bb61PyuyuZ9BidFfd9YnNWYfVoepTDmS2n5Pupy07xxd5h6xXgXu3oUMHcS8U0/s320/treesmall.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A tattoo designed to fit the shoulder and arm.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> So, what then is the "right" size for a tattoo? When determining the size of the tattoo, the tattooer will take in to consideration the natural frame formed by the shape of the body-part being tattooed. This frame most often matches the muscle-mass beneath the skin. The frame of a shoulder tattoo is defined by the shape of your Deltoid muscle, and may extend down your arm to form a "sleeve". The Gastrocnemius and Soleus muscles form the frame of the calf, and may extend down your leg and wrap around to form a "sock". The Pectoral muscle forms the frame for a chest tattoo. A tattoo that sits atop of any muscle mass that does not make full use of the shape of the mass (both positive and negative space) will appear to float haphazardly in that space. Taking into account the size and shape of the muscle mass demonstrates an intentional placement and is more visually pleasing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> When getting a tattoo, it is easy to forget about the location when thinking about things like the design and the meaning of the symbol. A reputable tattooer will discuss with you the importance of size relative to the place you want to get the tattoo, and it is advice you should take into consideration. Even if it means that you may spend a little more money for a larger tattoo, your tattoo is an investment in you, one which will hopefully be with you for life. You will want to see your tattoo and know you made a good choice, instead of looking at an ill-fitting tattoo and wondering what you could have done differently.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jason Sorrell is a writer, tattoo artist, satirist, artist, and generally nice guy living in Austin, TX. He loves answering questions about tattoos. Shoot him a message at <a href="mailto:tattoonerdz@gmail.com" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/tattoonerdz/</a></span></i></span></div>
Jason Sorrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09793926939250996738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668999732118901581.post-78492318830545743632016-03-07T18:36:00.001-08:002017-04-10T12:50:19.476-07:00Tattoo Ink Expiration Dates<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO7H1-xfsXPntPAHZc4glQXvHbIjm_QhCDB2q6EKFLt3OdjNAVQxaPWkc3frsp1cb1wCFRS2CsnXfwPKQO_FqiA8yoUz513i-XhsQKLPvA24XykmLKIYLlPk1-VgJVKUDJMercKrwLAcA9/s1600/IMG_20160307_201421.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO7H1-xfsXPntPAHZc4glQXvHbIjm_QhCDB2q6EKFLt3OdjNAVQxaPWkc3frsp1cb1wCFRS2CsnXfwPKQO_FqiA8yoUz513i-XhsQKLPvA24XykmLKIYLlPk1-VgJVKUDJMercKrwLAcA9/s320/IMG_20160307_201421.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"><span style="font-family: sans-serif;"> </span><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tattoo Nerd,</span></i></span></div>
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<i style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Does tattoo ink really expire?</span></i></div>
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<i style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> -Mike</span></i></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"> </i><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">The answer is both yes and no, but more yes than no.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"><i> </i>In</span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">k is simply a pigment (heavy metals, oxidized metals, plastics, or other materials), mixed with a carrier fluid (usually an alcohol like ethyl alcohol or glycerin and/or distilled water). </span></span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">The majority of tattooers use pre-dispersed ink (pigment that has been mixed with a carrier, or is wet) sold by a trusted manufacturer. A few tattooers mix their ink themselves. Materials are selected based on what will produce the brightest possible and longest lasting color, what is least likely to induce a severe reaction in the body (all materials produce a reaction, resulting in the permanence of the tattoo), what will most easily and evenly go into the skin, and what will be cost-effective to produce.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWlqccMT1L3j8IqhP1-ew_k8-XuWdOSkoBjD3k4Y8DBu4VrAYTOTN0bxuqGNqPGpjXYuPH9psd4BYiqc2DJIQE5ne5BkVjG3cDJfQDnfMUY94DC-4En5N0ayvaFpc8WJxZBV0ogmJwDvTu/s1600/IMG_20160307_201540.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWlqccMT1L3j8IqhP1-ew_k8-XuWdOSkoBjD3k4Y8DBu4VrAYTOTN0bxuqGNqPGpjXYuPH9psd4BYiqc2DJIQE5ne5BkVjG3cDJfQDnfMUY94DC-4En5N0ayvaFpc8WJxZBV0ogmJwDvTu/s320/IMG_20160307_201540.jpg" width="180" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">Expiration Date on Eternal Ink</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Technically, inorganic pigment materials have no expiration. The carrier fluid will eventually evaporate in most ink-bottles. The plastic of the bottle and seals will break down enough in time to allow the evaporated fluid to escape. In theory, adding more carrier fluid to a bottle of ink that has dried out would result in usable dispersed ink.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> But, that is not the way to go.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Tattoo inks are regulated by the FDA, but it is a regulation that is rarely exercised. This is because the Tattoo Industry has become very good at self-regulation. The "shelf-life" of tattoo ink is often around two years, with most tattoo studios using up more common colors well before the expiration date. The best-practice in reputable shops is to throw expired ink away. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The idea of recharging a dried-out bottle of ink may be one considered for monetary reasons. After all, tattoo ink is one of the most expensive fluids on the market. On average, a one ounce bottle of premium tattoo ink costs between $8-$10. For the sake of comparison, an ounce of petroleum for your car is about $.02. At the time of this writing, an ounce of silver (the precious metal, not silver ink) is about $15. Again, despite the cost of ink, "recharging" is not the way to go. Studios that do mix their own ink do not do so for monetary reasons, but rather to have greater control of the color selection and quality (disbursement, longevity) of their ink.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> While the materials in tattoo ink do not technically expire, they can become contaminated. Assuming that the ink was bottled and sealed in a sterile environment (which may not be the case with some ink manufacturers), ink is exposed to contaminants as soon as the seal is broken. While the rate of contamination is slight with a bottle that remains capped when not in use, the longer the bottle sits the more contaminants it potentially contains. When fluid is lost from the bottle, by pouring ink from it for use or due to evaporation, air from the environment replaces the volume of fluid lost. In the average tattoo studio, that is air which has been in the lungs of several people and has been contaminated by blood-plasma and other organic particles that result from the tattoo process. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnZTItFYZTmdOIvRX2x9jmnXvUV9Bsb2BMs9CJzyjcvI-iDTvUwCrALwXeDjegcicie0_O7htKAeNUqpDbj2FfGnnwbB241UajNZINbvTU2GAw5nXhf3_ZTcOJ_SLNUPOdg_534g-OMrOR/s1600/IMG_20160307_201615.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnZTItFYZTmdOIvRX2x9jmnXvUV9Bsb2BMs9CJzyjcvI-iDTvUwCrALwXeDjegcicie0_O7htKAeNUqpDbj2FfGnnwbB241UajNZINbvTU2GAw5nXhf3_ZTcOJ_SLNUPOdg_534g-OMrOR/s320/IMG_20160307_201615.jpg" width="180" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">Expiration Date on Intenze</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The expiration date, while arbitrarily determined based on the shelf life of the container and in order to prevent external regulation as well as meet local health-codes governing the tattoo industry, serves as an excellent guide to help minimize the possibility of contamination placing a client at risk. Though the risk is extremely slight, anything we can do to reduce the risk is better for our clients and the industry as a whole. You are best served purchasing ink from manufacturers that use expiration dates, by checking your bottles on a monthly basis, and re-ordering inks that are about the expire in what is hopefully the rare time when an exotic ink nears the end of its shelf life. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #252525;"><span style="color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"> As an addendum, the best way to know what is a reputable source of ink is to take a look at a few tattoo studios in your area. Tattoo studios, to stay competitive, quickly move to new products or techniques if it appears that those products give another studio or artist an advantage. If you don't see your ink (or the ink of your tattooer) being commonly used in other studios, it is best to ask why. Cheap inks cause more problems than they solve.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #252525;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"> </span></span></span><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jason Sorrell is a writer, tattoo artist, satirist, artist, and generally nice guy living in Austin, TX. He loves answering questions about tattoos. Shoot him an email at <a href="mailto:sorrellart@hotmail.com" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/tattoonerdz/</a></span></i>
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Jason Sorrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09793926939250996738noreply@blogger.com55tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668999732118901581.post-27870090040676935922015-11-18T23:30:00.000-08:002017-04-10T12:50:59.410-07:00Friday the 13th Tattoo Specials; What You Need to Know<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnRDx_KtQiIxLTSBnFIkuot0CFGsgARUwKqQCE6Nw_fmzjAtHJxrfKWZ0WTb9xHybH6D1ENfIUEUOxRJVn3gTMJrGW_3pL-heBPuyYc_cKHKOslVx-RgNr7uP7IeuhJyM4nVii-xzQtBNV/s1600/13thlittlepricks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnRDx_KtQiIxLTSBnFIkuot0CFGsgARUwKqQCE6Nw_fmzjAtHJxrfKWZ0WTb9xHybH6D1ENfIUEUOxRJVn3gTMJrGW_3pL-heBPuyYc_cKHKOslVx-RgNr7uP7IeuhJyM4nVii-xzQtBNV/s320/13thlittlepricks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Bargain hunters, rejoice! Every year it seems that ever-more tattoo studios are running specials on Friday the 13th. You can get a tattoo for just $13! But, before you start planning your tattoo-sleeve design for the next Friday the 13th, there are some things you should know.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <b>Tattoo studios do this to increase awareness of their businesses.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Think of it as a wine-tasting at a winery, or samples being offered at a bakery. You are getting a little taste of what the tattoo studio has to offer, a sample. The tattoos being offered are small and limited to a select set of designs in order to make the process efficient. The tattooers want to take this time to show-off the studio, let people check out the atmosphere of the shop and their techniques, and introduce themselves to potential new clients. This is a great time for tattoo collectors to check out portfolios, visit shops, and talk to artists about future projects. Plus you get a nice new tattoo.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <b>What you can get tattooed will be extremely limited.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> As mentioned above, this is meant to be a chance to sample the work of the studio. Friday the 13th specials are generally $13 for the tattoo and a $7 set-up fee (things go faster if they don't have to make change, thus the total is an even $20). The tattoo you can get will come from a select set of tattoo flash-sheets, often a jumble of small designs. There will probably be a limit to the number of colors you are allowed to have in addition to black (often just two), and you will probably only be allowed to get the tattoo on certain parts of the body (generally no fingers, faces, necks, feet, or genitals). The size of the tattoo will be limited to the size of the design on the sheet, and the only modifications that will typically be allowed are those that take away from the design (such as dropping the number 13 from a design). The point is to make the process efficient; you pick a design and it gets tattooed.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAAMhgJcz_ETGF87i721AaIL_IyCkXHVQXex0TUC76EdjHuo0ZbpwRDbxe7ctyrxLXpxCFySo9nikvJYAtsj2iskvv2CarYbvdcII3AOMSDJxydukFOI4FJ4oTXiZENko0l0_JDwBAgsqi/s1600/13thflashs.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAAMhgJcz_ETGF87i721AaIL_IyCkXHVQXex0TUC76EdjHuo0ZbpwRDbxe7ctyrxLXpxCFySo9nikvJYAtsj2iskvv2CarYbvdcII3AOMSDJxydukFOI4FJ4oTXiZENko0l0_JDwBAgsqi/s320/13thflashs.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Pro-tip: the smaller the designs offered, the better the shop (typically). This is just my observation, but the better studios that do a Friday the 13th specials tend to offer a sheet or two full (and I mean FULL) of small tattoo designs. This is a decision driven by experience, more popular shops have heavier traffic on days when they run specials, so smaller designs make the process faster. They are popular shops BECAUSE the quality of work and the atmosphere of the shop are better than their competitors. Smaller designs equating to a better shop may not always be the case, but it is a good indicator.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <b>Do your research.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Getting a tattoo is the ultimate way to judge a shop, but it helps to plan ahead. Visit the shop you want to check-out and ask if they are having a special (ideally, do this the beginning of the month a Friday the 13th falls in, not six months out). Ask what kind of traffic they expect to have, and if they have a flash-sheet prepared for that day. Pick your designs in advance, if you can, and if you plan to visit multiple shops, come-up with a game plan taking into account how busy they may be.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <b>Arrive early.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> There is an old saying, 'the early bird gets the tattoo'. Okay, maybe it doesn't go quite like that, but it is a good idea to arrive early. For example, at <a href="http://littleprickstattoo.com/" target="_blank">Little Pricks Tattoo</a> in Austin, Texas, they started the day at noon, and by 6pm had to close their waiting list at four pages in order to get everyone who signed-in tattooed! People had to be turned away. Getting there early is a great idea.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <i>But, there is something to be said for not arriving too early</i>. Another reason not to be late is fatigue. Doing numerous small tattoos can wear a tattooer down faster than one large piece. However, since tattoo (like any art) is a physical exercise, it is always better when the athlete has warmed-up a bit. While a good shop will have great artists who are consistent in their work-quality, it could be argued that the tattooer will hit their sweet-spot after the third or fourth tattoo (in this marathon-type situation). Not a rule of any kind, but something to think about when getting in line at the door before the shop opens. <i>Maybe let a few guys get in line ahead of you.</i> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <b>Be prepared.</b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZyIYUVysve3nbCHx65XfaoeOMMyEI2jdQC1n0zznISuC7U0UHJMxR8rTqEqD-domT9Cc5JMSmbh8VniGvemdaluAbx5J9ddeUlR0LrFGwooqfBYC1frdY3MziRYXa5VD7Cwkl0ca7GsOK/s1600/13granny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZyIYUVysve3nbCHx65XfaoeOMMyEI2jdQC1n0zznISuC7U0UHJMxR8rTqEqD-domT9Cc5JMSmbh8VniGvemdaluAbx5J9ddeUlR0LrFGwooqfBYC1frdY3MziRYXa5VD7Cwkl0ca7GsOK/s320/13granny.jpg" width="286" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tattooer: Kyle Giffen</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> You can really help your tattooer by being a little prepared. In addition to knowing what you want, know where you want to get it. If you are a hairy guy like your favorite tattoo-nerd, maybe give that area a trim. You may be there a while, so have something to do for when you have already walked around the shop a few times checking-out the art-work and looked through everyone's portfolio. Be prepared to step-out to a convenience store or restaurant for a bite to eat. If you have questions for your tattooer, have an idea what you are going to ask. If you want to talk about a future tattoo, bring your reference designs or anything that might help you explain to your tattooer what you want.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <b>Be courteous to your fellow collectors.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> If you are at a good studio, it is going to get crowded. Try not to crowd the front desk or stand too long in one spot in the shop. Give other people a chance to sign-in, conduct their business, and check out the shop. If you are going to eat, step outside. It is great to be enthusiastic about being a part of the tattoo-tribe, but don't be too pushy about interjecting your ideas when you hear someone else having a conversation with your tattooer. When someone is getting a tattoo, that is their time with the tattooer, so keep your chit-chat to a minimum and save your questions for when you are in the chair if you can.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <b>Be respectful to your studio.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> You know why it is called a special? Because there are special conditions, and it doesn't happen everyday. $13 tattoo day is not the time to negotiate price on your selected tattoo. Trying to get a price better than $13 is just not cool. Be flexible about your spot in line, if you are not around when your name gets called they are going to go to the next person, but you will be moved to the top as soon as you get back. Let your tattooer or the shop-help know if you are stepping-out for a smoke, adjourning to the restroom, or going down the street for a bite to eat, especially if you are getting close to your turn. Ask about taking pictures, especially while the tattooers are working on someone else. Understand that you are encouraged to wander the shop, but stay out of work-spaces,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> And, if the studio you are at is fully booked, don't ask if they know if another shop is running the same special! That is just poor tattoo etiquette!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <i>Also, a huge THANK YOU to Little Pricks Tattoo for letting me visit, to Kyle Giffen for my awesome new tattoos, and for just being a great tattoo studio. Check them out at <a href="http://littleprickstattoo.com/" target="_blank">LittlePricksTattoo.com</a>!</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <b><i>The next five Friday the 13ths are...</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i> </i>May 13th, 2016</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> January 13th, 2017</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> October 13th, 2017</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> April 13th, 2018</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> July 13th, 2018</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></b><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jason Sorrell is a writer, tattoo artist, satirist, artist, and generally nice guy living in Austin, TX. He loves answering questions about tattoos. Shoot him a message at <a href="mailto:sorrellart@hotmail.com" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/tattoonerdz/</a></span></i></div>
Jason Sorrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09793926939250996738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668999732118901581.post-87390096051203203232015-11-14T07:48:00.001-08:002017-04-10T12:54:26.784-07:00Rebirth of the Green Monster, Birth Defect?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEtzHmd72scPRtqZoIR5v1umB1Xsl3AT1ZzYbsS7NUnHMZQSysCDdgIMb9ZGPDtIQVrGzcBhQw-rp1XOnTDnoUZvklbIBCP7BiG5Os7t78EYt8eX6k11dnr4igDCjaDriTfKIMcJ7wF5JV/s1600/greenmonster1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEtzHmd72scPRtqZoIR5v1umB1Xsl3AT1ZzYbsS7NUnHMZQSysCDdgIMb9ZGPDtIQVrGzcBhQw-rp1XOnTDnoUZvklbIBCP7BiG5Os7t78EYt8eX6k11dnr4igDCjaDriTfKIMcJ7wF5JV/s320/greenmonster1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> I love Eikon Device's Green Monster coil tattoo machines. They are great machines at a relatively low price-point (less than $200). They include the innovation Tru-Spring armature bar and springs and separate the coil from the capacitor for simpler maintenance. Their performance is consistently excellent. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> To be fair, these were also the machines being talked about as THE standard for production machines when I was learning to tattoo. Maybe Eikon simply did an excellent job in marketing the machines, or maybe they really were the first to do something radical like take specific measurements of machine speed, performance, and the way that the various components of the device worked together. The Green Monster did seem to have a major impact on the industry, creating a need for power-supplies that offered a measurement of your machine's output instead of just a 1-10 power-setting. It also seemed to create an awareness among tattooers regarding what precisely their machines where doing and why. There are better coil machines on the market today, but I would argue that the Green Monster defined the standards upon which many of those machines are based.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE1hU6rT8GyUhKF-DfMbLdWi_7a2vdPJZWUspumjOTYyLQME08slnIgWSbn8MAiu8UBiRijEDDcj-FYC_SN8xTo3bOyVR5aJTDRFqAHokr7MIZHv6sus680ZQ8UZIKO-zoeObmHzt1EcCQ/s1600/greenmonster3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE1hU6rT8GyUhKF-DfMbLdWi_7a2vdPJZWUspumjOTYyLQME08slnIgWSbn8MAiu8UBiRijEDDcj-FYC_SN8xTo3bOyVR5aJTDRFqAHokr7MIZHv6sus680ZQ8UZIKO-zoeObmHzt1EcCQ/s320/greenmonster3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Original</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Naturally, when I received an email from Eikon Device offering an updated version of the classic Green Monster, I was excited. The big change is the coil-position on the frame; they are moved forward on the frame-base to improve the performance of the machine. Everything else about the machine is fairly standard. They do offer the additional sales pitch about every machine being "hand tuned by Mack Bregg". That was the first red-flag in my mind, albeit a minor one. Who is Mack Bregg, and how does he know how I like my machine to perform? What tattooer in his or her right mind starts tattooing with a machine straight out of the box without checking it and making adjustments? Are we also to expect that whatever Mack did with the timing-screw actually held while the machine was being jostled through the shipping process? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> This, however, is the real issue for me.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn8FsvsToNLseMQ7psvHcy-PmTLFPkYY4SbD4N0LF1MWFBwxuPeEvuXZmPHMw6uDRzDhF_X4fn4xk6zs7niViw1QQHvUiehLjt9SEdptorq23mZ2G9nGzc7FuCpF6drPHDaYn5iKSA1Ecn/s1600/greenmonster5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn8FsvsToNLseMQ7psvHcy-PmTLFPkYY4SbD4N0LF1MWFBwxuPeEvuXZmPHMw6uDRzDhF_X4fn4xk6zs7niViw1QQHvUiehLjt9SEdptorq23mZ2G9nGzc7FuCpF6drPHDaYn5iKSA1Ecn/s400/greenmonster5.jpg" width="397" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnlzUrvFdj6FlAe_vPG8prRbkgSpDUVnHqSvmjbUeN2l1_T3Qqys1aE7Qr3PNAvVXuWV3ze7A6G_WGY87Ew0BL12YTivosSVbUnm_kgOZMOPo61F2cmc3wgyY-LoLQ-pZmjoEk19iox-QK/s1600/greenmonster4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnlzUrvFdj6FlAe_vPG8prRbkgSpDUVnHqSvmjbUeN2l1_T3Qqys1aE7Qr3PNAvVXuWV3ze7A6G_WGY87Ew0BL12YTivosSVbUnm_kgOZMOPo61F2cmc3wgyY-LoLQ-pZmjoEk19iox-QK/s320/greenmonster4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yeah, like this one.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> What is that? It looks like a rubber medallion set in the machine frame. Maybe it is a medal stamp, but whatever. Look at the space between the edge of the medallion and the frame itself. Now, imagine what can get in there. It is a bacteria trap! How are you supposed to clean that? While it is not a huge design flaw in regards to performance, it is major step in the wrong direction when it comes to ease of maintenance with the machine. The original Green Monster had no adornments; simplicity and efficiency made the machine what it is. I want this machine, I really do, but Eikon may as well have just welded one of those gaudy belt-buckle face-plates to the uprights on the frame. That medallion makes just about as much sense. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> In conclusion, IF I do actually get one of these machines (and it is a big if), I know I will want to see if I can pop that thing out of the frame. I know how important branding is, and getting away from the green paint-job is a plus for myself and other fans of the Green Monster, but, really? It is a near-miss, Eikon Device, and you lost points because you went for a little flourish on the end. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jason Sorrell is a writer, tattoo artist, satirist, artist, and generally nice guy living in Austin, TX. He loves answering questions about tattoos. Shoot him a message at <a href="mailto:sorrellart@hotmail.com" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/tattoonerdz/</a></span></i></span></div>
Jason Sorrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09793926939250996738noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668999732118901581.post-48134119369963426522015-06-22T12:55:00.001-07:002017-04-10T12:58:34.737-07:00Is Your Significant Other Holding You Back?<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqoSXW-qLwnm9Kvo1A61_48e6phCp83tXHYAczqZZaWQORVlBHvrquGE14-9GH4IRfppwLT7fM_3zeyZzHCPZG8BQZ6vZkbJjxxLlXM3xW28v6LYbQ8B9HOFtMKgScARAKDgJxxOYMTc2e/s1600/tattoogirl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqoSXW-qLwnm9Kvo1A61_48e6phCp83tXHYAczqZZaWQORVlBHvrquGE14-9GH4IRfppwLT7fM_3zeyZzHCPZG8BQZ6vZkbJjxxLlXM3xW28v6LYbQ8B9HOFtMKgScARAKDgJxxOYMTc2e/s400/tattoogirl.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i> Tattoo Nerd,</i></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> I started dating this girl shortly after I finished my apprenticeship. We've been together for almost two years now. I feel I was honest with her about the realities of being a tattooer; long hours, that I was just starting out, that I wasn't going to always have money, and she seemed to understand and even encourage me at first. Lately, though, she does nothing but complain about my "hobby", the people at the shop I work at (fellow tattooers and customers), and tells me I "should get a real job". What do I do to convince her that being a tattooer is a "real job"?</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Yep, that sucks.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Let's start with a disclaimer. I am not a romance expert. My past is a long-list of broken relationships and often angry women. I am not the guy to go to in order to save your relationship. That said, your concern is a common one, something I have both witnessed among others and seen myself first hand.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Years ago, when I was considering becoming a tattooer, I was dating another artist. I was working in a warehouse at the time and she was a painter. She was used to a moderately high-standard of living, her parents where well-off and provided for her in many ways. We talked about moving south, and I began discussing becoming a tattooer. She was almost immediately put-off. Tattooing was too "low-brow" for her tastes, and she was concerned about all the nude women I might see. When I asked if she would have the same reservation (about nude women) if I wished to become a gynecologist, she stated that she wouldn't mind because of the money I would be making.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> A month or so later, I broke it off with her. It wasn't about supporting me in the pursuit of my passions, it was about how much money I could bring her.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> A relationship should be a mutual partnership, with both parties fully aware and appreciative of their own value and what their partner brings to the table. You don't go into a relationship thinking you can change the other person, you go into it embracing their flaws. As tattooers, we can be very "flawed", especially when held to the standards of the 9-5 world. Your partner has to know, and appreciate, the life you live; long hours, inconsistent income, late nights, the "party-element" without the party, and your dedication to craft. This is a hard pill to swallow for most people. We often make the mistake of thinking we can change our partners, that one day we will hit our stride in our careers and they will learn to appreciate and support us. It is a wonderful dream, but clinging to it will probably lead to more frustration for all parties involved.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> That frustration can lead to problems in your work. From just being unable to enjoy the job because of troubles at home to drama that can happen when the significant other decides to lose-it at your shop, a relationship with the wrong person can damage your career. Ask yourself if your significant other believes or has even stated any of the following:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <b>Is your job "just a hobby", "not real", or "easy"?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> This is indicative of someone who has no awareness of what it takes to be a tattooer. They are oblivious to the long hours, the frustration of not having a consistent income, the haggling with customers who under-value your work. They have no appreciation of the commitment-to-craft it takes to be a tattooer. Often, the problem is that they are envious of your job, especially when they are unhappy in their own work. Misery loves company, and they would rather you join them in their suffering than try to enjoy and be a part of your pursuit of happiness.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <b>Is there "no money" in tattooing?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> We know this is simply bullshit. The average tattoo artist makes $30,000 to $50,000 a year. The problem for most people in a relationship with a tattooer is that the income is inconsistent. Some months you might make several thousand dollars, others only a few hundred. Meanwhile, they have an income they can count on. When they count on you, the tattooer, to consistently help with the bills and you have a bad month, this leads to problems if you are not prepared. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Frankly, this is more the fault of the tattooer than the partner. In an ideal world, you as a tattooer would not be in a situation where someone was relying on you financially until you saved some money and learned to manage your inconsistent income. That can take a couple of years for a new tattooer, maybe more. It is far easier for your partner to deal with the lean-times as a tattooer if you have already prepared for them on your own in advance. If you are a tattooer who is relying on someone else to augment your income, then you deserve the troubles you have.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <b>"All you think about is work" and they want to party.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> This is the death-knell of a tattooer's relationship. That partner that in the beginning thought it would be cool to date a tattooer and hang-out at a tattoo shop, only to discover that there are long hours, and while we have fun, it is still a business. The social-status of dating a tattooer suddenly doesn't mean much when your friends are partying and your tattooer-partner cannot go with you. They may enjoy the money you are earning, but not the work that is behind it. When the attention that you give them is not enough, be prepared for them to start seeking that attention elsewhere.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> On the flip-side of this is expecting your partner to cater to you while you are at work. They deserve to have a life as much as you, and you made the choice to live that life in a tattoo studio. They did not. Being okay with your partner going to the clubs with his or her friends takes a great deal of either trust or apathy. Expecting them to run your errands for you while you are at the shop is almost as bad as expecting them to pay your bills. A relationship is a two-way street, and if you both have problems with that, you may want to re-think the whole thing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <b>Are your clients and co-workers beneath them, or have they said they don't like tattoos?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> First of all, it is a real testament to your game if you are covered with tattoos and work as a tattooer and someone who has a contemptuous view on tattoos and tattooed people is dating you. The resentment from this situation is just going to fuel both you and your partner's frustration. Again, it suggests a lack of appreciation for your career; it is more than what you do, it is who you are. They may think things will be great when you "grow out of tattooing", while you know you will be doing this for the rest of your life. It is unlikely that either of you will come around to the other person's way of thinking.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <b>Your money is their money.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> In a relationship, you should share most things. For many tattooers, it is nice to have a partner who manages your income and handles your bills. The problem we often run into is when our partners see us as an ATM for their party-life, or we expect them to work miracles with what little we have. You have to both know what you are getting into when you join incomes and trust one another with your expenses. You are each far better off knowing you can manage your own bills rather than relying on one another's income. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <b>They don't trust you with attractive clients.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> This is a deal breaker. As tattooers, we often have clients who are enhancing their body-image with art. Often, when a client wants to enhance their body, they have a body they want to show-off. If your partner is insecure about themselves and their own image, then this could lead to trouble, Furthermore, if you met your partner when they were getting a tattoo in your chair, then they know the opportunity exists. This is just one of the reasons it is a bad idea to date a client. It takes maturity and trust, on the part of both you and your partner, to overcome this problem.</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The tattoo lifestyle caters much more to dating than being in a relationship. Tattooers live a life that is outside what many people expect from a significant-other, often move from one location to another, and are not as "available" as many people with a romantic interest would like. Being focused on our careers and art is also often hard for someone else to deal with, especially if they want that focus to be on them. Until you are in a fairly stable situation, you will need someone who is extremely understanding and well aware of what they are getting into if you get into a relationship. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jason Sorrell is a writer, tattoo artist, satirist, artist, and generally nice guy living in Austin, TX. He loves answering questions about tattoos. Shoot him a message at <a href="mailto:sorrellart@hotmail.com" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/tattoonerdz/</a></span></i></div>
<br />Jason Sorrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09793926939250996738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668999732118901581.post-81610982285952781212015-03-11T13:42:00.001-07:002017-04-10T12:59:13.604-07:00Choices Have Consequences: Facial Tattoos Denied at Houston Eatery<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLMMuro_VAd5xdlsLfM5rC33CSkKsJRA-wtpKz4nZNy6KJa4qOIpP2TOjh1Y-KjCTTb_qqzXUvlu4Ar8Z5Z9Az9VSSuLZP809IJU-EcEUzt_5Rswb4eme-vAHSbzAZyesbzUP1r3uEc-ri/s1600/leighton2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLMMuro_VAd5xdlsLfM5rC33CSkKsJRA-wtpKz4nZNy6KJa4qOIpP2TOjh1Y-KjCTTb_qqzXUvlu4Ar8Z5Z9Az9VSSuLZP809IJU-EcEUzt_5Rswb4eme-vAHSbzAZyesbzUP1r3uEc-ri/s1600/leighton2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Once again, we have someone surprised that the world does not adjust to their personal choices. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Making the rounds on the news this
morning was a story about a man who was denied service at a
restaurant because he had facial tattoos. The facts of the story are
as follows. Eric Leighton and a friend went into a Houston-area Bombshells Restaurant, after going to a rodeo, to get something to eat. They were seated for less than a
minute when they were approached by a police officer. The officer
was working as security at this restaurant, which is located in an
area that has some issues with gangs. Because of the gang-issues, the
restaurant has a policy designed to keep out potential problems, which apparently includes denying service to people with facial tattoos. The
officer advised the men of the policy and told them they would have
to leave. Leighton and his friend left, and Leighton posted about the
issue on Facebook. From there, the story went viral.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The lesson here is one that bares
repeating; choices have consequences. As a tattooer, every studio I
have worked at refused to do tattoos that are potentially
gang-related. The reason for this is simple; as a business we did
not wish to cater to the criminal element. We did not want to become the
“gang tattoo studio” and have thugs discouraging our other
clients from patronizing our business. The tattoo industry has struggled for too long to overcome its less-than-legitimate history. This is a simple business
decision; we don't want to have people in our place of business who
may be disruptive or damaging to our profits. We don't want our reputation damaged by association. It simply is not
worth it.</span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Furthermore, when a client requests a
facial tattoo, there is always a conversation about the potential
consequences of that decision. That conversation extends beyond just
how such a tattoo can impact their employment options. It includes
the reality that people may react poorly to the facial tattoo, that
having a facial tattoo is making a statement that not everyone will
appreciate. Having a facial tattoo means that you accept those
consequences and are willing to tolerate the negative reactions that
others may have. When getting a tattoo on your face, you need to be aware that there are some businesses that will not hire you and some venues that will deny you entrance.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> This really should come as no surprise.</span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Choices have consequences. Leighton sounds like a hard-working, upstanding individual, and definitely not
a gang-banger. However, he should understand that his choice to have
a facial tattoo lumps him in with an element of our society that
cultivates a negative reaction. If a business chooses not to cater
to that element of our society by making blanket policies regarding
dress and appearance, then they cannot differentiate on a
case-by-case basis regarding that policy. If red or blue bandannas are
not allowed because of their gang-related symbolism, it doesn't
matter that you are a sixty year-old cowboy, the policy is that you
take off the bandanna if you want to eat at that restaurant. Imagine the outrage that would ensue if it was discovered that a restaurant did try to differentiate between regular tattooed folk and "gang-related" tattooed folk. The fallout would be far worse.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> This policy is no different than policies at some restaurants requiring a jacket and tie. It is no different than some clubs that will not let you in if you are wearing baggy-pants, a baseball cap, or track clothes. While it is true that clothing can be changed, the choice to get a permanent marking on your face was one made by the individual. Just as an individual has a right to get a facial tattoo, a business has a right to deny service to someone for aesthetic choices out of concern for the impact it may have on their reputation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Bombshells is not the only eatery in
the area. If they choose not to cater to you, then their choice has
a consequence as well. You can go down the street to their
competitors. You can choose not to eat in that area. You can tell
your friends and encourage them not to eat there. You cannot,
however, demand that the business change their policy to cater to
you. Leighton is not necessarily making that request, but the story
has taken on that aspect. Leighton did say, "If they're discriminating against face tattoos, what else are they discriminating against."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The answer, Eric, is criminal activity. Even a sports-bar is entitled to have certain standards. If you have the right to get a facial
tattoo, others have a right to choose not to interact with you. Your
right should not negate the right of another. The restaurant is not to blame in this situation. Blame the thugs and criminals who get their faces tattooed, who commit crimes that give businesses reason to be concerned, and as a result continue to sully the reputation of the tattoo community at large.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> I will say it again, as I have said on
other posts of this nature; think before you ink. You have to take
the good with the bad. If you are not willing to accept that your
choice may not be appreciated by others, and cannot handle the
potential negative consequences, then maybe it is a choice you should
avoid.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jason Sorrell is a writer, tattoo artist, satirist, artist, and generally nice guy living in Austin, TX. He loves answering questions about tattoos. Shoot him a message at <a href="mailto:sorrellart@hotmail.com" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/tattoonerdz/</a></span></i></div>
Jason Sorrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09793926939250996738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668999732118901581.post-66493458587517356122015-03-04T21:39:00.000-08:002017-04-10T13:00:02.327-07:00Top Ten Tattoo Healing Concerns (In No Particular Order)<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Since starting my blog on tattooing, I have gotten asked a lot of questions from people who have recently been tattooed or are planning to get a tattoo about the healing process. It is awesome that so many people are seeking my opinion about their tattoos, and I am always happy to offer my advice. Often, the questions asked are about common concerns. Here are the ten most common questions I have been asked, in no particular order.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">-Can I exercise/participate in sports while my tattoo is healing?</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <i>I'm getting a tattoo this weekend, and the next weekend I will be participating in a tennis tournament. Should I wait to get my tattoo until after the tournament, and are there any risks involved with getting a tattoo and working out?</i></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Generally, there are no real concerns with exercise effecting your tattoo. The biggest concern I would have is the tenderness of the tattoo effecting your performance. You would want to lightly moisturize the tattoo before and after the event, to prevent any possible damage from the skin stretching a "dry" tattoo. You also want to make certain you can clean the tattoo after the event (assuming that you will be sweating more than normal), and if the tattoo is normally under your clothes you will want to put on a clean outfit. </span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJTRiB8-OYqlyhFvuAF61jTTd8sRXaXSqnFxY-NGu1FpsM-mxmPkE1PkQlsTPYZQUNoD7rk0upLMeeVYO5KcH60sF5uCAam_QNGNjmTG9qsuYhsxzPvz5rfApPhyphenhyphenwdXOr8AOSYTAeMOJWV/s1600/tan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJTRiB8-OYqlyhFvuAF61jTTd8sRXaXSqnFxY-NGu1FpsM-mxmPkE1PkQlsTPYZQUNoD7rk0upLMeeVYO5KcH60sF5uCAam_QNGNjmTG9qsuYhsxzPvz5rfApPhyphenhyphenwdXOr8AOSYTAeMOJWV/s1600/tan.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not for at least two weeks.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">-Can I use a tanning-bed?</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <i>I am really excited about showing-off my summer-bod. I have lost a LOT of weight, have been going to a tanning salon, and now I want to get a cute little tattoo. I know I have to keep the tattoo out of sunlight as much as possible. Do tanning beds effect tattoos?</i></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The guidelines for keeping your tattoo out of the sun as much as possible are the same for tanning beds. You would probably notice that the light from the bed would irritate the exposed tattoo. Tanning can also fade your tattoo, and the darker your skin gets the less bright your tattoo will be. The tattoo is a few layers under the outer-most layer of skin, so it will be like seeing your tattoo through a tinted window. You will want to hold off your visits to the tanning bed for at least two weeks.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">-Are raised areas of skin normal in the tattoo?</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <i>It has been about three weeks, and my tattoo seems to be healed (no skin peeling or scabs). I noticed that some of the lines feel raised. Will this go away in time and is that normal?</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Your skin is one huge organ with lots of different areas and types that react differently to being tattooed. The thickness of your skin is not consistent throughout. The raised areas are your skin's response to being perforated by a needle repeatedly. Initially, you may have noticed that the entire tattoo was slightly raised, but most of it went down to normal. Some areas, however, take longer or will remain raised. Your skin is, in essence, scarred. While more experienced tattooers are better able to avoid damaging the skin in this manner, it can sometimes happen even when every precaution is taken. Once the tattoo is healed, you may want to try a scar reducing agent, like aloe vera sap. </span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVQaNlV07zA-3s8U-Z2Msmf2HxX8F0UvQS0FS5U_Ymwt80OlAYqGZ0Ng4OirGc-lBASGokvpARCwoeuf4LGhnC2UncrioymTk_UWGEdw3xJLEQ85LITyFft-e1u8VDP8xBHjiO3v6wLDg4/s1600/red1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVQaNlV07zA-3s8U-Z2Msmf2HxX8F0UvQS0FS5U_Ymwt80OlAYqGZ0Ng4OirGc-lBASGokvpARCwoeuf4LGhnC2UncrioymTk_UWGEdw3xJLEQ85LITyFft-e1u8VDP8xBHjiO3v6wLDg4/s1600/red1.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After a few days, this may be a problem.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">-Is it normal for my tattoo to be red and hot?</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b> </b><i>I noticed a few days after getting my tattoo that there is some redness around the area and the tattoo feels warmer than the rest of my skin. Is this normal?</i></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Redness and a fevered feeling is normal with a new tattoo for the first few days. Your tattoo is basically an abrasion, and the redness and heat is typical of your body trying to heal the wound. If the redness radiates from the tattoo, it has the appearance of a rash, has bumps or weeps anything more than a thin, clear fluid, talk to your tattooer and/or a doctor.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">-How long does it take to heal?</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b> </b><i>I am getting my first tattoo in a couple of weeks, and I was wondering how long it will take to heal.</i></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i> </i>Healing times for a tattoo vary, and it can of depends on what you mean by "healed". A tattoo can take three-to-six months to heal "completely", and even then the area is still technically contaminated with a foreign material (tattoo ink). You body will be working to remove the ink from your skin for the rest of your life, which is one of the factors that contributes to fading. That said, the time generally given for the skin to return to being relatively normal is two weeks. This is an average, as the real indicators are that the tattoo no longer has any scabs and is no longer peeling. This is when the integrity of the tattoo skin can handle sunlight and being submerged in water without any real risks.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7EkOsFNFbJUDGnwjrWZyIGUbJTJvzzAgQayDvmsjPbEx9pePxshIQphYZAvaWS5lBRFB5eGXodUYg8gHRu54qOQ5wBMT5Nhlcl4ZfxUVNB5vWGgb-5QkEaHbgZviCVccpKFTb0ExViCKD/s1600/red2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7EkOsFNFbJUDGnwjrWZyIGUbJTJvzzAgQayDvmsjPbEx9pePxshIQphYZAvaWS5lBRFB5eGXodUYg8gHRu54qOQ5wBMT5Nhlcl4ZfxUVNB5vWGgb-5QkEaHbgZviCVccpKFTb0ExViCKD/s1600/red2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Really not normal.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">-How long before I go swimming?</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <i>I want to get a tattoo, but I also really want to go tubing on the river in a week with my friends. How long do I need to wait after getting a tattoo before I get in water?</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The best time to get a tattoo is in the winter, and this is just one of the reasons. In the winter, there is no real urge to "hit the beach", and by the summer your tattoo will be healed and looking great. That said, you should wait until all the scabs have fallen off your tattoo and the skin is done peeling. This generally takes about two weeks.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">-When should I apply skin cream?</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b> </b><i>My tattoo artist told me to apply a skin cream with no perfumes or dyes during the first two weeks while the tattoo is healing, after I wash it three times a day. Sometimes it gets really dry. Should I apply more moisturizer?</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i> </i>In my opinion, yes. The reason you moisturize after washing your tattoo is because the soap and water can dry it out. If your tattoo becomes too dry, the scabs can crack, leading to bleeding and ink-loss. However, you do not want to over-moisturize, either. When your skin starts to feel dry and taunt, apply a very small amount of moisturizer.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">-Is heavy scabbing on some parts of the tattoo normal?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b> </b><i>I noticed that some parts of my tattoo, in particular the large, black areas, are more heavily scabbed that others. Is that normal?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i> </i>Yes, that is normal. The more worked the skin is, the heavier the scabbing will tend to be. Black is the least forgiving when it comes to open or light spots, so tattooers tend to hit black heavier than other colors. However, heavy scabbing will probably also lead to fading in that area. Keep it moisturized, definitely do not pick at it, and if it needs a touch-up speak to your tattooer.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">-My tattoo really itches. What should I do?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <i>It has been about 8 days since I got my tattoo and it has really started to itch. What causes the itching and what should I do about it?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i> </i>Your skin goes through a phased-healing process, which involves a layer of skin growing over the tattoo that will initially die and peel off. Another layer typically grows, dies, and peels off as well. Your body's reaction to peeling skin is to become itchy so you will scratch the old skin off and reveal the layer of new skin beneath. DO NOT ITCH YOUR TATTOO! You can try slapping your skin AROUND that tattoo, or itching near the tattoo (tricking the brain into believing the area has been relieved). Other than that, it is best to just tough it out.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">-When should I speak to my tattooer or a doctor about problems with my tattoo?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b> </b><i>I don't know if I am being a baby or not, but this is my first tattoo and I have some concerns about the way it is healing. Reading your blog has let me know that most of what I am worried about is probably normal. I was wondering when I should be worried enough to see a doctor?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> I wouldn't want to just assume that anything medical I read about on the Internet was applicable to me. Treat what you read as a suggestion. If your worried about anything to do with your tattoo, start by talking to your tattooer. They can verify if what you are seeing is worthy of concern and suggest what you can do if there is a problem, probably saving you hundreds of dollars in doctor's fees in the process. However, if you are not confident in your tattooer's advice, see a doctor. Better safe than sorry.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jason Sorrell is a writer, tattoo artist, satirist, artist, and generally nice guy living in Austin, TX. He loves answering questions about tattoos. Shoot him a message at <a href="mailto:sorrellart@hotmail.com" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/tattoonerdz/</a></span></i></div>
Jason Sorrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09793926939250996738noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668999732118901581.post-65864951019978744962015-03-01T23:18:00.001-08:002017-04-10T13:00:37.771-07:00 Getting a Tattoo From Someone Other Than Your Regular Artist<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You have a tattooer that you really like. He or she does amazing work, you have a good relationship, you get a fair price for your tattoos, and you have gotten a few tattoos from this one artist. You feel like this person is "your tattooer", the person you go to for your tattoos and advice on tattoos. Your tattooer is strongest, however, with one particular style of tattoos, and you want a tattoo in a style that you think will be outside their skill-set. In other words, you have another tattoo artist in mind, but you don't want to damage the relationship you have with your current tattooer. What do you do?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> If this scenario sounds a little odd to you, it is because with most professionals this would not be an issue. An Italian Chef is not going to hold it against his clients if one night they decide to go to an American Restaurant because they were in the mood for some American Food. Unfortunately, tattooers are often a bit superstitious about the industry, maybe even a little paranoid. We often find ourselves with the mentality that every tattoo done by another tattooer is an opportunity lost, and money out of our own pockets. When one of our clients goes to another artist, we tattooers worry that the shop will be better, that the other artist will offer a negative opinion of our work or try to undercut our pricing, or will frankly just provide a better experience for the client. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The reality is that all of these concerns are valid, at least to a point. We tattooers tend not to see that those concerns are well with in our control. Being tattooers ourselves, we should assume that our work will be critiqued and the other tattooer will try to win over our client. The question we should ask ourselves is what steps we took to prevent that tattooer from being successful? If we are concerned about the quality of our shop, then we should have stepped-up and corrected any deficiency. If we are afraid of a negative critique, then we need to be our own worst critics and truly strive to improve and do our best work on every tattoo. If we think the other tattooer might provide a better experience, then we need to know and correct the ways which we miss the mark. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> In short, if our client needs to go to another tattooer for one tattoo because it is simply outside our skill-set, we need to be confident that this is the ONLY reason they are going to another tattooer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> From the onset of this idea, we have a problem. If your client feels that they need to be concerned about offending you, then you have already done something wrong. Your client should recognize that you are a professional, fully aware of your own strengths and weaknesses. If you are a professional, then you should have no issue discussing with your client what their tattoo needs are, how you can address them, and if you are unable to meet their needs, how they should go about finding an artist who can. Indeed, as a professional caring for your client, it may even behoove you to have an artist or two in mind you know will do the job, offer a fair price, and treat your client in the same manner you would.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> A doctor will recommend their patients to a specialist when necessary. A mechanic will send work to another shop if their customer's car needs something they do not offer. If your client comes to you seeking advice about getting a tattoo from another artist, you should feel good that you have built a professional relationship with your client and they see you as a resource they can trust in the tattoo industry. Taking care of your client, even if it means sending them down the street for a tattoo that is outside your skill-set, is better than losing them because you have a poor attitude, or worse because you gave them a tattoo that was not on par with your normal work when you couldn't bare to do the right thing and send their money to someone else. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> As a client, you should know that despite our sometimes fragile artistic egos, we tattooers tend to be realists. If your tattooer does primarily American Traditional work, and you want a portrait, you should be confident that your tattooer will steer you right. We tell our clients to always, always, ALWAYS look at portfolios when shopping for an artist, and we hope that the reason you selected us was founded on the strength of our portfolios. With this in mind, we also must know that if a style of tattoo that you want is not in our portfolio, you will have concerns about our ability to execute it. You should expect professionalism from your tattooer, and that they will be willing to talk to you about any aspect of the tattoo process, including potentially needing to go to another artist.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> If you consider someone your tattooer, simply be open and frank with them. Tell them what you want and what your concerns are about their ability to do the tattoo, Be prepared also to give them the opportunity to show you what they can do with your concept.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> What that means is being willing to pay your tattooer's drawing fee and being open to seeing their take on your idea. Your tattooer is your tattooer for a reason; you like their style and their technique. It may be that they can present your concept in a manner that you had not considered, translating it into their style. This will have the added advantage of keeping your work consistent, as you will hopefully get many additional tattoos from that tattooer. Being ready to pay when you have this discussion also demonstrates that you are sincere about your appreciation of their work and that you really do want to keep them on as your tattooer. Your tattooer may even be willing to apply that drawing fee as a down-payment on your next tattoo from them, depending on your relationship.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> You, as a client, should never be anxious about addressing concerns with your tattooer. If you are, then you may have reason to be concerned. Not every tattooer can do every tattoo, and a professional tattooer will want you to have good tattoo work, even if the work is not their own. They would rather have you sing their praises for taking care of them than have a tattoo you regret getting and they regret doing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><i style="background-color: #333333; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.1999998092651px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">Jason Sorrell is a writer, tattoo artist, satirist, artist, and generally nice guy living in Austin, TX. He loves answering questions about tattoos. Shoot him a message at <a href="mailto:tattoonerdz@gmail.com" style="color: #cc6600; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/tattoonerdz/</a>.</i></div>
Jason Sorrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09793926939250996738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668999732118901581.post-32212848245191920822015-02-09T21:01:00.000-08:002017-04-10T13:05:50.318-07:00 Tattoos and Plagiarism<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't sue me, Uncle Walt!</td></tr>
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Plagiarism is an ongoing concern in the tattoo industry, rearing its ugly head in three forms. The first is direct tattoo plagiarism; when an unscrupulous "tattooer" pulls photos from the Internet or other sources and claims the tattoos displayed are their work. I have seen this kind of thing go even further with wanna-be tattooers stealing entire portfolios out of shops. Usually, there are some tell-tale indications of this. Whenever someone would come to the shop I worked at and displayed a portfolio with numerous divergent styles and inconsistency in quality of work, a simply image-search on Google usually revealed the scam. The reason for this act is simple; a "tattooer" who has not been professionally trained through an apprenticeship has come to the conclusion that the only way to grow (or to make real money) is to be in a tattoo studio. Should they bother to try to get in with their own woefully inadequate portfolio, they quickly recognize that if they can get away with taking credit for another person's work, they can get their foot in the door. Internet savvy studios catch this scam quickly, and if not it becomes obvious during the audition tattoo that is a common practice in most shops.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The second form of plagiarism is when a tattooer copies a tattoo done by another artist. This is actually quite common. Customers who are themselves budding tattoo aficionados find an image in a tattoo magazine or on a website that they just have to have, and they bring it into their local tattooer to get it themselves. I say "budding" aficionados because collectors soon learn the value of having original work custom designed for them by a tattooer they admire and trust. Tattooers will often offer to put their own spin on the design, but if the customer is adamant about getting that tattoo, then typically that is the tattoo they get.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> As an aside, a favorite joke a friend of mine tells is about they guy who walks into a tattoo convention on the last day and asks who won the "most original" tattoo contest. He then turns to an artist who is looking for a customer and says, "I want that one."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The problem here is that it can be difficult to discern a custom tattoo from a tattoo that was originally a tattoo flash design (based on a design that was created and marketed to tattoo studios and tattooers with the intent that it would be offered to customers <i>en mass</i>). There are also degrees of this kind of copying; from biting off (hard) on another artists style, to blatantly copying line-for-line another tattoo. The simple truth is that newer tattooers who have little to put into their portfolios will often include pieces that started as flash or are copies of tattoos from another artist. Older tattooers will often fill their portfolios with custom work and designs of their own. It is a part of the maturation process in the life of a tattooer. We learn by trying other people's styles until we eventually develop our own. Even in styles with strict parameters like American Traditional; the best artists eventually find a way to step out from under the shadows of those before them and do their own thing, but only after a healthy number of years imitating the artists they admire.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The third type of plagiarism is related to the second, but deals with art that is not a tattoo, and obviously not tattoo flash. The scenario presented by Deb Yarian in her own article: <a href="http://tattooartistmagazineblog.com/2014/01/13/flattery-thievery-or-just-plain-business" target="_blank"><i>Flattery, Thievery, or Just Plain Business</i></a> (to which this article is a response, thanks Deb!) is thus:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <i>A client walks into your studio with a piece of art they wish to have tattooed. The tattooer, concerned about simply copying another artist, suggests they could create something similar, but the client balks and insists, aside from making the design more tattoo-friendly, they want it unchanged. Does the tattooer do the design, and if so what obligations do they have, ethically and legally, to inform the original artist?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i> </i>Let us consider the legal issue first. Plagiarism, the wrongful appropriation or copying of another person's works, generally refers to writing, but also covers other forms of art and intellectual property. Plagiarism is itself not a crime. Copyright Infringement is a crime, though how that crime is defined and enforced is a slippery issue.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> A copy is defined in US Copyright Laws as a direct reproduction. The law further covers the unauthorized distribution of copies. Interestingly, it is not considered copying to translate a design from one medium to another; ie from a 2-D drawing to a 3-D sculpture. Describing a painting in extreme written detail is not a violation of copyright. A piece of art which is translated into a tattoo by a tattooer fits into this idea. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <i>If a holder of an intellectual copyright wishes to protect their work from being translated into other media, they must trademark the works, which offers further protection. Courts have, however, found in favor of copyright holders who's work had been translated into other mediums and mass-marketed, ie dolls being produced without authorization from cartoons.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i> </i>Tattoos may also fall under the Fair Use Doctrine in a loose manner. A tattoo is not designed to supersede the original. It will not replace or compete with the original work in the market. Tattooing a design also does not impact the value of the original work. Where there may be an issue is that the nature of the copied work is typically not of a private work which should be public domain, the translation of the work is for profit (not the betterment of the public), and the copy is often substantially similar to the original (even if translated into a new medium). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> So, if an artist wished to pursue legal action against the creation of a tattoo using their work, they potentially have grounds to do so. The tattooer can limit the likelihood of this by not offering the design to the public, and by not including the finished tattoo in their portfolio or in their advertising. This makes the recreation a one-time job, and not further exploitation of another's work for profit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> In reality, we see this kind of thing all the time. In fact, tattoo flash often includes images which are clearly the copyright of another party, such as sheets featuring famous movie monsters, actresses, or cartoon icons. Either this kind of homage is considered beneath the holders of the copyright to be overly concerned with, or the potential reward for pursuing legal recourse is too trivial to consider. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Keep in mind though that legally, you never know what will trip a big corporation's trigger. A story I have heard, which may be little more than an urban legend, deals with amateur auto-racing. Before NASCAR, racers would mark their cars with numbers and distinctive designs, including cartoon characters from Disney and Warner Brothers cartoons. This was until Disney began threatening to sue the violators of their copyright, resulting in Ed Roth's "Rat Fink" design. Disney again sought legal recourse in the 1970's against the creators of "Air Pirates", an underground comic book which saw only two issues ever published. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i> </i>Legally, odds are you are fairly safe as a tattooer using another artist's design, especially if your do not try to make a name for yourself as the originator of the work. Ethically, things get even more fuzzy. Ethics are almost exclusively a matter of one's personal philosophy. I mentioned above that the use of major commercial designs is fairly common place. There are artistic "parodies" of various designs and likenesses which skirt the line between homage and copy. It doesn't make it right, but published artists have their work copied into tattoos so frequently that some even consider it a tribute and feature the tattoos in publications with their work. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Where I think that there is an ethical need to inform the artist is when said artist would have benefited significantly from the paid-use of their work. $25 will not mean much to a person who's work is featured in <i>Playboy</i> or <i>Hi-Fructose</i> (it is not my intent to liken one publication to another, they just have both featured artists I enjoy), but may mean something to someone who is paying bottom dollar for a simple website displaying their art. The good-guy thing to do is share the tattoo image with them, so that they can use it to promote their own efforts. The great thing to do is to send that artist a gratuity for the use of their work from your tattoo-profits.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> That said, until you are so well-off and renowned as a tattooer that you can insist on tattooing exclusively your designs in your style, you should probably do the tattoo. The person making the request will just take it down the street to a tattooer with less scruples (and probably less skill) than you if you don't, plus will leave with a bad impression of your studio. Do what you can to convince your client to allow you to do your own thing with it, but ultimately you need to give the client what they want. If you are really torn about it, ask your studio-owner what they think. If it has been a slow week, they will probably favor profit over artistic integrity.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Besides, having that Tasmanian Devil tattoo tucked deep in one of your old portfolios is kind of a right-of-passage as a tattooer.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jason Sorrell is a writer, tattoo artist, satirist, artist, and generally nice guy living in Austin, TX. He loves answering questions about tattoos. Shoot him a message at <a href="mailto:tattoonerdz@gmail.com" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/tattoonerdz/</a></i><br />
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Jason Sorrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09793926939250996738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668999732118901581.post-65521250857923678272015-01-28T10:03:00.000-08:002017-04-10T13:11:01.164-07:00 Keep Your Appointment (and What to Do When They Don't)<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tattoo Nerd,</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> I have been in the business for about 8 years now, and I have this client that got work from me when I was just staring out. I hear from her once every year or so. She asks about a tattoo for herself or a friend, and sets an appointment. We hash out some of the details before I notice that she is getting a little flakey about keeping in contact and confirming her appointment. This last week, she settled on a day but not a time, told me two days prior that she would get back to me about the design, never confirmed, and did not respond to any of my messages the day of the tattoo. It is frustrating, and I am thinking that I should just write her off and not deal with her anymore. I feel bad, because she was one of my first clients, but I think I have hit my limit.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> What do you think?</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> First of all, let me say that I just love that people are starting to refer to me as "Tattoo Nerd". I consider it high praise that I am being recognized for my work. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> I think we, as tattoo artists, have all had clients like the one you described, In fact, probably multiple clients. I am not certain if the problem is a matter of casual disrespect or an exaggerated view of tattoo artists. On the one hand, it could be that people do not consider being a tattoo artist a "real" profession. They have no real concept of the time, dedication, and effort that goes into being a tattooer, often because they have not experienced that kind of effort in their own pursuits. They may also fail to recognize the expense of setting-up for a tattoo or drawing a design in advance, because, hey, that is what we do for fun, right? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> On the other hand, they may realize we are professionals and have a high degree of respect for what we do. In their minds, we tattooers are all "cool". We are causal and laid back. If they cannot make their appointment, it is okay, because we are hip and understanding. That is why we are tattooers, because we are cool and talented. It is no big deal to us. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Dear friends and tattoo patrons, neither of these perspectives are correct. Tattooers are business professionals. They can be more casual about their approach to business, but when you fail to make your appointment it hurts our bottom-line. We are not paid an hourly wage, and any time we spend engaged with a client is with the goal of there being a cash-reward for our efforts. This includes email exchanges, phone calls, drawing, follow-up discussions, confirmation of an appointment, and setting-up for the tattoo. Those materials on the tattooers table; medical liners, ink caps, needles, tubes, inks, paper towels, ointments, etc, are not cheap, and come out of the tattooer's wallet. The shop may provide for some of his or her supplies, but even that is with the expectation that a cash-reward will result from their use. When you skip-out on an appointment, it is costing your artist money.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> As a customer, ask yourself this: you set an appointment with your tattooer and when you arrive at the studio, he or she is not there. No call, no note, just not there. How many times would this need to happen before you sought out another tattooer? If you put up with this twice, you are extremely charitable. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> It is tempting, as a tattooer, to take this attitude and black-list those clients that consistently skip-out on appointments. As business-persons, we cannot afford that mentality. Think of it this way; you own a retail store. There is a guy who comes in once a week. He browses your wares, asks you some questions, doesn't cause any problems, and doesn't buy anything, He just wastes some of your time. You could tell him to buy something or get out, but that will create an unhappy customer. He WILL tell everyone he knows that you treated him badly; the fact that he was wasting your time weekly and never made an actual purchase will not be mentioned. Not only have you made no money, you now have a black-mark against your reputation as a business. You are better off just dealing with it, and maybe one glorious day that "customer" will actually buy something.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> When a tattooer is just starting out, we feel lucky just to have someone consider us for work. We listen to every pie-in-the-sky promise to be on-time for an appointment, to bring friends to us, to help get our name out, etc. It takes a few years to realize that cash is king, and that all the promises in the world are meaningless until the money is in your hand. It takes a few more years before we are good enough to establish that kind of standard. An appointment is not an appointment without a deposit. When I started out, my clients would have balked at the idea that they needed to pay me $50 in advance to keep a slot in my schedule open for them. Now, it is expected that my time comes at a premium.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> For sentimental reasons, I understand the reservations about changing the way you handle one of your first clients, but after 8 years of experience, you have grown enough to start being taken seriously. Don't black-list your clients, but do let the know that you have grown as a tattooer and that your time is in demand. When your client reaches out to you again for a tattoo, let them know that you cannot set an appointment without a deposit. No drawing anything up, no penciling anyone in. When they are ready to pay a deposit, they are ready to set an appointment. They are always welcome to walk-in and see if you are available, but without cash in advance there will be no promises. Those who appreciate your work and respect the value of your time will have no problem with your policy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jason Sorrell is a writer, tattoo artist, satirist, artist, and generally nice guy living in Austin, TX. He loves answering questions about tattoos. Shoot him a message at <a href="mailto:tattoonerdz@gmail.com" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/tattoonerdz/</a>.</i></div>
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Jason Sorrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09793926939250996738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668999732118901581.post-48665292613445289992015-01-21T20:05:00.001-08:002017-04-10T13:11:35.411-07:002015 Star of Texas Tattoo Art Revival Wrap-Up (Days Three and Four)<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> If you would like to read about the Opening Party (Day One), click <a href="http://thetattoonerd.blogspot.com/2015/01/2015-star-of-texas-tattoo-art-revival.html" target="_blank">here</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> If you would like to read about the Convention Floor (Day Two), click <a href="http://thetattoonerd.blogspot.com/2015/01/2015-star-of-texas-tattoo-art-revival_16.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> There is nothing quite like a tattoo convention. Studios, artists, suppliers, vendors, and entertainers from all over the world set-up to show their collective stuff to the public and to share what they do with the industry. The biggest conventions, like the <a href="http://www.golivefast.com/" target="_blank">Star of Texas Tattoo Art Revival</a>, draw international crowds, giving local artists an opportunity to rub elbows with the best in the industry and make their mark (literally). The Star of Texas Tattoo Art Revival is an annual event in Austin, usually scheduled in January for one weekend. Most years I manage to visit for one day, often on a run to score a deal on tattoo-ink sets and other supplies while checking out the latest innovations in the industry. This year, one of my daughters gave me a weekend-pass as a Christmas present, so I will be going every day and taking in as many of the events as possible.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brass Ovaries Pole Dancing</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> I had the opportunity to speak to some folks on the street on the way to the convention each day I attended. I found it interesting that even those that frequent the area around the Palmer Event Center, where the Star of Texas Tattoo Art Revival was being held, were not aware that a tattoo convention was happening. Those I spoke with seemed even more surprised when I suggested that they should check it out. The Star of Texas Tattoo Art Revival is for more than just tattooers and collectors. Anyone interested in art and culture will find something worthwhile at the convention, and in my opinion it is as much a part of the Austin-Experience as a visit to Barton Springs.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> As the name implies, the convention's focus is on art. This includes not only the tattoos and the tattoo influenced art work, but also the entertainment arts which have a deep bond with the tattoo industry. Tattooing has long been a form of cultural expression just outside the mainstream, and as such has a historical connection with other forms of "low-brow" art; strip-tease, burlesque, and circus side-shows. These three inter-related forms of entertainment shared a distinction of being of dubious repute; frowned upon by civic leaders while greatly enjoyed by the common man. Their "outsider" status gave the entertainers and performers of these art forms more freedom to be tattooed without any further social stigma, and getting a tattoo was often a sign of their commitment to the art form they practiced and the life-style those practices demanded.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Doubledown Dixie</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Tattooing has come a long way since the prohibition days, and because of the support shown to the tattoo industry in those times by other outside artists, the tattoo industry often favors these groups. The evening show at the Star of Texas Tattoo Art Revival serves to underscore that deep bond. Routinely hosted are side-show and carnival performers, exotic dancers, comedians, and magicians. This year was no exception. Each night closed with performances by <a href="http://www.brass-ovaries.com/" target="_blank">Brass Ovaries Pole Dancing</a>, a burlesque set by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/doubledown.dixie" target="_blank">Doubledown Dixie</a>, and a side-show performance by <a href="http://thelizardman.com/" target="_blank">The Lizard Man</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <i>Unfortunately, the stage lighting was not conducive to my camera, so the images included here were borrowed from the web-pages of the performers.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The two performers from Brass Ovaries Pole Dancing performed a beautiful and impressively athletic set of dances. A portable pole was set-up on stage, and the girls provided amazing examples of aerial athleticism. Brass Ovaries Pole Dancing offers training in their art to those seeking a distinctively different way to get in shape; regardless of age or gender. They are also available to perform at parties and events, at an extremely affordable rate.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> There is something markedly refreshing about burlesque. It is sensual, even sexual, but also tasteful, high-spirited, and irreverently innocent. It always seems like burlesque dancers are having fun, and Doubledown Dixie epitomizes fun. Curvy and energetic, Doubledown Dixie took the stage with a wink and mischievous smile. Her dance routine was beautiful to behold, drawing in the crowd and making them root for more. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Lizardman</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Erik "The Lizard Man" Sprague was the act that I was really excited to see. I am fascinated by the limits of the human body and the extremes we will often go to in order to express ourselves. "Extreme" well-describes the Lizard Man. The Lizard Man has spent around 700 hours under the needle having scales tattooed all over his body. He has several piercings and has stretched his earlobes to allow him to lift weights and even pull cars with his ears. He has subdermal implants over each of his eyes to form horned ridges, a bifurcated tongue, and has filed his teeth into fangs.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> He demonstrated these modifications, performed unique versions of traditional side-show stunts including the Human Blockhead, Sword Swallowing, and Plate Spinning (on a pin based in his nasal sinus). He and his two assistants also engaged in an attempt at comedy. The banter had its moments, but I read that he leads a band and hope he fairs better as a musical performer. Still, it was an amazing and entertaining performance.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> You will be hard-pressed to see another collection of entertainers like this anywhere but at a tattoo convention.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> In addition to the nightly show, there are daily tattoo contests. These contests allow collectors to show off their tattoos and honor the artists behind them. Each day, different categories are opened to convention-goers to enter. A panel of three judges gauges the tattoos on their artistic merit, body placement, and technical quality. During the day, the contests are open to only tattoos that have healed completely. In the evening, the "Tattoo of the Day" contest is held, with tattoos done at the convention that day being entered and judged. The winners receive a hand-made sculptural award and bragging rights. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> As I stated, these contests are an excellent way to honor your tattoo artist. Nothing says that you are proud of the work they have done more than being willing to show it off and have it judged. A crowd gathers for each contest, allowing you to show your tattoo and let everyone know who you artist is. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Even if you do not win, it is a great tribute.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The Star Of Texas Tattoo Art Revival should be on your Austin to-do list, as should be a visit to a convention in your area if you are not in Austin. Not all art is in a gallery, and your patronage supports local artists and craftsmen, as well as exposes you to a cultural experience unlike any other. I recommend selecting a day to check out the entire convention; from opening to close, and if you know an artist participating to show your support by paying them a visit or even getting some work done. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jason Sorrell is a writer, tattoo artist, satirist, artist, and generally nice guy living in Austin, TX. He loves answering questions about tattoos. Shoot him a message at <a href="mailto:sorrellart@hotmail.com" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/tattoonerdz/</a></i></div>
Jason Sorrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09793926939250996738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668999732118901581.post-89959977704462169122015-01-16T21:51:00.000-08:002017-04-10T13:12:19.133-07:002015 Star of Texas Tattoo Art Revival Convention Floor (Day Two)<div style="text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSI380MgSCtvJI1ERaEUdHB8VBJggB0hR-tEIAKNIeDYqweJiReFwEb8SumweF51nk-1pSW751Lc1Uav2fegUhW-ysY2yUT01YAiguT1E3P-ElSSgFZi1A1HHkOYQ26WOWfgDN2mJOL2Xo/s1600/poster_2015_index.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSI380MgSCtvJI1ERaEUdHB8VBJggB0hR-tEIAKNIeDYqweJiReFwEb8SumweF51nk-1pSW751Lc1Uav2fegUhW-ysY2yUT01YAiguT1E3P-ElSSgFZi1A1HHkOYQ26WOWfgDN2mJOL2Xo/s1600/poster_2015_index.jpg" width="227" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> If you would like to read about the Opening Party (Day One), click <a href="http://thetattoonerd.blogspot.com/2015/01/2015-star-of-texas-tattoo-art-revival.html" target="_blank">here</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> There is nothing quite like a tattoo convention. Studios, artists, suppliers, vendors, and entertainers from all over the world set-up to show their collective stuff to the public and to share what they do with the industry. The biggest conventions, like the <a href="http://www.golivefast.com/" target="_blank">Star of Texas Tattoo Art Revival</a>, draw international crowds, giving local artists an opportunity to rub elbows with the best in the industry and make their mark (literally). The Star of Texas Tattoo Art Revival is an annual event in Austin, usually scheduled in January for one weekend. Most years I manage to visit for one day, often on a run to score a deal on tattoo-ink sets and other supplies while checking out the latest innovations in the industry. This year, one of my daughters gave me a weekend-pass as a Christmas present, so I will be going every day and taking in as many of the events as possible.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgitPlJ_Dq8JUOeYSfWUi0NZaNERj9aoh5l4e9qyrpLoAp3HERnm_JeDjKK2YMN9NFg2RGvI4NgsLQpvRSwYAz-jtUgSRGNWU6bODOzTC5Nr0fngkDlxdEM647vJxTr213MUtgnWf1kUEml/s1600/concrowd2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgitPlJ_Dq8JUOeYSfWUi0NZaNERj9aoh5l4e9qyrpLoAp3HERnm_JeDjKK2YMN9NFg2RGvI4NgsLQpvRSwYAz-jtUgSRGNWU6bODOzTC5Nr0fngkDlxdEM647vJxTr213MUtgnWf1kUEml/s1600/concrowd2.jpg" width="150" /></a> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> First of all, let's start with some convention tips:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> -Know when the convention opens. I was under the impression that the convention opened at 10am, when it in fact opened at noon. I arrived at 11, while artists were still setting up. My bad.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> -Wear comfortable shoes. This comes from past experience. My Doc Martens are awesome boots, but walking and standing in them for hours is tough on the feet.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> -Check out all the vendors and artists booths before you start spending. There are over 250 exhibitors displaying their talents and wares. You may regret an impulse purchase at the front end of the show when you get around to the back end. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn0FLZrzjwh7VCp3I-9Ve3r8IaJIXrh5k90Br60QRN_RvVfkKGIftf8ImcGgv9g3DSIrHYf8kxpH2bmV4un2KDkKqHsXVC4RqPflHkfpoCRsv0bJk4u4qGYdjIx8WsG_duVm3Bl8OfYwRK/s1600/conchris.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn0FLZrzjwh7VCp3I-9Ve3r8IaJIXrh5k90Br60QRN_RvVfkKGIftf8ImcGgv9g3DSIrHYf8kxpH2bmV4un2KDkKqHsXVC4RqPflHkfpoCRsv0bJk4u4qGYdjIx8WsG_duVm3Bl8OfYwRK/s1600/conchris.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chris Trevino!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> -Bring a bottle of water. Even on a cool day, all the bodies milling around on the convention floor will generate some heat. You may also want to leave your jacket in the car.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> -If you can, make your purchases on your way out. Even carrying a poster can start to get cumbersome after an hour or two.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> -Treat the portfolios gently. Take a look through each of the portfolios. Compliment the artists if they are on hand. There are no slackers at the convention. Everyone brought their A-game.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> -Watch where you are stepping, and be courteous. There are a lot of bodies milling around, so be careful and try to show everyone a little respect.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFON1w828nQTd8aSiIX2RXCmolXytU62BmFbke0_BI7KdAhyfl5PCCvYyVFJyxs9eYAC2Z4T7CgoAmmIH8PiwZfd7mHxBrnhzWZ-tyIv7fO3-2CSmW3mvFgszF2FWuQdXwJ6DCRCoqHrKK/s1600/conkids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFON1w828nQTd8aSiIX2RXCmolXytU62BmFbke0_BI7KdAhyfl5PCCvYyVFJyxs9eYAC2Z4T7CgoAmmIH8PiwZfd7mHxBrnhzWZ-tyIv7fO3-2CSmW3mvFgszF2FWuQdXwJ6DCRCoqHrKK/s1600/conkids.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kids Corner</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> -Ask permission before taking pictures of people getting tattooed. Most people getting work done at a convention are comfortable with being seen, but it is always best to ask.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The Star of Texas Tattoo Art Revival has been a local event for 13 years running, and is one of the largest tattoo conventions in Texas. Each year, hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of patrons visit the convention to see the art, enjoy the shows, and get tattoos.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> For tattoo artists, conventions offer a number of opportunities. Seminars on everything from tattoo safety to styles of art are held during conventions, giving artists and chance to learn and grow. Talent from all over the world is often drawn to the convention, allowing artists to see what others are doing and hone their own skills based on the practices they observe. The event allows local shops to reach out to the community and share what they do, drawing additional business for the rest of the year. It is a great time to meet with vendors and see new innovations in the industry being offered to make the tattoo process safer and better for customers and tattooers. It is also a great time to show their stuff, rub elbows with leaders in the tattoo field, and enjoy being immersed in the tattoo culture.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijaWcIeJVAn2xeeLod3XupTcJcssZtLZcITxrC2b9SmgBMGEdsFpz488lLVrkDhHGnJ2TSHEaMbxh-pptVsccdLj6ZliX6r8Xu1taumwXUSiUHw0aa0PXDdg_fRwVwb75iVEiLXU0CF4BL/s1600/conda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijaWcIeJVAn2xeeLod3XupTcJcssZtLZcITxrC2b9SmgBMGEdsFpz488lLVrkDhHGnJ2TSHEaMbxh-pptVsccdLj6ZliX6r8Xu1taumwXUSiUHw0aa0PXDdg_fRwVwb75iVEiLXU0CF4BL/s1600/conda.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daaron Davis!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> It was awesome to observe some of these guys and gals at work, and to talk to them about what they have going on. <a href="http://instagram.com/daaron_davis" target="_blank">Daaron Davis</a>, <a href="http://phil%20hatchet%20yau/" target="_blank">Phil Hatchet Yau</a>, <a href="http://www.christrevino.com/" target="_blank">Chris Trevino</a>, and their clients, were all cool enough to let me photograph them while they did their thing. Each was engaged in an impressive piece of art, and I did not want to be too much of a distraction. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> For visitors, collectors, and the curious, there is plenty going on as well. You not only have some of the most amazing talent on display available to give you a great tattoo, you also have an incredible collection of fine and graphic artists sharing their creations. The Star of Texas Tattoo Art Revival features an art gallery of tattoo-themed art, ranging from traditional tattoo work to pieces that rival classical fine art. At the booths, artists offer small pieces and prints to give even those on a modest budget an opportunity to own a piece of out-of-the-ordinary art. Children are welcomed and encouraged to visit the Kids Corner, where they can get pictures as a tattoo gal or gent, get fake tattoos, and color tattoo coloring pages. At 7pm Friday and Saturday, several performers take the stage, offering exotic attractions that will impress and amaze.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBMfyw10Ee7ljx4RtgFBAWho63GQMZR9-GD1PQBSblzbMSEDQbt7H2iwomYQbQoMM33nirZ7HwO3uBH1rY0Qvl328nYJDGN45uhu4Ee82UvrEQEjvutdTzVyb7HHS88zFxw3QTqZWwb6v-/s1600/conart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBMfyw10Ee7ljx4RtgFBAWho63GQMZR9-GD1PQBSblzbMSEDQbt7H2iwomYQbQoMM33nirZ7HwO3uBH1rY0Qvl328nYJDGN45uhu4Ee82UvrEQEjvutdTzVyb7HHS88zFxw3QTqZWwb6v-/s1600/conart.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Art Gallery</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The crowd today was already building before the doors opened at noon, and only grew as the day went on. Machines were buzzing as soon as the doors were open. It is not uncommon for tattoo artists to schedule appointments for conventions (if you wish to be tattooed by a participating artists, appointments in advance are always a good idea), but many of the artists were ready to take walk-ups. The portfolios on display all featured some amazing work, making the toughest choice often who to get a tattoo from. For those wanting to become tattoo artists themselves, the convention offers a great opportunity to pick the brains of some of the best in the industry, as all the artists are more open to discuss the business at these events. It is also an excellent chance to observe tattoos being rendered by masters of the craft. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_h8yEnFWv7by9Z39DboZuuR7OOalNZMJ5NkhhPv2n6sd1qFBA5q3-lm05fzWFrUGufAZMU4VkVCPwCHdKHuzn0QFKWLwi81y8bmwu-ELyQXjED2ASiFksq7VRWHVsHu7YOUz-T-oez6ZK/s1600/consb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_h8yEnFWv7by9Z39DboZuuR7OOalNZMJ5NkhhPv2n6sd1qFBA5q3-lm05fzWFrUGufAZMU4VkVCPwCHdKHuzn0QFKWLwi81y8bmwu-ELyQXjED2ASiFksq7VRWHVsHu7YOUz-T-oez6ZK/s1600/consb.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Phil Hatchet Yau!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Every time I go the convention, there is always at least one piece of art that really catches my eye, and I find I have to have a print or copy of the work. I recently realized that almost without fail, that art work was created by one artist, <a href="http://www.joeyortega.com/" target="_blank">Mr. Joey Ortega</a>. I bought one of his pieces years ago when I went to my first Star of Texas Tattoo Art Revival, and wouldn't you know it that as I walked the booths today I saw a piece I liked and it was one of his. Joey Ortega has designed the Star of Texas Tattoo Art Revival poster for years, and this year it was my great honor to finally meet the man and humbly have my photo taken with him. Thank you, sir!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9wcAEU7v2USaKur4MNP9MvsBucjurB_WjM8YBx71agaoQ6pm4SlLmGhleqId0z0NUKy7pfoateTouaHoVLCsO6N65_UtxKMqx6r4g4vWmyNBPl57AfotzeK9V4EevtjnX7X0BxeaPGhVu/s1600/conjoey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9wcAEU7v2USaKur4MNP9MvsBucjurB_WjM8YBx71agaoQ6pm4SlLmGhleqId0z0NUKy7pfoateTouaHoVLCsO6N65_UtxKMqx6r4g4vWmyNBPl57AfotzeK9V4EevtjnX7X0BxeaPGhVu/s1600/conjoey.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joey Ortega with some Tattoo Nerd</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> I will also be remiss if I did not mention who I spent most of the afternoon with. <a href="http://kylegiffenstattoos.com/" target="_blank">Mr. Kyle Giffen</a> and his tattoo studio, <a href="http://littleprickstattoo.com/" target="_blank">Little Pricks Tattoos</a>, saved me from several hours on my feet while I chatted Kyle up on everything from the tattoo biz to our personal lives. Kyle is by far one of the most talented tattoo artists I know, and he has put together a stellar crew, arguably one of the best crews in the Greater Austin Area. Anyone who knows Kyle also knows that the man is always humble, upbeat, open, and incredibly generous with his time and talents. Kyle is a great friend, and the convention is always an opportunity for us to get together and catch-up on things. The work of his crew; <a href="http://titatattoos.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Tita Jewels</a> (co-owner), <a href="http://littleprickstattoo.com/post/94166049976/did-you-know-that-zack-ross-is-currently-tattooing" target="_blank">Zack Ross</a>, and <a href="http://christopherhedlund.com/" target="_blank">Chris Hedlund</a>, is simply outstanding. This year, they are located catercorner from the art gallery. Stop by their booth, check them out, and grab a card. If you are wanting a tattoo, you have found the right shop.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzavzsXtSJS76D9ATxK0EajfpL47Z0LtLzeQD_VMQSfsWUbRIXzeUaDwNQ4SBJ4vcMDj32WVKkA_zKs3e2F0JFHxfhtPfcjqnAjrDcuDuZSKojIImU1LymzmukoiP_EUmjCY-CK0Y5fFy2/s1600/conkyle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzavzsXtSJS76D9ATxK0EajfpL47Z0LtLzeQD_VMQSfsWUbRIXzeUaDwNQ4SBJ4vcMDj32WVKkA_zKs3e2F0JFHxfhtPfcjqnAjrDcuDuZSKojIImU1LymzmukoiP_EUmjCY-CK0Y5fFy2/s1600/conkyle.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kyle Giffen!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The Star of Texas Tattoo Art Revival really is a great event, even if you are not tattoo-inclined. The art and the vibe are well worth experiencing. The convention will be going strong for two more days, and if you miss it you will not get another chance to see it until 2016.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> I also wanted to say thank you to everyone that made my being at the convention as a spectator this year possible. The little fundraiser I held allowed the Tattoo Nerd to take time off of work to be at the convention all four days, and to really make the most of the weekend. It was humbling to see so much support and love from so many people, and my family and I cannot thank you enough! </span><br />
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<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jason Sorrell is a writer, tattoo artist, satirist, artist, and generally nice guy living in Austin, TX. He loves answering questions about tattoos. Shoot him a message at <a href="mailto:sorrellart@hotmail.com" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/tattoonerdz/</a></i></div>
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Jason Sorrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09793926939250996738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668999732118901581.post-64609923062779474782015-01-15T23:38:00.001-08:002017-04-10T13:13:01.624-07:002015 Star of Texas Tattoo Art Revival Opening Party (Day One)<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSI380MgSCtvJI1ERaEUdHB8VBJggB0hR-tEIAKNIeDYqweJiReFwEb8SumweF51nk-1pSW751Lc1Uav2fegUhW-ysY2yUT01YAiguT1E3P-ElSSgFZi1A1HHkOYQ26WOWfgDN2mJOL2Xo/s1600/poster_2015_index.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSI380MgSCtvJI1ERaEUdHB8VBJggB0hR-tEIAKNIeDYqweJiReFwEb8SumweF51nk-1pSW751Lc1Uav2fegUhW-ysY2yUT01YAiguT1E3P-ElSSgFZi1A1HHkOYQ26WOWfgDN2mJOL2Xo/s1600/poster_2015_index.jpg" width="228" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> There is nothing quite like a tattoo convention. Studios, artists, suppliers, vendors, and entertainers from all over the world set-up to show their collective stuff to the public and to share what they do with the industry. The biggest conventions, like the <a href="http://www.golivefast.com/" target="_blank">Star of Texas Tattoo Art Revival</a>, draw international crowds, giving local artists an opportunity to rub elbows with the best in the industry and make their mark (literally). The Star of Texas Tattoo Art Revival is an annual event in Austin, usually scheduled in January for one weekend. Most years I manage to visit for one day, often on a run to score a deal on tattoo-ink sets and other supplies while checking out the latest innovations in the industry. This year, one of my daughters gave me a weekend-pass as a Christmas present, so I will be going every day and taking in as many of the events as possible.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The first day starts with many of the studios and vendors setting up Friday evening, and an opening party hosted by a local tattoo studio. This year, the opening party was hosted by <a href="http://blackdaggertattoo.net/" target="_blank">Black Dagger Tattoo</a>, and held at <a href="http://badlandsaustin.weebly.com/" target="_blank">The Badlands Bar</a> with an art show at the <a href="http://theromanigallery.weebly.com/" target="_blank">Romani Gallery</a>, both located near the intersection of East 12th St. and Chicon. The doors opened at 8:30pm, and your intrepid tattoo-reporter arrived fashionably late at 9:30.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBMBgBH7bGQVDS6iC4xOiDYAZGJlLaUTPwYgjJbpKXEZu1Nanp0Rydl8_vXKpHi-_f-FKS1cwAhtF8MnjC-UdsSFZlmH79nxtSo8laTDBTE46yp5HW1FbxtTIe9C3PRbnrGAkZo0N7IJ5T/s1600/con1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBMBgBH7bGQVDS6iC4xOiDYAZGJlLaUTPwYgjJbpKXEZu1Nanp0Rydl8_vXKpHi-_f-FKS1cwAhtF8MnjC-UdsSFZlmH79nxtSo8laTDBTE46yp5HW1FbxtTIe9C3PRbnrGAkZo0N7IJ5T/s1600/con1.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> When I arrived, the place was packed. Visitors from far-off lands like Chicago and Utah were all abuzz about the art that was inside and the events planned for the weekend. This was a small taste of things to come.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The Romani Gallery is a wonderful, intimate space that had kindly donated its walls to show some of the best tattoo-art from the convention participants. The artists appear to have participated in a round-robin type project where each of them was assigned to create a piece of original work for another participating artist. None of the artists new who drew their name, only who they were making a piece for. This was a wonderful way to get the creative juices flowing, resulting in some amazing work.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQzQNaTzYgc04MZicc7G2P1xqMiJVkMhdxL6iqUufd_Tj6HdocM1PwzCdt6wYyINXONa_tQLUnVQaSpRZkfhDdVkNztzILaa30H2d_0uwD_VB9L-eV16zZpYQNqdfA6TA5vg63qH2J0Grl/s1600/con3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQzQNaTzYgc04MZicc7G2P1xqMiJVkMhdxL6iqUufd_Tj6HdocM1PwzCdt6wYyINXONa_tQLUnVQaSpRZkfhDdVkNztzILaa30H2d_0uwD_VB9L-eV16zZpYQNqdfA6TA5vg63qH2J0Grl/s1600/con3.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> American Traditional style was dominant throughout the show, indicative not only of the kind of work that is popular in Austin, but according to one visitor from out of town just about everywhere. Almost every artist put their own creative-spin on this time-time honored style, mixing Western and Science Fiction themes, expressing spiritual concepts, or going for a little weirdness. There were also a few beautifully rendered Traditional Japanese pieces, offering an interesting point of contrast to much of the rest of the show. Prints and drinks were available for purchase, and everyone seemed impressed and excited with what they saw.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> One of the things I love about that tattoo community is that collectors all seem to have a natural bond, and a certain irreverence. It was on full-display at the party, and everyone had a great time. If you missed it, plan on going with some of your friends next year. More to come from the convention tomorrow!</span><br />
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<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jason Sorrell is a writer, tattoo artist, satirist, artist, and generally nice guy living in Austin, TX. He loves answering questions about tattoos. Shoot him a message at <a href="mailto:sorrellart@hotmail.com" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/tattoonerdz/</a></i></div>
Jason Sorrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09793926939250996738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668999732118901581.post-12069586549724859632014-12-02T20:00:00.000-08:002017-04-10T13:14:21.926-07:00 What to Do When Someone Wants a Bad Tattoo<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This question was posed in a forum I follow:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i> "We've all had clients walk in with a poorly rendered design that their sister/cousin/whoever has drawn for them that you know will end-up on a tattoo-fail-blog. A design or concept you would not want your name attached to. I take pride in my work and have gotten in trouble for refusing to do a tattoo someone requested, but it is my career and not the shop-owner's. How do you handle it?"</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;"> It happens. Someone walks in with an ill-conceived design or concept. It could be as simple as something that might be a wonderful piece of art but does not translate well into a tattoo. Or, it could be something that is badly drawn that the client insists they want as is. How should this be handled?</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgulja7gYcUYWI2PHPWGTmPKSS_1KFnTR1LSjAYjVjRGTRh7R1PkKG92bFmqHfPqrs6hZ_8lFgpV8652yXVs8nrek2ggGGt5MrZ9cU7HTngiHEfoK20dZy4jb0Ddn1V5cFTkFhkYl1v4Bh7/s1600/badtattoo4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgulja7gYcUYWI2PHPWGTmPKSS_1KFnTR1LSjAYjVjRGTRh7R1PkKG92bFmqHfPqrs6hZ_8lFgpV8652yXVs8nrek2ggGGt5MrZ9cU7HTngiHEfoK20dZy4jb0Ddn1V5cFTkFhkYl1v4Bh7/s1600/badtattoo4.jpg" width="243" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A questionable potential client...</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfPAYcUyvsQ5zpnOYi0vnKFOTcT0rqSgAQDluXpBl8e-cb7GbLriYqeiu89Z4O5LiczFNwmXOizX6ddAHQRnC-3srBkm1GUsiPk25fuNaf-nNJB9xUVO9649Ew-DJS3tvYLzWw_PoYfDoE/s1600/badtattoo1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><span style="line-height: 21px;"> There are limits to what you should or should not tattoo. Most shops I have worked at, for example, refused to do tattoos that could be construed as gang-related, racist, or derogatory to sensitive segments of our society. This is for two reasons. First, the shop's reputation is on the line. When you do that kind of tattoo, you become known for doing that kind of tattoo. Others may come requesting that kind of tattoo, but you may put-off a larger clientele base that would consider being associated with that kind of work distasteful. It is not worth the trouble. Second, you are doing that client a favor. One day, they may realize that the tattoo they thought they wanted to be "in" with the group they where trying to impress has hampered them socially and in finding employment. Your saying "no" may be saving them years of regret in the future.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;"> These are solid limits that you should stick by. Everything else comes down to artistic integrity, which can mean many things. On the one hand, you as a tattoo artist want to have a body of work that suggests excellence and skill. A poorly conceived design that the client insists on will not help your cause there. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfPAYcUyvsQ5zpnOYi0vnKFOTcT0rqSgAQDluXpBl8e-cb7GbLriYqeiu89Z4O5LiczFNwmXOizX6ddAHQRnC-3srBkm1GUsiPk25fuNaf-nNJB9xUVO9649Ew-DJS3tvYLzWw_PoYfDoE/s1600/badtattoo1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfPAYcUyvsQ5zpnOYi0vnKFOTcT0rqSgAQDluXpBl8e-cb7GbLriYqeiu89Z4O5LiczFNwmXOizX6ddAHQRnC-3srBkm1GUsiPk25fuNaf-nNJB9xUVO9649Ew-DJS3tvYLzWw_PoYfDoE/s1600/badtattoo1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Funny until your grand-kids get a roll of quarters.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;"> However, on the other hand is your integrity as a tattoo artist to serve the client. It is his or her tattoo, not yours. Your function is to give the client what they want to the best of your ability. Refusing to do certain tattoos can harm your reputation; you can be perceived as being "stuck-up" or thinking that you are too good to give someone what they want. While you may be right about a design being bad, the hurt feelings caused by not doing the tattoo can be more damaging to your reputation than doing a bad tattoo.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;"> If a client comes in with a design that they commissioned or drew themselves, that design has an inherent emotional value to them. If you look at the design and see a hot-mess, it is your job to educate the client as to their options. First, be gentle and kind about the design. Praise the work of the artist. Ask how much experience that artist has. Often, it may only be a few years, which can work to your advantage when you try to convince the client to go another way. Find something you can say is positive about the design, and talk to the client about why they want it. That design may be something that someone who has passed away has drawn or has some other sentimental value attached to it. If that is the case, you do not want to change it, or change it much. The client is not concerned about the quality of the design, only its sentimental value.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;"> If it is just a design that the client likes, they can usually be persuaded to let you change it. This is the time to educate the client on the differences between art and tattoo art. Explain the limits of the medium, why the design may not work well in the skin, or issues with the design itself you are concerned about (proportion, flow, etc). Suggest allowing you to re-draw the design to make it more like a tattoo.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj70YF6535C3ltEAlITZgOG2S3XeAfkHQBvUMqLj9sGYe-oAlkOS3yF-NVwxiVx3CltyEMKPqiJjHhHeL34w3HERP1Fu6z1TXKWPX9ws1XPi7zst8lbAU44sUag9uRBT2jDAnKcBn-IQFPL/s1600/badtattoo2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj70YF6535C3ltEAlITZgOG2S3XeAfkHQBvUMqLj9sGYe-oAlkOS3yF-NVwxiVx3CltyEMKPqiJjHhHeL34w3HERP1Fu6z1TXKWPX9ws1XPi7zst8lbAU44sUag9uRBT2jDAnKcBn-IQFPL/s1600/badtattoo2.png" width="280" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I really hope this was drawn by the client.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;"> If the client insists that they want the design as-is, you can try to price yourself out of the tattoo, although this is not always a good idea. Show the client your portfolio and discuss your style and your strengths. This may get the client thinking the design could be better. If after seeing your portfolio the client still wants the design as-is, offer a price 25-50% above what you would normally charge. If they ask why it is so expensive, explain the effort that will be required to render that design as accurately as possible and overcoming the limits you described about tattooing. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;"> Also, have a client sign an "informed consent" waiver, a document that states that you, as the tattooer, have explained that the design selected is ill-advised, and you have discussed with them the limits of the tattoo process and potential issues they may face. While it won't save your reputation if the client a year from now tries to blame you for a bad design to their friends (why did he let me get this tattoo?), it will give them another moment to re-think what they are doing.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;"> When you tattoo a design that you do not like, a huge mistake is made if you do not give it the same effort and attention that you would a design you do like. A design you do not like should be given more effort, to make it as good as possible. Every line should be clean and every color solid; cut no corners. Even if the design is bad, the tattoo itself should be excellent.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;"> Finally, take a photo of the design and the tattoo side-by-side. This can work to your advantage in your portfolio. The design may be bad, but future clients can see just how precise and accurate your were in it's rendering, and they can see that the client elected to get that design, as it is distinct from the other tattoos in style and format in your portfolio.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;"> It is tempting for a tattooer to limit themselves to tattoos that they like or are in a style they appreciate. It is good to know your limits; one who is not experienced in doing portraits should probably explain to a client who wants a portrait that it is not your thing. That is being responsible. Sticking to your style in other matters, however, should not be a major concern until the demand for your style is so great that you are turning down tattoos due to being booked months in advance. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 21px;"> Keep in mind also that it is not just your reputation on the line, but your shops as well. The shop has a stake in every client that walks through their doors beyond their percentage. The advertising dollars spent brought that client into the shop, which means every client that comes in is an opportunity to recoup that cost that should not be wasted. A client who does not get what they want from a shop will not talk about the snooty artist, but the snobby shop that refused to give them their tattoo. The shop they go to that does do the tattoo will only encourage this way of thinking in their minds.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Zp54-yL8zHdgf7_dvXvkS_PLS5PZR_65wYUNqSHITV5qJIbt1K-4dtbT9Gy_tLrQfrFTn2tzJLJDqEk_cw2lCxtzLwAfadb1yzwen0dyf4RLp0l_SsIDIcl-y2QWZ8OhOl84GaqqRmNb/s1600/badtattoo3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Zp54-yL8zHdgf7_dvXvkS_PLS5PZR_65wYUNqSHITV5qJIbt1K-4dtbT9Gy_tLrQfrFTn2tzJLJDqEk_cw2lCxtzLwAfadb1yzwen0dyf4RLp0l_SsIDIcl-y2QWZ8OhOl84GaqqRmNb/s1600/badtattoo3.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Actually tried to sue her artist over this choice.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;"> Finally, it may not be the design that is objectionable, but the placement. The hand or facial tattoo will impact that client for the rest of their life. That silly tattoo across their ass may seem cute now, but not so cute in twenty years. Advise the client as best you can about the potential risks, and if they insist, video-tape the process and use it for advertising. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 21px;"> The bottom line is that tattooing is a service-industry. We give our clients what they want to the best of our ability. Do your best to give them a great tattoo, and if they insist on a poor design at least they will get it fully aware of your concerns and in a manner that is as technically sound as possible.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;"> </span><i style="text-align: justify;">Jason Sorrell is a writer, tattoo artist, satirist, artist, and generally nice guy living in Austin, TX. He loves answering questions about tattoos. Shoot him a message at <a href="mailto:sorrellart@hotmail.com" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/tattoonerdz/</a></i></span></div>
Jason Sorrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09793926939250996738noreply@blogger.com0