Full circle

The past two weeks have introduced two new apprentices in our shop. It's strange. I've never been one to easily fall into any role. But being the lowest on the pole in a tattoo shop somehow became normal. Now, I'm getting the same questions I asked a couple of years …

On inventory

As work comes in, I have to constantly keep my inventory in check. By asking myself questions, I'm starting to feel close to getting a handle on things. But lately I've been realizing that I need to include time into the equation, not just supplies. Anyway...

First …

Sailor Jerry Collins

... Just did another... 20-yr-old blond--nice looking... anyway she moaned and I backed off on the liner & got a weak line--Old "Deafy" in Philly had it all over us--he couldn't hear them groan, and he just tattooed them!

Anyway, maybe I'm just a negative thinker, …

Shawn Barber

I have been learning to tattoo. It's been a very slow road for me: as I teach two days a week, have been working as a professional illustrator for several years, and now painting full time. I'm slowly altering my life and schedule to revolve around tattooing and …

The Used - Album art

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This guy wanted the artwork from The Used's In Love and Death album on his ribs. Alex Pardee's work is wonderful, so I was happy. He specifically asked to have the bottom root angle down to go with the shape of his body... and I was …

Source Material

Let me get straight to the point of this post: I find it difficult when people come with an image, obviously pulled from the internet, and want an exact tattoo of it.

I almost feel weird admitting this: I download music and TV shows from the internet for free - thank …

Down time

I work in a street shop. A lovely street shop! Two of the guys have been tattooing together for years and years. Both are amazing tattoo artists, and both have built up a clientele. So they remain steadily booked in advance, minus cancellations or bad weather.

Then …

I'm around

Do pardon the delay between posts. I'm here, just incredibly busy. The beginning of winter tends to slow down walk-in tattoo work. Now that the holidays are gone, business is slowly picking up. That and unfinished pieces are coming back in to get worked on.

And I've …

On Touching Up

After reading through Nick Baxter's forums awhile ago, I started to realize the value in touch-ups. Being able to see how your work healed, then tweak it can create a dramatic difference. My client

Happy New Year!

Every year I make about 5 resolutions, in hopes of keeping at least 2.

Last year I stuck with giving up fast food and soda. And I couldn't have felt much healthier. This year I'm going to start running again, give up toxins (alcohol, energy drinks, and homeopathic …