I have not paid $140 average an hour yet, ever. One cool character my Russ Abbott lists his rate at $170 per hour, however, HE ONLY CHARGES YOU TIME WHILE THE MACHINE IN RUNNING, you go off the clock for him to pour ink, change needles, take a whizz, and he is FAST…….isnt that cool as heck, the guys a saint!

yodaddynukka you have an eclectic and very impressive collection, jess yen is one of my favorites and had I lived in the west coast Id probably live in his shop, awesome work man

if I didnt say so I really thankyou all for the welcome, pretty cool site, some pretty cool folks hanging out.

I just want people to get the best tattoo work they can, we need to try and educate folks about choosing artists, shops and how to prepare for and plan the work. Too many folks running up to me everyday with work they dont…[Read more]

true that, not everything Ive seen published is good, but it is a goodplace to start…..I also mentioned your local convention, thats where you can compare good, better and best…….I think most of the big TV artists stink, Kat is ok at black and grey, horrible at color work, Ami isnt very good, average…………I would say the problem where…[Read more]

I would say you will not walk into a local shop and find an artist who can tattoo like those regularly published. Ive been around this art form in and out of shops world wide since 1977, I just havent come across it, dont think I will. Now someday they might make it, but if they are 3-4 years into the game and not making a splash, somethings up,…[Read more]

Another example……….I see people all the time pay a local shop the same money you could pay a top notch published artist…….one of the main shops I use All or Nothing Tattoo (http://www.allornothingtattoo.com) in Atlanta has resident artists that are published and win trophies at every convention they attend, they charge the same rate as the…[Read more]

it is true there are unknown heros out there, what I was refering to was when looking for an artist in your city the best advice I can give is go with the established best.
there are some good local up and coming artist, however 99% of the people doing tattoos I wouldnt let touch me.
there are 299 shops in atlanta, there are I suppose 3 I would…[Read more]

I am in my late 40’s. But mentally I am probably 14………….

my album link under my avatar is full of picks, not all of them yet, but enough to get ya started

I guess I am one of the tattoo snobs, I go for award winning work, by artists who get their work published in the magazines. I know people get excited about wearing some ink but AI dont understand why someone would let some kitchen magician permently mark their bodies with crap looking work.
some of them even like it and get lots more for $20 and…[Read more]

An idea comes to mind for a piece……….I have heard the advice that you should wait a period of 3-6 months and see if the idea is still a good idea befire inking it, sometimes spur of the moment stuff doesnt sound so good later……….I plan a spot and keep planning the image in my head, in a few weeks if it still seems right I choose my…[Read more]

I think Brandon Bonds black and grey is not as creative as Tony Mancia but thats just my pick, both are fantastic artists,
Mr Tyrrell is VERY hard to get hold of, he usually stops in a local shop he is friends with and tattoos a day or two before he goes to ceonvention, this is the best time to catch him, he will have nothing booked, he doesnt…[Read more]

look for someone published in your area, someone who’s work has won local convention trophiies, someone who gets their work in the magazines, you wear ink forever, why not wear the best, if you need someone in your area, let us know where you are, the members can help

tattoo and body modification are protected in several cities in california, but I am not sure we will see a national law, tattoo is nothig like discrimination because of skin color, or handicap, tattoo is ofcourse our choice

welcome to the site and inked culture

welcome to the site and ink culture, glad you brought your daughter, mine is 18 and itching to get in the chair after watching me so many years

awesome guys thank you, after the demise of inkednation I suffered not having fellow inked cluture folks to hang out with……..facebook and myspace have their place but ink is a lifestyle that the majoirty doesnt share and Id rather hang out with folks of similar interest, fotunately an inked friend sent me here and I have really enjoyed my first week

as you know expose to sun hurts the work, and I assumed you would want to wear flops all summer and heals will expose the work too, it ends up discoloring and lines fattening up and not looking too good, if its an important piece I would give it a good spot

no, when I said cover I meant cover with apiece of the same meaning, it looks a little light, you could do wings, lettering all over in color slightly larger

rest in peace