So I'm thinking 'bout getting my first tattoo and was wondering where I might go to get it... Who's the best in town?

Go see Alonso at Happy Times, he's fucking amazing, especialy with color. But, be prepared to throw out some cash if you want a descent tat. anywhere you go. It also depends on what kind of tat you want, portrait, design, etc. different artists specialize in different area's, some do it all.

I highly recommend Jespah Torres at Tinta Cantina. A wonderful artist, nice guy and fellow musician! He's done several pieces for me and they are all excellent.

Make friends with a tattoo artist. You save money and they do a better job if they like you. I go to Abe over at Tinta myself.

Or just look at people's tattoos and go to the person who did one you really like.

But for a first tattoo I'd just go anywhere, pick something small and just do it. Then you'll know what you are in for when you plan bigger pieces and you won't be a total virgin.

If you can get a real artist it's cool to pick something general and let them go with it. Then they have more of a stake and care more than some flash tracing the lines shit.

all of mine came from a friend in tucson @ Fast Lane Tattoos. he did an absolutly amazing job, and i'm thinking about making a run back for my next one its gonna' be awsome...

...oh sorry. anyway, i got some work from Jason Radcliff @ Rival Tattoos down at Central and Girard. he did a pretty good job, just a tribal piece. he has a few years experience, but still took his time and it turned out really well. but i thought it should have taken him a little less time, not the 2 hrs. that it did.

i have seen some really nice pieces come outta Star Tattoos. in all reallity, this is the place i'm headed to for my next piece. i can't afford this tattoo AND a trip to tucson.

i've also seen some good photoed works from Fine Line Tattoos (in Tattoo Flash mag) on Central and San Mateo round abouts.

my suggestion is to really just make a few stops around town with a piece of flash, just to get an idea of pricing, you don't need to know what you want right away. talk to the artists, get a feel for their experience, previous artwork, and sanitary situations. if you are going to do this, let me know, i'd love to tag along and get a better feel for the scene. if any of you know, i have a full back piece and am looking at getting a lot more.

quote:

i have a full back piece

No you don't, Aaron. Quit trying to be so cool.

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Originally posted by Simfonik Junkie:
[QUOTE]Quit trying to be so cool.

...so i've decided where my state tax return is going...

...i'm going to become cool!

Don't Do It!!

You'll just look like everyone else.
Want to be different?

Stay Clean!

Unless of course you are doing it to express your individuality.

Then you can be unique and individual...

Like Everyone Else!


(although the best advice is what most folks have given you. there are a gazillion tattoo places in town. go to then all. shop around. look at their work. talk to the artists. go with someone that you "are feelin'" Stay Gold, 71 Tattoo and Star have some of the highest concentration of world class and award winning artists around. all highly recomended by us jackasses...)

tattoos are passee ... voluntary limb amputation is much more hardcore dude

It's all about the grill for me.

I'm not in the camp that thinks tattoos are hardcore. They are so common; I know plenty of wimps with tats, myself included. Unless it's right over a bone or in the soft white underbelly it's not even as bad as a sunburn. In fact, once the endorphins kick in, it's a pretty good buzz. The most painful part is sitting still in weird positions the whole time. I always leave with a backache. And I've taken all my piercings out (for fashion and comfort reasons, also one was fucking up my teeth), but the ears hurt ten times that of all the others. Ear piercing is hardcore in my book.

Branding, now that seems hardcore. I've often considered getting my family's old-school ranching brand. It was the rocking R ranch. How cool is that? I'm just too much of a pussy so far.

I'm also not in the tattoos with meaning crowd. It's just aesthetics; I want something that I think looks good. Personalities change, and had I gotten something that meant something to me when I was a young jackass I would be sorry to have it now. I watch Miami Ink, and it drives me crazy about how they gush over some ugly, poorly-placed crap just because the guy has a "personal connection" to it. It's stuck to your body, so get something easy on the eye.

Our boy Joe got branded on his back. It cost $100. When Nate found that out, he was like..."dude, I would've burned you for 20"

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Originally posted by gio:
Our boy Joe got branded on his back. It cost $100. When Nate found that out, he was like..."dude, I would've burned you for 20"

Haha! Buurrrnnn!!

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I'm also not in the tattoos with meaning crowd. It's just aesthetics; I want something that I think looks good.

exactly. i've drawn, all mine, especially with the curvature of the body in mind, it makes your artwork a little more fun, and different.

most of the time i will have my tattoo designs drawn up and placement determined for well over a year before begion shopping around for a tattooist. its goin' to be on your body forever, you better damn well like it.

i've thought about scarification as well, but not too seriously. it looks pretty. perhaps one of these days once i've had more time to think over the process and the design.

Well a few years ago I got my first and went to "Star Tattoo" but the guy who did mine has opened his own shop (Red Light Tattoo. 123 Harvard) right off of Central and Harvard near UNM.......His name is "Joe Brian"......He has some odd hours but I suggest you check out his site on myspace...........I heard the boys at "71 Tattoo" are good also some ex-Star Tattoo guys work there, the piercer "Luciano" is there now, he's done some work on my babe!

Both places have sites on MySpace............I'll post their links later.

John

dave martinez @ addictive ink is probably regarded as the best artist in the city. i was editor for a tattoo mag for a while, and learned alot about tattoos. mr. martinez has been voted best artist on several occassions. he's very expensive.

Dave is good, how about Brian Everet?

I apply my own custom designs with a variety of Sharpies.

So i'm goin to Tinta Cantina and I'm hetting a ripped skin tattoo that looks like my muscles and tendons are guitar strings and my blood cells are music notes. It's gonna go over my right shoulder and should be pretty freakin awesome. Thanks for all the help.