How Not Get a Tattoo

They don't hurt that much!!! WTF?

Three Steps to a Bad Tattoo

1. Stumble into your friends living drunk without any idea of what you want
2. Have your Friend who bought a Tattoo Kit from Ebay Tattoo you
3. Let your cat or dog lick your tattoo.

Are Color Tattoos Safe?

For some people they're safe, for others they are dangerous. Color carries risk. Yellow, for example, is made of cadmium yellow (potential carcinogen), ochres, curcuma yellow, chrome yellow, or disazodiarylide. Curcuma is derived from plants of the ginger family; a few people are allergic to it. Adverse reactions are commonly associated with yellow pigments, in part because more pigment is needed to achieve a bright color. Red and blue have similar stories.

Reactions vary in severity. Sometimes it means delayed healing, other times the body just spits the ink back out, but other times it's more severe, resulting in blisters and scarring. I'll spare you the gross images. If you want to see them, then just do a Google Image search for: Tattoo Allergic Reactions.

The worst thing about COLORED tattoo ink is the "proprietary" color trade-secret. Companies DON'T have to place the ingredients on the ink bottle because the color is considered a "TRADE SECRET". That's BS and irresponsible. Consumer health is more important; besides, Oregon doesn't allow artist to make their own ink. Ink must be purchased from a commercial manufacturer, BUT THERE IS NO REGULATION for the manufacture of the INK!!!!! WTH?

How to Check an Artist's Portfolio

There are many qualities to look for in good tattoo artwork. But it doesn't take art expert to spot a few tell tale marks of a good/experienced tattoo artist. Here are five things to look for when you inspect a tattoo artist's portfolio:

1. Clean, solid, stable lines.

   Line-work is paramount in tattooing. Lines hold the design together; they also determine to a large extent the longevity of the tattoo. Here's what to look for in the lines:

   • Solid, connected lines.

     The lines should NOT be shaky. Shaky lines indicate inexperience. Solid lines require proper machine set-up and tuning, choice of needle configuration, and a stable hand.

   • No "foggy lines".

     Foggy lines in LINE-WORK and Blowouts put you at risk. If you see a hazy line, run. The tattoo artist went too deep or tilted his or her hand causing a blowout. You should NOT see blowouts or foggy lines in a portfolio.

   • Even line-weight.

     Uneven line-weight or variance in the thickness in the line, unless it's obviously intentional, usually means the artist is either lifting his or hand or failing to maintain a steady speed while inking. Either mistake leads to weak, unpredicable line-work.



2. Solid Fill.

   Fill should NOT be spotty or dotty; it should be evenly toned throughout the filled area. It should also connect to the line or color border. Some artists do fill in multiple sessions to ensure bright, vibrant color. An artist who uses that technique will include a picture of the tattoo AFTER it is healed. If you see lots of "weepy" oozing tattoos in the portfolio, choose another artist. Excessive weeping results from overworking the skin, wanting to put too much color in one sitting.



3. Smooth Color Blends and Shading.

   Uneven dotty blending of color patchy shading indicate a lazy or inexperienced artist. Color blends and shading should look airbrushed. Good color blends and shading aren't an accident. They require proper machine tuning, needle configuration choice, and a practiced hand. (There is an exception to this. Some Old Skool Art has "California spit", the shading is decoratively dotty, not sloppy. I'm guesing that if you know about California spit, you're a true connoisseur and know how to spot good work already.)



4. Good, quality artwork.

   Good lines, solid fills, and smooth gradients can't overcome a crappy design. You want to make sure that your artist knows how to create quality art. He or she should have a firm grasp of proportion, perspective, color theory and other artistic aspects of tattoo design.



5. Good Expression of Concept.

   This refers to how the artist interprets and translates the design request. It doesn't matter how technically proficient or even how talented he or she is artistically; if he or she cannot create a design that effectively communicates your idea, you'll end with a bad tattoo. In my opinion, tattoo designs should be simple, you should be able to recognize the design from half way across the room. If an artist can't translate your idea into a simple, effective design, it won't look good.

3 Reasons Why Only Idiots Get Lover's Names Tattooed

1. Love can Turn to Hate. If it does you're STUCK with a constant reminder of how that person controlled you. You'll want it removed or covered, both cost money.


2. Names change but tattoos stay the same. You're lover might decide to change his or her name. Hey, it happens. Maybe a celebrity or politician with their name does something despicable. Of course, you'll be stuck with name too and everyone will think you endorse the despicable person. For example, what if you're lover's name was "OJ"?


3. It's a CURSE in the tattoo world. No matter how much you love someone who is living, getting his or her name tattooed on you is almost a guaranteed breakup. I can think of few reasons why this is so. First, getting a name tattooed is a desperate attempt to show the person how much you love him or her. It usually doesn't work and some people get freaked out by it. Second, the name is a kind of BRAND. The person wearing it may realize this later on, leading to resentment.

Satanic Devil Tattoos

Contrary to popular belief a devil does NOT mean you are a SATANIST. I have a Devil Tattoo & I'm a Zennist. Devil tattoos can represent the mischievous little boy or girl inside us all. It doesn't mean that you are evil or anti-religious. Everybody has a little devil in them. It must be honored.

The devil tattoo wearer is having a little fun and it should be taken as such. Even when a tattoo artist paints horns on an angel, it is just their expression of the duality. We are evil and good at the same time.

Devil tattoos in extreme cases may be a form of religious expression, but this is rarely the case. And even most satanist are widely misunderstood. Many of Anton Levey's books are very funny and much more aimed hedonism than midnight blood sacrifices of virgins.

Devil tattoos can also represent the constant temptation that we have in life. Perhaps that's why the mere sight of them can instill the fear of eternal wraith, ironically reminding the wearer to steer clear of sin. Devil and Satan tattoos are also kind of talisman. Since you have evil on you already, evil will leave you alone. This odd logic and superstition are common in the tattoo world. You see it a lot with nautical tattoos. I think the Traditional Rooster & Pig Tattoos exemplify it best.

Lotus Flower Tattoo Design Meaning

From the slime and filth of a murky pond springs the lovely lotus flower. This remarkable feat of transformation ties to many Asian religions especially throughout India. Within Hinduism and Buddhism the lotus flower has become a symbol for awakening to the spiritual reality of life.

For most tattoo enthusiasts, the lotus tattoo celebrates the beauty of life. Like the mighty koi, the symbol represents the struggle of life at its most basic form.

Lotus flower tattoos are also popular for people who overcome drug use, abuse, depression, and the like. Like the flower they have been in the filth but have risen above this to display their real beauty.

Personally, I think the traditional Japanese rendition looks best for this type of tattoo.