Got Ink? **DU WARNING**

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Originally Posted by pslsnakes

ANY tattoo is a great one..unless its like a prison tattoo lol


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If only that were true! Unfortunately at least in my area, there are alot of hack-job "artists" out there that mutilate people's skin on a daily basis. Most people don't generally know what to look for in high-quality tattoos. They don't notice shaky lines, asymmetry when there should be symmetry, fading, etc. There are many artists that can turn out passable work on a daily basis, and even a halfway decent piece every so often.. but a true professional is hard to find. On the other hand, I have seen tats done in jail that were stunning. I guess that a true artist can make artwork out of the meagerest of supplies, while a poser with no talent could not create anything even mediocre out of the best Micky Sharpz tattoo machine.

Ginevive: If a great and award winning artist is what you are looking for, then the little drive should be worth it for you. Kim at Phoenix Rising in Syracuse is by far the best tattooist around. She's located on the corner of Taft and US RT 11 in North Syracuse. She's covered up the junk job on my back and turned it into a prize tat and then did the arm tattoo I have. I've seen many tats by her, and they all are stunning. She doesn't do anything but custom , one of a kind, tattoos and is usually booked 2 months or so in the future. Pm me for more details if you are interested...

Her myspace is http://www.myspace.com/phoenixrisingtattoo

Wish you the best!

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Originally Posted by recycling goddess

I LOVE IT!!! i love the drawing... i think you should get it just like that! take a good quality close up so the artist can copy it for ya.

and i loooove "freedom isn't free"

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I guess I really do not know much about tattoos as I don't even have a clue as to how much one would cost. I know you pay more for a good artist, and trust me, if I'mma get one done, it'll be by the best one I can find within reasonable range. But really aside from that, and knowing how much peircings cost, I'm guessing the tattoo I want will be round what, $200-$300? I really dunno. Any ideas on what I could expect pricing to be around? I don't want to "cheap out" and end up getting mutilated, so I'm curious as to what to expect.

well up here... at my artist it would cost you about $150 if you made it a decent size. if it's small it would be less.

but you have to go by your area and the prices people pay. i hear in saskatchewan canada a tat is about $20. although i hesitate to think of what the quality would be :eek:

Generally it's about $40-60 an hour. Upwards of 75 in some areas though. I don't put price tags on tattoos...too permanent for a price tag! lol

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Originally Posted by jim020cricket

Generally it's about $40-60 an hour. Upwards of 75 in some areas though. I don't put price tags on tattoos...too permanent for a price tag! lol

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lol, very true. I was just wondering ballpark range to see if i needed to raise some funds before the tattoo. However it seems as though even at $75 an hour I should be fine.

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Originally Posted by jim020cricket

Generally it's about $40-60 an hour. Upwards of 75 in some areas though. I don't put price tags on tattoos...too permanent for a price tag! lol

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Not sure where you're finding artists in that price range, but I would personally be concerned about the quality I'd be getting for $40-$60 an hour. If you do some research, you will find that most reputable tattoo artists in the United States charge an average rate of $100 an hour. Some are more, some may be less, but a good rule of thumb is "A good tattoo is never cheap and a cheap tattoo is never good." I currently have 12 tattoos, with many more to come. My best advice to anyone considering getting a tattoo is to research artists in your area, go to the shops and talk to the artists, look at their portfolios. Find an artist who does work that impresses you who seems enthusiastic about your ideas. You will ultimately have a better experience and a better end result.

A good website to look at and to read up on tattoos, for anyone considering a tattoo, is www.tattoodles.com. Many tattoo artists and enthusiasts get on that site and discuss tattoos at great length. Artists post up tattoos they've done for critique from other reputable artists. You can also search for tattoo shops and artists in your area.

Good luck with the search and if you do get some work done, post it up! I LOVE seeing others' work...

Oh, and GooseMan, I love the idea behind your design. I think that will be an AWESOME tattoo. Take that pic to some artists in your area. I guarantee that a good tatoo artist can clean up the image and make it into an amazing tattoo. I'd LOVE to see pics of the end result too... :rockon:

most artists up here are $125 an hour... i've gotten to know mine personally so i get a really good deal though. :D but that's a pretty small piece without much work really... so an hour is all it should take.

good link inknsteel! i just found the tat i want to cover up my old one with! yay!

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Not sure where you're finding artists in that price range, but I would personally be concerned about the quality I'd be getting for $40-$60 an hour. If you do some research, you will find that most reputable tattoo artists in the United States charge an average rate of $100 an hour.

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My tats are posted here, I'm not concerned about the quality. Thanks though. Where are you from? The area tends to also decide what the price range is. Syracuse isn't a high level cost of living area. Miami Ink runs upwards of 100-125 an hour, but here in Syracuse, it's not that high and the quality is awesome and very professional. Thanks for the concern. Are yours posted here?

Miami Ink runs about 250-300 an hour. Don't get me started on that place

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Originally Posted by Brimstone111888

Miami Ink runs about 250-300 an hour. Don't get me started on that place

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Miami Ink, Hart & Huntington, and now High Voltage Tattoo (LA Ink) all run EXTREMELY high. Don't get me wrong, the quality of most of the work coming out of those shops is tops, but you're paying more for the ability to say you got tattoed at one of those shops. You can go to another, non-televised, shop and get work the same or better quality for half the price. Although, I do have to say, I have a spot saved to get a Kat Von D portrait piece done, just because she is the best at what she does.

Another little known fact about those TV Show Shops is that the artists featured on the show only tattoo out of those shops for a couple months a year, while they're filming. Other than those times, the shops are still up and running, tattoos being produced and overcharged for, but not being done by the televised artists...

even so, if i had the money to blow, i'd gladly get overcharged for a tat from kat!!! her work truly amazes me and she's such a cool person... the experience would totally be worth it!

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Originally Posted by jim020cricket

My tats are posted here, I'm not concerned about the quality. Thanks though. Where are you from? The area tends to also decide what the price range is. Syracuse isn't a high level cost of living area. Miami Ink runs upwards of 100-125 an hour, but here in Syracuse, it's not that high and the quality is awesome and very professional. Thanks for the concern. Are yours posted here?

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I won't get into a critique of your tattoo work as this isn't what this forum is about. Enough people have already stroked

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Originally Posted by jim020cricket

...my already HUGE ego ...

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and I don't want to ruin it for you. If you want an honest critique of your work from licensed professional tattoo artists, I encourage you to post it in the critique forum on the website I linked previously. www.tattoodles.com

And no, I don't publically post my tattoos anymore after a custom design used for a half sleeve on my left arm was blatantly ripped off by a "professional" tattoo artist who claimed the design as his own. But for your peace of mind, here are a couple pics.

This one is my back. Tribal sun from flash, my kids' names and the Chinese kanji for "Family".

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y28...eas/KJBack.jpg

This is a memorial piece done for a close friend of mine who passed away a couple years ago. The masks were found on a sticker out of a 50 cent machine, the banners and background are freehand (background needs a touch-up session...) (Picture taken immediately after last session.)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y28...l/FINISHED.jpg

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Originally Posted by python.princess

even so, if i had the money to blow, i'd gladly get overcharged for a tat from kat!!! her work truly amazes me and she's such a cool person... the experience would totally be worth it!

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Oh, I'm not saying Kat overcharges. Her work is worth EVERY penny she charges. Hence, why I have a piece of skin reserved for her... :D

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Originally Posted by Brimstone111888

Miami Ink runs about 250-300 an hour. Don't get me started on that place

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Holy! That's enough...lol.

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Originally Posted by Inknsteel

This one is my back. Tribal sun from flash, my kids' names and the Chinese kanji for "Family".

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And I won't ruin yours... ;)

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Originally Posted by Inknsteel

Miami Ink, Hart & Huntington, and now High Voltage Tattoo (LA Ink) all run EXTREMELY high. Don't get me wrong, the quality of most of the work coming out of those shops is tops, but you're paying more for the ability to say you got tattoed at one of those shops. You can go to another, non-televised, shop and get work the same or better quality for half the price. Although, I do have to say, I have a spot saved to get a Kat Von D portrait piece done, just because she is the best at what she does.

Another little known fact about those TV Show Shops is that the artists featured on the show only tattoo out of those shops for a couple months a year, while they're filming. Other than those times, the shops are still up and running, tattoos being produced and overcharged for, but not being done by the televised artists...

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I thought Inked )H&H) was off the air for a while now. The crew at Miami ink are mediocre. Garver is good, but the rest of them don't do anything special. And it seems like whatever a customer asks for always turns out looking like a koi fish :D The crew at LA inked is 100x more talented than the Miami bunch. I would let any one of them tattoo me in a second if I caught them at a convention or something. However, Kat isn't the best at portraits. Just look at Robert Hernandez, Darrin White, Joshua Carlton, Bob Tyrell, Nikko, or the entire All or Nothing crew. Kat's an amazing portrait artist, especially for being so young, but any of those people can tattoo portraits that make her's look a little less spectacular. Plus they can do most styles in color, too.

I am pretty sure you are correct about Inked being off the air, but I guarantee they are still charging an arm and a leg to get tattooed there.

I guess I should have qualified what I said about Kat. I was in the mindset of the CelebReality TV tattoo artists. Sure, there are other amazing portrait artists out there (Tyrell may be the best ever, hands down) doing work that makes Kat look like an apprentice. But how can I resist the urge to get a great portrait tattoo from such a hottie??? ;)

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Originally Posted by Inknsteel

I am pretty sure you are correct about Inked being off the air, but I guarantee they are still charging an arm and a leg to get tattooed there.

I guess I should have qualified what I said about Kat. I was in the mindset of the CelebReality TV tattoo artists. Sure, there are other amazing portrait artists out there (Tyrell may be the best ever, hands down) doing work that makes Kat look like an apprentice. But how can I resist the urge to get a great portrait tattoo from such a hottie??? ;)

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I can't argue with any of that :) I'd probably let Kat tattoo a scrot on me just for the experience ;)

ive got two tattoos myself. ( background info: im almost 21 and im female and in college ). both of mine are memorial pieces and are on my mid back. im planning to get more. thats when they were fresh. theyve been touched up and evened out a bit since then but i love em and am definately planning on getting more.. ....kinda like ball pythons haha.

this is a gigantic picture. my appologies.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...BackStars1.jpg

Ben,


My dragon is just off-center towards the outside of my thigh, and it hurt a he**uva lot more than the one on my chest...mainly b/c of the fine outlining for the scales, and the larger areas of coloring. Of the two, I thought the rose on my chest would hurt more, but the flower barely stung.

Draw up your pic, take it to different artists and talk to 'em. Tell 'em about how big and where, and they can give you a really good price quote idea.

Mine were a bday spur-of-the-moment. I had been planning one or two for quite a while, but I was a walk-in. Due to family issues w/his son, I had to return the next day, but he gave me a price quote right then. Both tatts and the extra hole in my ear was $165. The dragon is about 5.5" long, and 3-4" across the widest of the wings. It was one of his patterns that I had modified.

I too like the "Freedom isn't free". I also remember and am touched by the Free/Brave motto too that I've often seen. (But danged if I can remember all of it right now. :( :oops: :mad: )

Sorry I havn't replied sooner, I just made a random weekend roadtrip all over texas, so I've been a bit busy putting close to 2k miles on my car since thursday. But yea... I've been toying with the tattoo pretty much non-stop since i posted this picture. For the most part it's a size v. detail debate. Not to mention how I'm gonna incorporate "freedom isn't free" into the tattoo. I'm not really worried about pain, as I have built up quite a tolerance for it. I'm dtill debating as to whether thats a good or bad thing. lol.

Another thing is, that I want to absolutely sold on my tattoo design before I get it, and although I am absolutely in love with a field cross for my "support the troops" tattoo, I have also been considering other designs such as the folded American flag being exchanged hands, an American flag in general, a 21 gun salute, the faceless soldier, or a combination.

Yea I wasnt expecting them to be cheap, I was just hoping that a design such as the one I posted wouldnt bee anymore than $300, so the feedback has been excellent. But if I continue my sketching, I'm sure it'll end up as a $300 tat. lol

i got my buddha head added to my inner wrist on friday... and my sleeve is done! i did add some more to the face of my goddess and i'll post pics later when i have time to take some pics.

http://www.timelessspirit.com/images/tattoo/buddha.jpg

Well that's been a long time coming! Looks stunning :D

Wow! I just read this whole thread, and I am definitely wanting more now! I currently have eleven, but there is plenty of room left for more! I've always liked the Rolling Stones tongue thing, but with his tongue pierced. I want *something* on each hip, not sure yet, and I want my backpiece modified and stretched just a bit. Y'all got some awesome work!!!

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Originally Posted by SarahMB

Well that's been a long time coming! Looks stunning :D

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yup, just over 3 years!!! :rolleye2: i have the patience of a saint! :P

My newest

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r...k/DSCF2975.jpg

and here is Lori's first.

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r...DSCF2971_2.jpg

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r...DSCF2974_2.jpg

Sick Brah

That is some amazing color!

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Originally Posted by pythontricker

Sick Brah

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agreed!:gj:

i have an appt on sunday to get my stupid messed up tat covered up!!! can't wait!

well, back from the tat shop! first, here's the before pic... can't even read the word 'gemini'
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r...dgeminitat.jpg

then the after
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r...wgeminitat.jpg
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r.../newgemtat.jpg

a little improved, i think!

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Originally Posted by python.princess

well, back from the tat shop! first, here's the before pic... can't even read the word 'gemini'
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r...dgeminitat.jpg

then the after
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r...wgeminitat.jpg
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r.../newgemtat.jpg

a little improved, i think!

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:O I like it! That tattoo is nice too!:D

I'm with jason.... that tattoo makes a nice addition. lol

lmao! thanks guys!

My big girl, Baby (colombian red tail), went in for her photo shoot today. She'll be tattooed on my right calf. It's going to be done at the AmJam Awards in January, anyone from around here that's want to know when and where, pm me. It'll be done for Tattoo of the day. I am pretty excited. She's got 8 hours to finish it, everyone pray for me! lol

umm... what are the AmJam awards and what's tattoo of the day?

Sorry. It's a Tattoo Festival that usually has about 75 or more of the best tattooists from around the northeast. They all together for three days and show off their work and they hold a bunch of contests, most of the contests are tattoos they've done within the last year. The biggest award is held on Saturday and it's called tattoo of the day. They have all day to tattoo one tattoo to admit into the contest. It's judged and then awarded. Kim, my tattooist, won first place last year with a tattoo she did on herself. It's amazing to say the least.

Lots of fun and a good place to view all the tattoists from around here and see who you like and what kind of work the do. It's definitely a good time, even to just wander around and meet tons of people.

jeez... it's pretty safe to say you'll get a pretty decent tat, then, huh?

I got another last night.

I got a Rose for my mom. Its not with the stem and all, its the flower itself.
Red with dark edges. I got it for my mom and my girlfriend. Its on my leg, cant we seen unless i pick up my shorts.

Pics to come.

Yay! I finally got my Star Trek tattoo. I've been agonizing over exactly I wanted for a long time and I went from wanting a small outline on the back of my neck to something I'm much happier with on my forearm.. Check it out ;)

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/b...Image00006.jpg
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/b...Image00008.jpg

I totally dig it. Whatcha think?

Wow Amy... that ROCKS!!!!!! "Live long and prosper"... I'm totally doing the Vulcan sign right now!!! :D

Or are you a more recent Treck fan??? lol My Treck knowledge is kinda dated. :oops:

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Originally Posted by Laooda

Wow Amy... that ROCKS!!!!!! "Live long and prosper"... I'm totally doing the Vulcan sign right now!!! :D

Or are you a more recent Treck fan??? lol My Treck knowledge is kinda dated. :oops:

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LOL my artist kept shooting me the Vulcan signal! Thanks!

I am defintely a more recent fan. It's kind of hard for my short attention span to really watch the original. I'm a huge Next Generation and Voyager fan.

NG all the way baby!!!

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Originally Posted by jim020cricket

My big girl, Baby (colombian red tail), went in for her photo shoot today. She'll be tattooed on my right calf. It's going to be done at the AmJam Awards in January, anyone from around here that's want to know when and where, pm me. It'll be done for Tattoo of the day. I am pretty excited. She's got 8 hours to finish it, everyone pray for me! lol

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Ooh I'm jealous...I've been trying to figure out how to get my boa into a tatt design...I'd love to see the picture that your design is going to be drawn from so I can get an idea on how to get a photo of Carmen for mine. =)

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Originally Posted by python.princess

well, back from the tat shop! first, here's the before pic... can't even read the word 'gemini'
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r...dgeminitat.jpg

then the after
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r...wgeminitat.jpg
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r.../newgemtat.jpg

a little improved, i think!

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What did I learn from this post???

Location Location Location.

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Originally Posted by Freakie_frog

What did I learn from this post???

Location Location Location.

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hahahahahahahahahahaha *snort* hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

lmao! thanks! i think.....

Wow, this thread is impressively long...

I have two tattoos. One on my ribcage and the other on the small of my back. I only have a picture of the one on my ribcage and it's awkward.com:

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m...ttoo2small.jpg

The one on my back is a little black gecko. :)