Checking out the Online Inked Community

Before you click on the links it would be beneficial if you were logged into your Facebook account.

There is a whole community of tattoo artist, lovers and getters...so much so that it is somewhat overwhelming; all these people with a common interest. I am intrigued at the thought of so many people coming together with inked bodies and sharing, discussing and designing together. Can it be that simple? Well, yes! All one has to do is look.

In the last week I have sought all the possible tattoo and ink websites, Facebook pages, and magazines...but some, I know, will always elude me. What I have found so far that are active and very popular are Facebook pages and a few magazines. I'll start with the Facebook pages.

When one types the word tattoo in the search bar of Facebook the first thing that comes up (on mine at least) is Tattoos and Tattoo Art. Tattoos and Tattoo Art sells high quality tattoos to tattoo artist on their website. They have millions of designs. So many that I just couldn't look at them all. Most of the ones that I saw were simple little designs similar to the one that I got for my first. For the first Facebook page you come across, they have some great information and photos...but it is all from another source. They have a great hand in advertising for the people they post on their site; such as, Inked Magazine, Inked Girls Magazine, and Suicide Girls (I'll talk about one later). Through them I have been able to connect to other tattoo Facebook pages and discover a new community of tattoo enthusiast like myself.

Photo originally from Inked Magazine. PHOTOGRAPHER Warwick Saint  , STYLIST Ashley Abercrombie  , WRITER Cristina Guarino  , HAIR STYLIST John Blaine  ,MAKEUP ARTIST Donald Simrock

The second tattoo Facebook page that comes up is Tattoos.... It is basically a wiki page that lists the tattoo as a disease. I have to disagree with this category, as it is not a disease but an art. It is nothing more than an information page that has over three million likes. I think people clicked the like button and went on...just like I did.

When they say that there is an app for that I now believe me there is an app for that. This tattoo Facebook page has an app associated with it, Tatsnaps. I have it, have yet to use it, and think it needs much improvement on the iPhone. It is much better on the computer than on the iPhone as you can only take photos with it and not see others works. The website, being better, because you can browse designs that people have, get fresh ideas, and blog...yes they use blogger that allows you to blog tattoo photos. If you ever used Pinterest then you will have no problem using Tatsnaps.

If you wish to brows all the tattoo pages that Facebook has to offer then just click in the search bar, type in tattoo, and go all the way to the bottom of the popup search scroll down and hit "see more results." Here you can sort by pages, places, people, groups and anything else that Facebook has to offer. I have already clicked "Like" on just about any pages and places that I can.

This last part I want to talk about Inked Magazine. Of course they have a Facebook page. But I find there website just amazing. The articles are amazing for a new tattoo addict like myself. It is easy to navigate and beautiful photos! I am a photo critic so for me to say beautiful photos then GREAT JOB! Well they do have professional photographers so what do you expect. My ONLY big pet peeve with them is: how many times are you going to ask me to subscribe to your website. I think the most annoying thing is to be reading an article and this pop up window comes up and says, "Subscribe" when I have already done that! I know there is probably a way that I can keep those pop ups from coming up (it's probably as simple as logging in) but I don't think about that when I am reading the articles and sharing them on Facebook and being enamored by the photos of the art work. Overall I think this magazine is great and I look forward to subscribing one day to get the real thing in the mail. I know, so old school, but sometimes its nice to get something to read in your hands.

Do you have a favorite Facebook page or website that talks about tattoos? Share it with me! I really want to know!

That’s my blog for the night. I am going to hit up Blu Gorilla this weekend and get some prices and design ideas. I will let everyone know my thoughts on them.

Pre Consultation with Just Jones in Arts

I have wonderful friends that hook me up with people that have great talent.
My friend Cressie recently introduced me to a tattoo artist on Facebook. His name is Scott Jones and he is on Facebook under Just Jones In Arts. I have been looking around and plan on looking at all the tattoo shops and artist in the area.

Original Art work by Scott Jones of Just Jones In Arts

I have a consultation set up with Scott for today. I like the idea of a consultation for something that is going to be permanent on my body. My hair stylists has consultations with me when I color my hair. So I love the idea of having a consultation with an artist to see their style, set up and how they work. But I also like the spontaneity of just going into a shop and getting a small tat, like what I did in NOLA.

I can't wait to see what he comes up with on the design. I put up one of his designs that I really like as an example of his work. I like this style of tattoos.

I spoke with several people today about where they had their tattoos done. I was quite nervous about just going up and asking someone about their tattoos..but when I just bluntly said, "I like your tattoos, where did you get them done." They seemed to open up more on the subject. When I told them that I had my first tattoo they were even more eager to tell me places to go and artist to see.
Someone I had in my english class last semester even gave me a few pointers on what to look for when I go to a tattoo parlor.

South Carolina is one of the states that just made it legal for someone to own a tattoo shop...so SC is really new to the art of tattoo. I have been told by so many people that this is not the best state to get a tattoo, but my thought on that is: everyone has to start somewhere. I didn't just pick up a camera and start shooting people as a photographer. I practiced and I am currently learning how to use my equipment and how to use it well. I think a tattoo artist has to do the same. Granted though it is a persons skin they are practicing on....I think some of them use pig skin, but you can't always be so critical of someone before you even meet them. But because of my inexperience in this field I am taking Yoshika with me to ask questions and advise me. She has a bunch of tattoos and knows what to look for. So my skin is in her hands.

My first artist review will be with Scott...since that is my real first consultation set up. I don't want to lead people on into thinking that I'm gonna get my tats with them though. For my big tats I want to see the person's style, get a feel of their personality, and consult with them. For the small things I want to be spontaneous. I like just going out on a whim and doing something small...but big deserves planning.

Setting a Few Things Straight

So I have been getting some hassle about getting more tattoos, setting up consultations with tattoo artist and checking out places to go. With the assumption that I am going to sit down and get a tattoo right off the bat after the consultations. Ummm NO! First, I don't have the money to get the tattoo I want right now and second, I want to be positive about the design I choose.  I was positive in NOLA that I wanted my zodiac symbol. Now I have to be positive about what I want around it...like mermaids...and I have to be positive about the design.

This is a tattoo that I found an just LOVE
Photo by Tattoo Patrol

There is a reason it is called a consultation. You consult with the artist to see if you 1. like their style, 2. like their personality, and 3. see how clean they are.

I love many different styles of art and an artists style may not be great for the tattoo I am going to them for but may be perfect for another tattoo that I want. I also may not like their style. I have been looking at many portfolios online and see some styles that I like but would not want on my body. I love Japanese art, but I don't think it is something that I would want a tattoo for...that may change in the future.

A tattoo artist and I have to click on some form with personality. If someone is an ass then they don't get my business...if they are a "know it all" tattoo artist then no...I'll go somewhere else. If they try to impose on my ideas of what I want on my body...then "see ya!" If they have no respect for their clients choices...nope not gonna fly with me. I have ideas that I just need help putting on my body...I need people who are willing to work with me.

If they work out of their home I have no problem with that. What I have a problem with is reusing needles, ink, or anything else that will go on my skin. A dirty home...sorry but if you run a business out of your home you should keep it clean for business. And a dirty person...it says a lot when you shower for your client.

A tattoo parlor I am assuming runs their business based on SC guidelines and laws. But I still want to see how clean their business is. I'm don't know everything about getting tattoos but I do know that there is a risk of getting diseases if it is not clean.

I want to meet tattoo artist that are creative, understand that they are putting their works of art on my body and want to sign their work, yes, I said sign...I want my tattoos signed by the artist. Because, 20 years from now when someone comes up to me and asks who did my tattoo I want to be able to tell them.

What's next...

I have a dream...that my body be adorned with tattoos that are meaningful to me. I have ideas for several tattoos..but I can't draw worth crap so I have asked for outside help...

I vectored this for my class...although it is someone else's work
I made it my own by adding different colors and the symbol.
 It was my original idea for my tattoo. But I like mermaids better.

What I have now is a zodiac sign of the Pisces...but EVERYONE keeps asking me why I got an H on my neck. To keep the confusion to a minimal I plan on expanding this one tattoo as soon as possible. What I would like are two mermaids swimming around the symbol. I know that this will take some time and a few sessions most likely. But it was what I envisioned and it is what I want.

My other tattoos that I have ideas for are:
A small fish below my ear. My girl Yoshika has tats below her ears and I think they are very sexy. And if need be I can put my hair down to cover it up.

A green tree frog holding a daisy. I want this tattoo because the two items were my moms favorite things. She loved frogs and daises. This would be the only case that one of those ribbon names would be on my body and it would say MOM. This I want on my left shoulder.

A black bird holding a heart...this tat I want because I have always loved the Aerosmith heart with wings...but I don't want to be cliche about my tats...I really want some as original as I can get. I also had a dream one night and saw someone with a tattoo that was of a raven holding a heart. Not maliciously but more sneaky or trickster like. Much like the Aerosmith symbol means a free heart (that is how I interpret it) this to me also indicates a free heart. I don't know where I will put this one yet...

A Celtic trinity symbol. I love this symbol...representing mother, daughter, and croon. The three stages of a woman's life. I want it as a tramp stamp...I think it would be suiting.
I love looking at original art work and will be sharing what I like on this blog on many different occasions. I love art in general and want to see all that is out there.

This brings me to a questions I don't think I have ever thought of...is there a tattoo etiquette?

In the Beginning...there was only ONE...

This is a Pisces sign on the back of my neck.

I just recently got my very first tattoo...at the age of 31 I decided to do it now or I would never do it at all. I was not completely ready for what was in store for me. I had several people say, "Oh, its going to hurt." or "You won't be able to stand the pain." But more so than ever I got "It is addicting, you will want more." And I do. I want more.

I love tattoos....I love body modifications in general. I got my first body piercing this year too, a nose ring.

During my trip to NOLA, before I left actually, I decided that I was going to get a tattoo while I was down there. I wanted my girl Amber to be there while I experience a turning point in my life; therefore, I decided to get a tattoo while visiting her. All my girls were excited for me. After a week of looking and deciding on where to go...and putting it off till the last day...I went to Untouchable Tattoos in Hammond, LA. Glen...or Gene...I can't remember his name now...did my tattoo and he was great. My girls loved him. And I think he got some teasing from his buddies for having a party on his side of the booth. Four girls in a tattoo shop full of all guys...it was a trip.

My girl Yoshika called me a "G," a very proud moment in my life. It wasn't painful, it didn't really sting that much. It was more like someone taking a pen across my neck. I am sure that other areas of my body are more painful to get a tattoo on but this was nothing. I didn't want to move or breathe though because I didn't want him to mess up. I think he did a great job...and no...it is not an H it is the Pisces sign. My next venture is getting mermaids swimming around it. I am looking for artist to send me stuff. I am looking at all sorts of tats now.

I think it is time for me to live for once. The main reason I am starting this blog...besides for my creative writing class...is to also tell my journey of tats and piercings. I want to expand the tattoo I have and get several others. I want more piercings that I think would look great. I want to be a creative artist and my body the canvas.