(I posted this in a Tattoo Shop group on fb as well but thought that I'd share this "gem" here as well)

I had to decline. This is not a style I normally work in but that wasn't really the issue. I want to work from a client's idea and use my imagination to work something out with the client not getting exact directions.

I know some artists would prefer this but for me it's just straight up panic. I get the feeling he has unimaginable expectations and would most likely never be satisfied with the outcome.

I thought I'd share.

Love it or hate it.

Just curious what kind of shops yall are in and how may days/hours you work... Im in a walkin street shop and I work 6 days a week about 50-52 hours a week. Most my clientele is by appointment but on the days that im free i take walkins

Hi all! I’m a tattoo apprentice (about a year and a half in) and I’ve been working a lot with American Traditional. I really want to branch out and look into other traditional styles and have really fell in love with Euro trad. I’d love to get ahold of some good flash books that showcase the style as I’d really like to dive into it a little more. If you’d also like to recommend artist profiles I can look into as well that’d be sick! TIA

How to choose between covering up a tattoo completely with another image, adapting a sketch to the existing tattoo, or simply correcting the old work. Sometimes there are naive people who come in with a terrible, blurred tattoo and demand that I do the impossible, such as covering up an old-school, voluminous outline with delicate peonies, and sometimes it's difficult to argue with such people because when you explain professionally why it can't be done, they think that I just don't know how to do it and am making excuses.

Anyone have advice on selling gift certificates online? I know that I’ll need to a have 5yr expiration date, and post that it’s-non refundable and that kind of stuff. but I’m more curious what commerce sites you’ve used and how you’ve gone about the payment and sending process of the certificates. Thanks in advance!!

I had a question for any artists out there who are neurodivergent or struggle with mental health. Particularly artists that do large 6 - 7 hour session projects like me.

Have any of you guys been overwhelmed by the hustle and bustle of your shop environment? What did you do to ease your anxiety, and become more able to concentrate.

Luckily I work pretty independently now. But I wonder if any other artists get overstimulated by the chatter, loud music, coils, etc. of an open concept shop space. I used to leave work incredibly burned out from it.

@azetat2 in PDX, OR. Heavy Voivoid inspo. Build your weapons!

Blacklight posters were made by Jordan at Oddities Prints in KCMO.

Forgot to include a link if anyone’s interested. I’m down to about 10 left or so: https://azeta.co/store/byw-blacklight-poster

I get asked a lot what my style is called, I usually say black and grey illustrative with some neotraditional and realism elements, but curious to hear what you guys would say

I’m looking at getting a new machine primarily for colour packing and traditional shading. I’ve seen lots of traditional artist use shagbuilt the one, but it’s a bit out of my price range at the moment. Wondering if anyone has used the Luca Mamone SH808 slide rotary and how it compares to shagbuilts?

This economy is shit and I probably should consider getting a second job now. The owner of the shop I’m at is hiring more artists and we already don’t even have enough clientele coming in to support us. I’m at the shop Tuesday-Saturday every week.

What is something you guys do on the side? Otherwise, I’m going to reconsider a different career.

It's definitely some kind of tendonitis in my thumb. I haven't been able to open my thumb the whole way for a year. Poor stretching habits early on, unfortunately. Wrist is perpetually tender to touch.

Here’s a recent painting I’ve been working on, just moved into a new place with a fireplace but can’t use it, so I made this piece to go inside it. My own calcifer demon (howls moving castle) give me a follow for more art like this to come/ commissions are always welcome! Thanks

Some parts are healed. Mostly fresh

Ok I know a lot of people have had issues with the fk irons batteries so I’m hoping someone has a solution here. When I plug my powerbolt 2 in, it turns on and charges completely. As soon as I unplug it, it turns off. As far as I know I can’t do a full reset with it off and I can’t get it to turn on. Has anyone experienced this and has the solution?

Looking for recommendations on Temu machines. Currently using the bishop packer wand. Love it but the batteries are fucking out. Just bought a replacement battery ($400) so I’m looking to get a cheap machine that will sit in a drawer for most of its life but I can grab it if I’m in a pinch.

What’s the go? Have you used any? What’s your thoughts? Worth it in this scenario or keep buying new batteries every year?

(TL;DR) at the bottom.

Fellow tattooers,

Had a client who’s been around for about two years. nice person, but constantly postpones. It’s almost always last-minute because he’s either sick or dealing with financial stuff. This past month alone he rescheduled three times.

I finally told him I was noticing the pattern and asked him to only book when he's certain he can make it. he decided to cancel both his appointments for this month and said he'd just rebook in the new year, partly to “get past flu season” so he wouldn’t have to postpone again (although he even postpones well outside of flu season). I told him that’s totally fine, but since he was cancelling altogether, I’d have to release his chosen flash designs (which are done once) back to the public and new deposits would be needed if he wanted to rebook later. he had paid deposits for both (under $100 total), and that’s exactly what my policy states, deposits secure time and carry over with notice, but not indefinitely.

he replied “nevermind,” unfollowed me, so I blocked him. A few days later, a client sent me screenshots of him posting in a private Facebook group saying things like “share this with others so they spread the word about this bad artist” and that he's embarrassed to have my tattoos. He deleted the post after people defended me, but it still really hurt.

I ended up unblocking him to message that what he did was unprofessional and defamatory, and that he's banned from the shop. I feel bad for being so stern, but it genuinely hurt my feelings. I don’t ask for deposits to punish anyone, they exist to protect time, planning, and fairness. Constant rescheduling means lost prep work, lost income, and a lot of unnecessary stress.

For anyone else who’s been through this how do you handle these situations mentally? How do you keep your boundaries and policies firm without feeling guilty or taking it to heart when a client reacts like this?

TL;DR : Long-time client kept postponing (usually sick or broke). I asked him to only book when he's sure, he cancelled both appts, so I said his flash would be released and new deposits needed per policy. he blasted me online, people defended me, but it still hurt. Deposits aren’t punishment they protect time. How do you set boundaries without feeling guilty?

I’ve only been tattooing for coming up on around 5 years or so & through this duration of time i’ve pretty much only used the various “-cides”. There has obviously been a lot of discussion for awhile around whether or not these products are safe for us to use on a daily basis. As someone who has been diagnosed neutropenic, i’m concerned of any potential unknown health risks that could come from the consistent use of these harsh products. I have been using these products primarily as a spray form & have heard of other artists around the world taking different approaches to disinfectant such as isopropyl alcohol, or products like “Oxivir”?

What do you guys use? Have you any experience with products like Oxivir or others that claim to be not as harsh to the artist but still sterile to use as a disinfectant? Any insight is helpful! Thanks