I need a portrait done on my leg in Hampton Roads VA

I need to have a portrait of Jimi Hendrix done on the back of my left calf. I just really want to make sure that the artist can really capture the emotion in the picture. This tattoo is my gift to myself for gradutaing college and I have been slightly obsessed with hendrix since I was a child. I was wondering if any one could point me to someone or give me a direction to look. Thanks

Deano Cook, www.psychotats.com www.shaneoneilltattoos.com www.bobtyrrell.com www.corycudney.com Cap Szumski,at www.timeless-tattoo.com www.tomrenshaw.com Marshal Bennett,at www.eternaltattoos.com

Thanks a lot. It seems as if you have showed me a very skilled selection of artists but I was really hoping I could find someone a lot closer to home. I understand you can't put a price on quality and maybe a NY or Jersey trip is not out of the question as I would like to visit these places also. Please let me know if any one knows anyone closer to home.

Terry Manning at www.wildcardtattoos.com And there's a convention in richmond on nov.18-20 go to birdltd.com for info..You really wan' t to go to an artist who's specialty is realistic work..Someone who does alot of reproduction work...Megan,does alot of reproduction work..She was at the philly convention last month,and she maybe at the richmond convention..Call her up,and see if you can schedule something with her at a convention..Her site is www.cactustattoo.com

not to brag but my son is a fantastic artist, his speciality is portraits. he has done alot of them including a portrait of his grandparents on his fathers arm, al capone on the calf of a guy, and several others. his name is andrew chambers @ he is at "wolfs den tattoos" in elizabeth city, n.c. which about 1 1/2 hours from hampton but i can promise you it would be worth the trip and he is a huge hendrix fan so i know he would really enjoy doing the tat for you. the phone number is 252-335-5190, they open at 2:00 daily and are closed on sundays. good luck andys mom

not to brag but my son is a fantastic artist, his speciality is portraits. he has done alot of them including a portrait of his grandparents on his fathers arm, al capone on the calf of a guy, and several others. his name is andrew chambers @ he is at "wolfs den tattoos" in elizabeth city, n.c. which about 1 1/2 hours from hampton but i can promise you it would be worth the trip and he is a huge hendrix fan so i know he would really enjoy doing the tat for you. the phone number is 252-335-5190, they open at 2:00 daily and are closed on sundays. good luck andys mom

In reguard to Wolfs Den tattoo. I do not mean to be harsh, but I just want to put the information out there. Wolfs Den tattoo SUCKS! I will admit your son is the best thing they have there, and after 5 more years of tattooing, he very well may be a great tattoo artist. Ive seen some of his best work, including a big back piece he did on my friend. Not to mention my first tattoo was done by him, its covered by a full traditional Japanese sleeve now. I give Andy his just due, he is a decent tattoo artist...but...The rest of the guys who work there...well...I dont have much good to say about the wok they have put on my friends. No disrespect to you or your son. Im sure your a proud mother of a young talented tattoo artist, but there is absolute no need for the guy to drive down here to NC just to get a tattoo. The guys I mentioned in my new topic about Hampton Roads tattoo shops, have been tattooing for 10+ years. Most of those guys have been featured in magazines, have won awards for portraits, and constantly bang out fresh and innovative work day after day. Andy has a long way to go before he can say such achievements. I can only hope he will go and seek out different tattoo artists to work under and hone his skills and learn different techniques. Otherwise, trying to duplicate these guys style without spending hours watching over their back, is impossible. Watch for those guys like Joe Capobianco, Dave Fox, Tony Civarro, Dave Heydn, Dave Lukeson, Dana Helmuth, Brandon Bond, Dave Tedder, Carl Fuchs, Jamie Litwalk........ If I had the ability he did, I would be doing anything I could to get to stay at each of these guys shop for a month or so. Besides, not too many people want different and hard to do tattoos in EC....its a shame. Much respect to you and your son, though. He is a cool guy, and seems to be very talented, I just hope he gets to do more work in different evironemtns. My email address is my real email address...He can contact me personally if he would like. The last time I went into the shop was about 5 months ago. Peace

Well I have too say that Andy has done both of my tattoos and I plan to continue to go back to Andy for any future work. He is a very talented artist.

TO THIS BOARD I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT ANDY IS THE BEST IN 100 MILE RADIUS OF E-CITY AND HAS TURN DOWN INTERNATIONAL WORK TO STAY WHERE HE IS.THE GUY WHO WROTE ABOUT WOLFS TATTOO SUCKING IS MORE THAN LIKELY OUR COMPETITION OR A WANNABEE.OUR ARTIST ARE HIGHLY TRAINED AND ARE ALL PUBLISHED AWARD WINNING ARTIST SO TELL US WHO YOU ARE SO WE KNOW WHICH KIND OF WINE YOU DRINK.OH BY THE WAY JACK RUDY, SHAUN ANDERSON AND BILL TINNY HAVE SEEN PICS OF HIS WORK AND AGREE THAT HE IS ONE OF THE BEST PORTRAIT ARTIST THEY HAVE SEEN.SO PUT AWAY THE HATORADE BOTTLE BEFORE YOU CHOKE ON IT......WOLF

SHIT!!!!! What ever asshole who says Andy is mediocre is about the largest dumb ass out there! You probably haven't seen much of Andy's work as I have and you probably haven't had the experience of getting tattooed by him. Put a f*ing sock in it. Andy is an all around kick ass tattoo artist. He did my first, second, and is working on my third tattoo for me. Not only is he a hell of an artist, but he's easy to work with. He worked with my ideas even after I called him like 13 times a day to change them. His work is the best. His skill is out of this world after only 3 years. Just wait til the 10th year! Holy shit!! He can do all styles, including portraits. If you live in the area and if even if you don't, it's worth traveling to let him tattoo you. It's a cool experience, he's a kick ass guy and artist. GO TO ANDY!!!!

Funny thread.com::::imagination engine Guess having andy do my 2 pieces, as well as a matching piece on my girlfriend, will be my-"'testamony'" OPinions are like assholes; EVerybodies got one- and they all stink....... -0r---> most times when a person isn't an artist- they become a critic

I just got my forth tattoo done by Andy yesterday. He is an amazing artist. I will say this, he told me that portriats are by far his favorite ones to do. So listen to everyone else and GO TO ANDY.

if you wouldnt mind a short trek to greenville nc, seek out caroline hedgepeth at gary's skin graphix. her work can be found at www.carolinehedgepeth.com. she is about the best portrait artist around, and an insanely talented artist in other styles as well.

In reply to needing a good artist i've got your answer. the best all around is Caroline Hedgepeth at Gary's Skin Grapix in Greenville, NC. She has done most of the art on my body and there is no one i would trust more than her to but the special work on my body. She is a very gifted person and an asset to the tattoing community. Her work speaks for itself!!!!!!!

ok lemmer just say I think it's great that Andy has almost a whole page about him on the WWW. GO ANDY!!! Andy is an AMAZING artist, has been since high school. Andy can tattoo a portrait on you that looks EXACTLY like the picture you bring him, if thats what you want, or he can adjust it to look anyway you want. He did one of the best tattoos I've ever seen of my nephew on my brothres arm and anyone that says Andy is just "ok" is clearly a walking billboard for another tattoo shop. I have 5 tattoos and the only ones I have worth showing of were done by Wolf himself, so the other artist are awesome too. Come on man, dont hate. Give credit where credit is due. If you gotta talk smack about another shop, that doesn't really say a whole lot about you!.......SAM

Just to let every one know Andy Chambers is the man for a portrait or any tattoo you want but he is no longer at Wolf's Den in Elizabeth City, NC. He is now located at Ace in the Hole Tattoo in Moyock, NC. If you want a tattoo that will get the attention of everyone who sees it, you need to go see Andy.

Wow, interesting thread. Having closed up my shop in another state and relocating here a few years ago, I too asked myself "Who does good ink in this town" Seems the general consenus is "people elsewhere" Sadly, I have to agree by the ink I've seen floating around here. In the end, for a portrait I would be wearing the rest of my life I would make damn sure I had the best portrait artist out there and travel to them NOT find the closest person who does portraits. In 10 years will you look at that tattoo and think "Wow, I love it" or "Hey, it isn't great, but at least I didn't have to drive far" ? Take the time to do your homework, find the right fit for you then go to that person. If they are not far, yay you, but me personally, I'd travel half way around the world if that's where the right person to do a portrait I wanted done right was. Don't agree? Please look thru some sites of portrait tattoos gone awry.When you are done cringing, then start seeking out the good ones. Good Luck!