Thinking About Ink... Boston or Los Angeles

Hi, I was thinking about getting my first tattoo. I am a college student in Boston, but I am originally from L.A. I was wondering if I could get a recommendation for any excellent tattoo artist in either Boston or Los Angeles. I want something to commerate my long struggle with depression, and I have some ideas, but I want something truely unique not some bullshit dime-a-dozen crap that I so commonly see. If I want this for life, I want it to have great meaning, I want it to be a work of art. Don't get me wrong, I see great tattoos all the time, I just want mine to be one of them...

i would go to as many shops in the area,and look at the artists portfolios,and maybe get a feel for an artist whose style that u like.around boston check out redemptiontattoo.com krugertattoos.com cobracustomtattoo.com stinkymonkeytattoos.com in LA check www.truetattoo.net spotlighttattoo.com shamrocktattoo.com incognitotattoo.com and winntattoos.com

Sounds like a job for Nick Baxter if you ask me. Well worth the drive. Tony Ciavarro or the guys at Stinky Monkey are also fantastic in the Boston Area. In LA, check out Mike Devries. Also, Lisa Schmoldt and Jesse Smith travel to LA often. Keep doing your homework and your in for a good tattoo! Tat-swami, thanks a ton for all the references. You have a website?

Oh yeah! The Boston Tattoo Convention will be the weekend of Sept 23rd. Lots of good artists will be there. We will have the new website up and running in two weeks. Last year there was a line out the door, so it should be a fun time again this year too. TattooNOW will have a big booth, stop by and say hi if you do go.

don't have my own site.i'm just a passionate collector who knows alot of websites.i'm always surfing the net to try and find new sites of talented tattooers.i guess u can say that i have been bitten by that tattoo bug,and i enjoy informing people about all the talented artists out there.

hi, i think with your tats you have to think about why you're wearing it....for example, i have the chinese symbol for strength on my wrist to remind me to be strong in times when i'm "down." i have 3 kokopellis to remind me to "keep it light" think about the joy there can be in life. i have several more and they all have special meanings for me. i too struggle w/ depression & addiction, so i hear ya'! i'd love to know what you decided on getting! also, tabu tattoo on venice bl. in culver city is a great place with excellent artists. good luck, shelbo