This is 40 YEARS experience for you - AFTER an apprenticeship

www.drjohnstats.com You decide??

And after you do, go to www.ink-in-skin-tattoo.webs.com to see the 'work' done by the person who posted this, then you decide who needs the apprenticeship.

eer... that's not me Johnny boy... ps - how did the McDonalds interview go?

gaz, oops, seems you're right but again, it really is difficult remembering which shit talking moron is which. As to the McDonald's job, don't need it, been operating a successful studio for over 26 years. Invitation still stands.

Ive seen Dr. Johns work before. Wheres yours?

lol, john why the long face ?? arnt you sick and tired of everyone telling you how much of an ass you are ?? seriously if your such a great artist and got such a great life and all you "proclaim" to have, then why do you spend so many hours of every day on this forum trying to defend yourself.....lmao

gabe if you had the nouse to even be bothered reading the posts on your own website you would already have read the part where I said I am not a tattooist - just like YOU! You don't like people wanting to come into the trade on their own steam YET you advertise tattoo supplies on your website - YET ANOTHER case of when it suits hey gabe? No doubt you'll have an excuse for that huh? You can't say anything to anybody being a non tattooing tattoo shop owner?? You have no more right than anyone else who is trying to get into tattooing - you're holier than thou attitude is just typical of those already in the business - I understand you trying to stick up for doc but he was putting people down and all along his work is pretty substandard itself. I'm sorry if that isn't nice - let people go to his website and judge for themselves - can't be fairer than that. If he is going to be that way than he has to be prepared to put up or shut up. How many of his pieces do you have?

This site is meant for the discussion of tattoos and tattooing, not for personal attacks on peoples work. You're both embarrassing yourselves.

tattoosbydo - you got that right, they do just embarras themselves. Gaz, Im wicked busy and simply dont have time to read every thread on this board, sorry. I watch people learn to tattoo all the time and honestly, I dont really care how they do it, when people learn the wrong way its their own karma they have to pay off. And Ive never seen a really talented artist not get into the business if they wanted and were good. I do hear a lot of bitching from sub-standard artists who cant get apprenticeships, but its generally their art thats lacking, not the opportunity. If you call that holier than thou perspective, then so be it. I call it a bunch of artists who should work harder to be brought into the industry instead of hacking up friends thinking they have a right to experiment on the publics skin without a professional backing up their work. I take the irresponsible tattoo supply company ads down when they are brought to my attention. Sometimes things slip through the cracks but whenever anyone calls my attention to irresponsible advertisers, I log in and take them out of the google rotation. So, theres no excuse for advertising irresponsible suppliers. I dont lose sleep over the people who do advertise irresponsibly, as I said, everyones karma is their own to pay off. I can tell people who dont tattoo that I had a *lot* going for me inside the tattoo community before I opened a studio. To the tune of ten years working hard building many high traffic websites and learning the subtleties of the trade from some extremely accomplished artists. I was very fortunate that I had some very important support, and indeed without a bunch of artists having my back Off the Map would have lasted four months when my first artist walked out on me. I dont draw a paycheck from my studio, so I say non-tattoo artists opening studios, dont do it if your looking to make bank, you better have a dozen to two dozen really good friends who tattoo, and an alternative way of making a living even though you work full time, cause Im almost three years in and I havnt made any money yet... I guess Im proof that it can be done responsibly, but I put near a decade of work in to gain the right trust and learn the right lessons before doing it. I kinda got brought in cause I had been working hard and responsibly in a positive manner for the industry for a long time and wasnt taking too much out of it. In any event, I find the drama stirring up very immature, but carry on if you must... At some point the useless threads get taken down... But we aren't all about censoring here, I guess people should be allowed to act like buffoons, but its nicer when they dont.

It's not so much about being immature Gabe, but more to do with being forced into a position where I'm made to stick up for myself. Good for the small people for not being walked over and bringing some good points to the forefront. I just think that the people who've been mentioned don't like the truth - rather they should meet us half way and admit they know where I'm coming from - THAT much at least??

I think I disagree, starting a shit talking thread is immature. Whatever.

its also a very very very poor defense.

I'll let people decide for themselves after reading all the posts - I tried to meet you in the middle and be civil but you didn't want to - Regardless you are in NO position to judge anyone - Good grief what the attitude you have - it's no wonder were so far behind the Japanese and the Germans.

I find it ironic that you judge people in one post, then tell others they cant in the next. What exactly is your contribution to the tattoo community?

umm, didnt you start this very topic specifically asking us to judge Dr. Johns work?

lol, dr.john im quite upset by (how do i say it) lame and unco-ordinated your work is... you keep on trucking though lil buddy, you'll get better one day AmazinC

While, on one hand, you are entitled to your opinion, as this poster also used an I.P. that did not originate in Florida as stated but traces back to Australia, I do not think I'm going to take it to heart. Lame, very lame.

Gaz, this is seriously not what this forum is for.. have a little respect dude. I feel gross I just wasted my time writing this to you actually..

Gaz, this forum is in place to inform, advise and instruct, not to insult and discourage... i'm not sure what you're getting at, but Doc John's studio looks pretty fucking tight to me, and i would be more than stoked to get inked over there... if you're trying to discredit him in any way, i would like to see your mitigating proof (i.e. your intensive commitment, knowledge and skills in the field), before i even CONSIDER you an artist, and, therefore, your opening post... just for the record, i know alot of artists in the field (and no, i'm not one of them) ...

...and on that note... i'm sorry to hear about Elvira, Dr John...

Tam Tam, Although I generally do not like to repeat myself, your posts make it impossible not to, as , again, I am very impressed with your insight and your attitude in general and I assure you, I am not easily impressed. And I am not saying this merely because you 'stood up' for both my studio and my work (although THAT is appreciated, to be sure and I'd so enjoy the privilege of tattooing you) I really like your 'style' and what you say and how you express it. While I'm not at all sure gaz is going to heed anything you or anyone else says to him, you sure did put things into perspective and, obviously I agree with everything you said. And, I very sincerely Thank You for what you said regarding Elvira, I still miss her something awful, Thanks.

Hey Doc.. unfortunately that wasn't posted by me.. but I have the same sentiments as the guy who posted it.. he deserves a round of applause!! (see above your last post) :)

Oops, my mistake, Thanks for the clarification, Tam Tam To the real poster, Thank YOU for your very insightful and intelligent post and for pointing out what this forum is actually supposed to be about. I also Thank You for the kind words regarding my Studio and my work, I may not have a big, fancy joint but it is very clean and totally professional and I've gotten plenty of compliments from clients regarding that overs the years, which I take pride in but, especially in lieu of recents comments from the peanut gallery, it is nice to read that here as well. And while I realize I may well not be among the top artist, I DO do good work and SAFE work AND, even after all these years, still LOVE what I do and strive to do the best work I can and again, it really is appreciated when someone on here gives me that recognition (again, particularly of late) If you ever get 'stateside' I'd be quite happy to do some work on you, in fact, mention this and I'd give you one heck of a good price on it. As to the kind words about Elvira, Thank You, again, she is truly missed. I don't know if/how many of the readers have ever had a good bloodline Rott but they are fantastic dogs, loyal, extremely intelligent, protective as can be and far more loving than their appearance indicates. Again, Thank You for that and your entire post, hopefully we'll see more from you on this forum. By the way, that's one hell ofa 'screen name ya picked (smile)

... you are entirely welcome Doc... :)

Hey Doc.. just on the rottie thing.. I've got one and he's adorable.. like a big teddy bear seriously he's enormous and still thinks he's a puppy.. I feel for you losing your friend.. They are great dogs.. I've had quite a few since I was a kid.. Condolences.. made me very sad to read that on your site.. :(

I think is time for people with a lot of time in their hands to start minding their own business. This type of posts/ accusations are always a waste of "internet bandwith"

Tam Tam, Since you have been around/had Rotts, I'm sure you know what I mean about them. I am also very happy to hear you presently have one, aside from the companionship and all that goes with that part of it, it's good to know you have one hell of a protector when he's around. Thanks for your condolences, I will never forget her nor would I want to.

Ack! They both suck. The second artist puts a neo-nazi tattoo in his portfolio?? Gabe f*cking rocks. THE END