what some fools wouldn't get for a tat.

i've seen many a moron destroy their bodies with some terrible tat work, but my christ, even some really good work can just be hard to look at. examples? why in god's name would you tattoo the face of the wrestler `sting` on your body? who could possibly be that much of a nuthugger? i would never do a tat like that on somebody. another example is these horrible half eaten faces, horror movie characters, severed heads and other stupid tats like that. don't get crap like that on your body, folks. you want your kids to be scared of you? silly bastards. don't get me started on these idiots who get face tattoos. i think a tattoo artists should get 3 months in jail everytime they tattoo something on someones face, when they tattoo an ugly face on someone, and when they coverup a large tattoo by using smoke. that is all, you are dismissed.

I've seen some tattoos that personally look pretty stupid as well and I ask myself "why would someone get THAT"..But, that's what makes tattooing and tattoo collecting the individualistic activity that it is. Would be rather boring if everyone got hearts, birds and butterflies.

did anyone see that moron on the ultimate fighter who had the great big blob of black on his back?? what the hell was he covering up to think a black blob looked better?? he's also a tattooist. can't remember his name.

I agree, it really is a shame that most of the tattoos in america today suck so bad. Even if the art is good often the execution of the tattoo is sub-standard (or should be considered sub-standard!). the norm seems to be poor/simple art and poor execution. Subject matter is very, cough, subjective of course. I agree, though, I dont understand the "scary face tattoo" thing. I mean, I guess do understand wanting to wear dark images, but there definitely seems to be a trend of "I can get the scarier grosser tattoo." But whatever, the way I see it is if people want scary face tattoos and people want to tattoo them all crazy-like then those are great skills to master and others benefit from the techniques learned by the artist. You seem pretty totalitarian in yer views(do you vacation in warm places?), if others want scary faces tattooed on their faces, its no skin off my back, tattoo away. I'd like to have time to focus my efforts on helping people/children learn arts appreciation and be positive thinking people... not a big fan of throwing anyone in jail who doesnt deserve it...

I agree that some tattoos arent for everybody but thats just the point. Just because you dont like them doesnt mean everybody shares your opinion. its their body. I guess i missed the memo that says everybody has to check in with you first before getting a tattoo. and as a Huge fan of Sean Herman's work im going to flat out call bullshit on you. Im not at all a huge fan or horror movies. but id still wear one of his Vampire chicks or nasty zombie with pride. as its not just really good artwork its phenomonal tattoo work.

herman's work is fantastic, i just think it's terrible to put something like that permanently on your body. yoda, on the other hand, now that's just cool.

I understand your point but what you have to understand is that the people getting these pieces do not agree and thats absolutely their right nor does it make them weird or stupid for getting these tattoos.

if someone has a tattoo of say, and bleeding face with three eyes and a severe overbite, they should have to take a polygraph after one year and be asked if they regret that tat. if they fail. they lose the arm. too harsh?

Did you see that Yoda Steve Morris did while he was here? Fucking Badass.

Even if they do regret it. its still their mistake to make.

that's the one i was talking about. it's out of this world.

and im not saying its a mistake to get these kinds of things as a tattoo. but getting them before being sure of the lifetime committment involved.

i know people are gonna make mistakes in what they get. i have a couple i wish didn't happen. but when someone comes to me and says they want something like that, i try like hell to talk them out of it.

except alot of people into to those kinds of tattoos generally stay interested in them. id say more than likely the people who live their entire lives loving their pieces far outweighs the people who regret it.

for me its not as much an issue about regret as much as the energy you are putting out into the world. A massive scary face on the neck is putting out some pretty negative/scary energy... Its cool and all, but I think its a shame people dont want to project good and positive into the world. Acknowledging the negative is important, but projecting it is another thing. but hey, I dont really care either way and there are some pretty bad ass scary face tattoos out there.

Hey, anyone here like the misfits?

we have that many teeth? nawwwww

I have dark images tattooed on my body. I do not worry about what sort of energy I am transmitting. I once had someone ask me, "Are you a good person"? I asked that someone if they judge a person's moral character by what they see on the outside. The point I am getting at is that looking at someone and passing judgement on them based soley on what you see lacks insight, maturity and is only a reflection of that particular viewers social inadequecies. I love my tattoos and I see them as a filter. If you look at me and perceive a negative energy coming from me, without ever getting to know who I am; or if you pass judgement on me that easily, we may never get along anyway. You have been filtered out of my life and that is ok. Your negative energy has accomplished that, not mine.

positive people don't get dark images tattooed on their carcass. that guy with the skull face should be shot and pissed on.

There is a difference between projecting energy and someone passing judgment. Obviously a big lesson about tattooing is never judge a book by its cover. I try very hard not to pass judgement based on appearances, but on actions. Needless to say, many many of my friends have dark images tattooed on them and they are some of the nicest people in the world and some of the most awesome tattoos. Tattoos do indeed work very well as a bullshit detector with people, and anyone that looks at scary faces, or any tattoos, and passes stubborn severe judgement isnt worth talking too (though, judgmental people who are capable of changing their minds are very worth talking to). That said, to say dark images dont project darkness/negativity kinda defeats the whole purpose of dark art....? Certainly it doesnt mean that you are a kitten killing satanist, but those aren't positive vibes your sending into the universe....?

just in case, i'm keeping my kitten away from you heathens.

WoW I try and be respectful and not laugh but its oh so hard when people carry themselves throughout life, Setting the world up for the snarling lip of a freak. Don’t tell these readers not to make sound judgments about the company or the people they pass on the street. Looking at someone with a cautious eye can in many places keep you alive. You were fully aware of the type of energy you was placing upon your body “ Dark Images “ Then to act all surprised when someone asks if you’re a good person or not. After all that is the reaction you was looking to receive in not caring about the energy you are transmitting. Think about it your filter as you call it failed you, Clearly the person was looking passed your cover in an effort to find out if you were or not a good person if the images on your cover reflect that maybe you were not. With so many filters you couldn’t see honesty when faced with it. As a person in the business I get an inside view not simply because I’m heavily tattooed. When I’m alone or with my wife the general public hardly ever bothers me maybe because I don’t make a big issue about whether people are looking or not ( It is artwork meant to be eyeballed ) But with a group of tattoo people traveling to Outback or Red Lobster seems my peers always have a problem with someone starring or maybe a stupid little comment. I’m mostly embarrassed every time, Being in a group working so hard to emit energy but don’t want to be touched by aspects of it. I don’t care if you have crosses and portraits of Christ all over your body we look more like demons then angels, dark images can only enhance this. I find the social inadequacies mainly lay with the people presenting themselves as anti-social. ( When you see people commenting or gawking at you try just smiling back )

when peeps gawk at my tats i simply pull out my dick. then i either get arrested, or they give me their phone number.

LOL @ DEZ I Agree

the funny thing is, everyone that passes judgement on tattooed people are quick to forget all the people that DON'T have tattoos that do all kinds of disgusting things- Popes who rape alterboys, many serial killers, and those are just some of the examples.

I think alot of you guys who dont understand why someone would want a "horror sleeve" or some gory portrait or something, dont understand that horror movies have their own following of people. and it has less to do with gore and being scared as it does with just having fun at the campiness and low quality effects of bad horror movies. Why do you think a movie like Army of Darkness is such a cult classic amongst horror fans? I think alot of you guys are quick to call something negative that isnt at all negative. These scary tattoos for the most part arent meant to be scary but to pay homage to horror movies present and past. Honestly theres nothing at all negative about these kinds of tattoos. And again its not your body to govern so i fail to see why such strong sentiment. WHat you guys dont realize is that you guys looking down on someone with horror tattoos is pretty much the same thing as someone who isnt tattooed calling all people with tattoos criminals or something like that. Just because they dont understand tattoos dont make them stupid. Same for horror tattoos just because you may not like them doesnt at all make them a bad idea or something "negative"

Oh yea and i wonder how Paul Booth might weigh in on this topic. You might not like what he tattoos but youd be a fucking liar if you said that he was "destroying bodies" by tattooing what he tattoos on people. Some people are just into darker sunbject matters. says more about you not understanding it than it does the person who likes it.

the pope rapes an altar boy???? dutch, someone ruining their skin by tattooing a half eaten zomie head on it says more about them than it does about me.

There you go with the ruining skin again. They are not ruining their skin and your insistence that they are shows how stupid and rude you really are man. They are putting a style of art they happen to enjoy on their skin. SAME AS ANY OF YOUR TATTOOS. Just because your narrowminded doesnt mean everybody is. What exactly makes you think that you get to decide what is or isnt appropriate for a tattoo. I thought thats what personal preference is.

bullshit, dutch. some people simply cannot handle having free will. you get people who kill others, you get people who starve themselves to death, people who call other "stupid" when it is them that is irreversably retarded, you get folks who fuck with animals til one pokes them in the heart and kills them, and you get idiots who defile their skin with ridiculous tattoos. now shut up and fetch my slippers.

Is there a point in all that bullshit that actually has to do with the topic at hand. or do you just make this nonsense up as you go along. I think the fact is youre full of shit and you know it and what we see here is just you pulling at straws.

i just enjoy making you cry, dutch.

y'all take shit too seriously. heh heh..."severe overbite"...lol...

"what we see here" WE?? who's we. look at all your posts Oh Dutch Oven....you think you're the all might admonisher of anyone who doesn't have the correct opinion or just a little less tactless than you? this whole thread is about people who think they are on a fucking pedestal.... please.

seriously.

Back in the old days Tattoo Men “ Artist “ would joke about Tattoos like: Getting a boat tattooed on your penis, But stroke it and see the whole ship OR I have Y.O.U.R.N.A.M.E. tattooed on my ass How about the joke: Lets Tattoo “ Dicks drive in on your upper lip “ The problem started when Idiots took these jokes literally…..

I just got one of those "horror faces" Dez is so upset about. It's an incredible zombie, I love it. Coincidentally, I love zombies, zombie movies, horror movies, etc. I was unaware that I should have submitted the design to Dez for approval beforehand. I've had this guy hanging above my desk staring at me for over a year to be sure I wouldn't tire of him. I personally don't care if he gives off 'negative energy', whatever that means.

now you know. post a pic of your new tat with a sign that says dez. so i'll know you're not lying.

Its cool you like horror movies so do I, But let me ask this if you have death, demons, blood & guts engraved all over your body are you going to act as if it’s the world who is wrong/strange when someone asks you if you are a good person or not ? Just Saying ?

It's already here http://www.tattoonow.com/Tattoos/Black_and_Gray_tattoos/tattoos_17203.html I don't have them all over, only have two thus far. I can't say I've ever been asked if I am a good person since church when I was a kid. My tats are in places that don't generally show because I need to look professional sometimes. If someone has a problem with them, that's their issue to deal with.

I hope noone minds my intrusion to your discussion but I am intrigued and feel I can offer an alternative opinion or preferably a viewpoint. I am a Tattoo Artist that caters strictly to a darkminded group of individuals who generally don't really care that much about what outsiders tend to think about their decisions to wear dark images. Keep in mind I am refering to images that hit a bit closer to home than a horror movie tribute (not to discredit). What I have found to be the most common feelings amongst my kind are the following... Dark images are intended for the individual wearing them BEFORE they are intended for anyone's viewing displeasure. They serve as a "vent" for the internal struggle that so many darkminded people have. They tend to be a sort of "exorcism" in a way. In this sense, these dark images are actually much more positive than you may realize... at least for the individual that is wearing them. In regards to the "negative energy" that they project to others... well, to many of us... that is an added benefit. If you, as the viewer, cannot get past the surface, then we generally don't feel we really need to know you anyway. This is the significance of "shock value". On a deeper level, these images project a much more positive energy than most really can understand. Everyone has their Demons. My kind choose to confront (or consider it feeding) them rather than live in denial. Where we come from... The only thing more dangerous than a bad wolf is a starving bad wolf. I am not looking to change any minds... just offering some common views from the darkside. Then, of course, some just wanna make their momma cry! ;-) Dark Regards, Paul Booth

Some tattoo's as stated above may mean little to the general public but to the person getting the piece it could be some BIG thing.We had a guy come in and get a can of spam on his arm cause he went camping one day and got lost, had spam to eat till he was found days later. lol Then there are those tattoos that are stupid, but funny.Like getting a six pack of molson on your stomach.

i once had an itchy ass, doesn't mean i have to get goldbond tattooed on my arm.

A Can of spam sure beats the hell out of a nun aborting a baby with a crucifix. Personally I find the dark minded individuals Paul is referring too are nothing more than as he put it shock value groupies on a mission to insult. If these Masonic members need to vent about some internal struggle let them go get an anti-depressant, But I’m guessing that’s not as gratifying as the benefit of shocking another human. IMO you would have to be a sad sadistic person to find joy in making momma cry. ( who do ya think you are eminem ) I support your right to live anyway you choose, I also support the right to point and laugh at freaks whose thrill in life is to shock the public & the lengths they will go. I feel your added benefit is also ours. Images of your Internal Demons doesn’t protect you from the deals made with them. I didn’t come from demons so I have no “ wolf “ to feed, Besides Demons lie King Solomon & Albert Pike was proof of that. …….…….Looking forward to your next intrusion . God Bless

Why do you guys care? I think most Kanji (spelling) are the dumbest if you want to say something than say it in your own language and if you want the meaning to be hidden then hide the tattoo At least the dark images especially Paul B's contain some great artistic work

I think some of you are reading wayyyyy too deeply into people's tattoos. People get them because they like the image, and it means something to them (or at least it should). I've found very few folks who get them to 'shock' others.

Give me a gory "shocking" dark image anyday over a kanji!! And then there are the people who display Christian images like crosses and virgin Mary's who are certainly NOT Christians or at least don't act Christian. Thanks Paul for your insight

Paul, feel free to weigh in on any topic you wish, thank you for spending the time to voice your opinion here. Kanji, ack. I find no artistic merit whatsoever. I often find more artistic merit in dark tattoos over christian icons, and would rather wear the dark tattoos than the angels ones I have on me (soon to be lasered fuckers (but truth be told if I had gotten dark images they would be getting lasered too... ungh).

Oh Paul! I've always wanted to say that I liked your head. Er, well I mean the tattoo on it and your general configuration of hair, I always thought it was pretty neat, and since I'll probably never see you out and about this was as good a place to tell you as any. I know, I'm pretty lame. I guess there's always going to be fights about who likes what and what is better than this or the other. It seems a pretty silly argument to me, like fighting about what color is best. "I like blue!" "Well, I like Burnt-Sienna!" "Argh I'm going to murder your cactus you blue-lover!" Some people like blue, some people like burnt-sienna I guess. I don't think you really have to try to convert someone to your color of choice to make it more valid. It is what it is *shrug*

tats are supposed to mean something .you just dont get them to prove your ignorance.. or to deface your body.