WHO ARE THE BEST ARTISTS ON EAST COAST?

i was just wondering if anyone can name all the greats from the east side of the states.and why arent there any tattoo conventions in CT.

connecticut is full of great artists. you could pretty much find an artist capable of pulling off any style youd like to get tattooed. im not going to get into whos the best artist cause you can find artists in ct, ny, jersey, maine or new hampshire that are great. you could also find many talented artists in the south east. amongst all the good artists you will find a bunch of scratchers as well so beware, do your homework and make sure your comfortable with the artist.

oh yes and to answer your ct. convention question. ct. did have 2 conventions that mike fitts(wizards tattoo in willamantic) and a buddy did in 99 and 2000 if i remember correctly. the first was at the webster theater in hartford and the second was at the holiday inn in east haven. they were smaller and i dont know why they didnt keep it going on could be do to the over saturation of conventions going on everywhere. guy flattly of flats tattoo is throwing a convention in groton this feb of 06. theres a lot of good conventions not far from ct. suh as nyc, the meadowlands, boston, philadelphia, and d.c. ...

Way too many great artists to name only a few. Check out out list of custom tattoo artists and check out their tattoos for yourself!

OK i wasnt looking for the politicaly correct answer!thanks jay for info on conventions.the point of this posts is to see the names people come up with so i can research the names more.i know there are great artists everywere. i want names!who do you get tattooed by on the east and why is he the best.its all opinions i know.SO LETS SEE THOSE NAMES.

That wasnt a politically correct answer, it was a vague one. There are probably a hundred and fifty fantastic custom tattoo artists up and down the east coast. What do you mean by best? The most booked? The highest price? What style? In the end, like all arts, its not as much a matter of better, more like the best have different styles. Ok, personally, I get most of my tattoos done by Lou Jacque. He is a very versitile artist, and loves working with most styles. I also have tattoos by Joe Capobianco and Julio at Hope Gallery Tattoo and Nick Baxter from Transcend Tattoo. What exactly are you looking for?

OK HERES MY LIST, joe capobianco,eric merrill,lou jaque,ant plaza,nick baxter,george carter,tony ciavarro,jerry isel,dean brockert,albie rock,martin lancaster,dave fox,josh hoffman,paul booth,all the guys at last rites,cory cruger,tim at atlantis jim lapresti and I KNOW THERES WAY MORE! but im thinking off the top of my head!oh and im not too bad myself hahaha julio rodriguez HOPEGALLERYTATTOO.COM theres a lot of talent out there just waiting to be discovered you just have to look.

as far as getting tattoos from people on the east coast lately ive gotten my ribs finshed by mike rubendaul in l.i. and hes doing my back, a large traditional japanese phoenix bird in wind and sumi basically from my neck to the back of my knees. he does great japanese style tattooing and i feel hes one of the greats right now. im also getting my right forearm finished by chris o'donell in nyc. its a bunch of traditional roses with jap. style wind and clouds for background. another great artist that specializes in jap.,tibetan, and traditional tattooing. plus both of these guys are real nice and have been a help and inspiration to me and my career. the guys gabe mentioned are great artists that work in a different style. by the way nice flamingo gabe!

www.russabbott.com www.codnyc.com www.kevinleblanc.com www.anilgupta.com www.oldecitytattoo.com www.tomyak.com www.totalknockoutproductions.com www.vanguardtattoo.com www.krugertattoos.com www.marcuskuhn.com www.sanctuarytattoo.com www.scottsmithtattoos.com www.shaneoneilltattoos.com www.darkimages.com www.tradewindstattoo.com www.fineartforlife.com www.fotolog.net/mrmelo www.cobracustomtattoo.com www.twinheartstattoo.com www.tsunamitattoo.com

there is a tattoo convention this weekend in Atlantic City NJ on june10-12 go to drawinthewildcard.com for info and on july 29-31 in philly.tattooedkingpin.com .

Does anyone know where Mike Fitts has relocated? Wanted to set up an appointment and can't find him... Thanks Nan

I GET MY WORK DONE AT HOPE GALLERY. JULIO IS THE MAN.

this is the info i have for mike fitts. if hes not there i dont know where he moved to. if you find out where he is let us know. Wizards/ Advanced Tattooing 15 River Road West Willington, CT 06279 860 429-4014 (shop 1) 860 456-4013 (shop 2)

We have tried those numbers and his cell and home as well as my husband has known him for years...we will keep looking, not sure if I want anyone else to do any work on me after seeing his work Hope to find him and let you know if we do Nan

if your looking for mike fitts you might want to check your local jails!or maybe your nearest crack house last i heard he was riding the H train.....and he never finished my shit.

I am getting lots of work finished that was started by someone who jumped off the train head first. Luckily in CT there are a lot of great talented tattoo artists. We are opening a studio up here that will host many talented guests too. I hope the rumors arnt true...

In addition to all of the above, I'd like to add Inker to that category as well. www.guidelinetattoos.com

steve teftts at flats tattoo is one of the best .........groton ct

I see there are a lot of folks from the NE on here so I figured I would check to see if any of you had heard of Josh Ronish? He did an awesome piece for me in '02 and have not found another I like or trust as much as him.... I am itching to get more ink!!!

Therea are some awesome Artists in CT. I espically like Skin Grapix in Groton. Marc has done almost all my work. He is a all around nice guy and does awesome work!

Last I heard Fitts was hanging out with Sean ohara

I know Josh Ronish. I have known him since we were 14. He did a dragon on my leg 4 years ago. Last I heard was that he had moved to Nyack, NY and was tatooing down there. I saw his father a couple of weeks ago and was told that he was back in the Woodstock area. I do not know if he is back working for Bruce Bart or on his own.

Mike Fitts is not in jail and he's not on the H train. He's gotten his shit together and he tattoos on his terms now. I don't know if he wants to be found but knowing him he's very selective of who he wants to talk to. His shops were his passion but they were also the thing he hated most in the world. He's still the same artist that he always has been. He'll never go to another convention but he has no regrets. He didn;t continue on with the conventions in CT because they were a pain in the ass! Stop your judging and have someone else finish your tattoo.

Grez Marcus Kuhn Chris Dingwell

Sounds like a lot of gay ass heroin induced bullshit to go through to get tattooed by mrs. fitz. why not get tattooed by someone who doesn't need to leave a loaded pistol on his counter or keep a secret protfoilio of racist tattoos? Washed up and living in the shadows....fuck that nigger. tah tah!

Paul Muso is a hell of an artist also! South Windsor

Mike Fitts is doing very well, no he is not in jail and you will not find him in a crack house. Mike is and always has been the best. E-mail me your e-mail address and I will be sure to give it to Mike.

SHANE ONEILL in DE by far one of the most talented artist on the East Coast if not the whole USA

Dana Helmuth in Salisbury MD is one of the best for traditional Japanese work!

Someone said earlier in this topic that Josh Ronish was working in Nyack, both of mine were done by him and I would like to get several more. His work is amazing! If anyone knew what shop he was working at ...or anyway to contact him, could you please email me? [email removed]

I second Paul Musso... Although, he's not in South Windsor.. he just got a shop in Enfield, CT, on Pearl Steet.

Mike fitts is the best,Hands Down! He's also a Friend of mine and a Gentleman. We lost touch and I've been trying to find him for the longest time. He did a large Gargoyle scene on my entire back and just started coloring it. We left his shop(me on my Hayabusa and him on his Triumph) and that was the last I saw of him. Please tell him Richie wants to get in touch for some work! Thanks Alot.

I can't beleive all these people are picking all these addicts that will tattoo for there next bag as the best in the east coast. You want the best maybe is Darren Brass of Miami ink (sike). It all depends on what style you like. As a tattoo artist my best are Joey Cap and Nick Baxter. It dosnt get not better than that.

KAZ of new york adorned

Oh and by the way, Paul Booth and his crew. Maybe the best shop in the states.

ill probably get alot of hate for this but in my farfetched opinion ill give you my answer. my favorite of all time on the east coast would be Dominick Cianci, that was the past on the east coast it goes between joe capobianco (CT) and Michael Knox (NC)

Darren Brass

oh yeah i second that one, Darren Brass. He is fantastic. He was the best in Ct. but there was no talent here. He is the best of the east and maybe America.

darren did my tatttoo , he isnt the best but one of them, check out the show , it was a memorial tat for my dad , he had great ideas on what would work and what wouldnt. orrin hurley also, hes out of ny sick artist.

Canman - www.visionstattoogallery.com - MA Jamie Cross & Tony - Nitemare Tattoo - MA

Nick Baxter is crazy, i wanna chop the dudes hands off and stitchem on to my wrists....Amazing. lol dont worry Nick, i would never actually do that...mainly cause i cant find your house.....

The talent is not in Nick's hands its in his brain . . .

ha, I thought it was below the belt... ah, nevermind.

I'd love to get a sentence out of him that consists of more than 8 words verbally speaking, but hey, the guy owe's me absolutely nothing, so who am I to bitch?

Nick doesnt waste words, talk about something important and you cant shut him up...

regarding Mike Fitts...I do know that racist shit is true, my ex worked for him, and there are rampant rumors of him being seen at methadone clinics in the Willimantic area. I hope he is clean and doing well, although as good as his work is I dont know I would have had mine done by such a raging racist goon. Why is he so far down on the DL? It's almost like he is hiding out? He was locally popular and just poof, disappeared.

Oh that's good, I'm sure Mr. Fitts wants all the visitors to this forum to know that information.

Know what? That he was a closeted white power racist or that he has an addiction? Either way it is what it is and pretty common knowledge. Had 2 shops, then bam, gone. Of course people are going to wonder.

DAvid Sena At rising dragon in Nyc is def one of the best out there

Looking for someone in NC, VA, SC to repair (redo, modify, make my wife happier) with a small butterfly that turned out waaay to dark (for her). She had only one stipulation, don't make it too dark with good colors if possible on a small one. Guess what it is..... too dark. Gimme some names of the best....please. If mama ain't, well you know the rest.

Looking for someone in NC, VA, SC to repair (redo, modify, make my wife happier) with a small butterfly that turned out waaay to dark (for her). She had only one stipulation, don't make it too dark with good colors if possible on a small one. Guess what it is..... too dark. Gimme some names of the best....please. If mama ain't, well you know the rest. N.Carolina kevinstattoozoo.com goldenspiraltattoo.com acecustomtattoo.com immortalimagestattoo.com glennstattooservice.com herotattoo.com Virginia. fuzionink.com salvationgallery.com absolutearttattoo.net marcohyder.com stainpain.com

As to Mike Fitts, I am his cousin Leslie's son; Mike is NOT a druggie, and he is NOT a racist... his shops were shut down because his best friend and right hand man was busted for drugs and almost brought him down too, and then right afterward, he broke his hand in a car accident and had no-one he could trust to run the shop. ever since, he has indeed been lying low, because of stupid fucks like you all who actually believe the shit that was being said about him. He's one of the best fucking artists you'll ever meet, and i'm fucking pissed that the army's got me stuck down here in NC, cuz i'd get my tat's from him in a heartbeat. From the last i heard from him, his hand is all fixed up now and he's doing ink out of his dad's basement hahah But honestly, I know that he has had a rough past, and some of the rumors about him are true, but he is not a racist crackhead like you people wanna make him out to be; he'd do anything for his family, and his family would do anything for him. I used to be able to say the same thing about those people he considered friends, but too many of them have fucked him over for that to be true anymore.

Whats your MOS over there in NC where are you at? Why are you still in NC? Why are you ragging out on everyone even though they didn't post on this area? take some of your fucking leave and go get a tattoo if thats what you want..

yeah,but be sure to stay in the tattoo shop long enough to get tattooed!

Hello Folks, The best tattooer is Richie Montgomery in Belmont,L.I. period!

you people are fuckn re DICK ulous what ever happend to us tattooists stickn together everyone has there ups and downs quit pickn your marble playn doll breakn buddys like this is elem, school. if someone needs help go find um and fuckn help um. and maybe your shitty disposition will change for the better. i hope.

I saw Mike this past week and I am going to see him again this weekend. He has some of the most interesting and complex tattoos I have seen. He's clean as far as I know and doing fine. Definetly, if you can get a hold of him (yes it can take a week or so for him to get back to you), get a tattoo from him. I love getting tattooed by this man, he is very talented. He is very selective with what and who he tattoos so dont go to him with a dumbass idea and expect him not to give you ideas on how to make it better or be surprised that he refuses to do it. He knows his stuff, trust the man.

I grew up with Mike Fitts. Were friends till our early 20's know his sister, brother and Fred his father. have several tats from Mike before he started tattooing out of his School st. apt. in Vernon Ct. Mike if your still alive e=mail me for old time sake. [email removed]

I have to agree that Mike Fitts is the best around. I have had several pieces done by Mike and he still amazes me. He just did a piece for me today......and I LOVE it! He takes his time and does it right....not like many artists who rush through your piece and a year later you're covering it with something else.

Mike Fitts redid two pieces on my arms free of charge when I had some issues with the quality done by another artist at his shop. I knew the kid was just finishing up his apprenticeship, so it really wasn't Mikes fault. Really nice about the whole thing, and he did a great job making it right.

Looking for someone who can do portraits. Looking to get work done on my ribs....pics of my sons. I am in Maryland, but willing to travel to wherever. I want these to be dead on...

First...is this the same greco from the FFA? Second.. there are several great portriat artists mentioned in the Jeff Gouge thread below. Stephano is really good, and he's based in NYC.

Nah, I am not that Greco.. Ok, cool thanks. I will check them out for sure. Do you know of anyone in MD? I just want this to look awesome...you know how it is..

Hey, I looked at Jeff Gouge's website and I read it correctly, it saidhe no longer takes new clients...the dude must be fkn great. Like I said I dont care where I have to go, but I want them to be dead on.... If you want, send me more info at [email removed]. Also, if you think I caould get in with Jeff, let me know,

There is a great Italian documentary posted on youtube called True Love. A small Italian crew comes to the east coast to get tattooed by the best artists from NYC to D.C. Each episode is 10 mins and done very well. Here are a few of these great artists some i've had work done by and can say they are the bomb. Bailey Hunter Robinson, Steve Boltz, Bert Krak, Eli Quinters, Steve Nolan, Nikki Balls... Check it out.

mike fitts is the best artist iv ever seen. he is not only a tattoo artist but a great drawer and painter. i have been 2 many shops on the east coast and even internationally, and i would rather have fitts do my work then any1 else. he is hard 2 reach at times, and selective of who and what he tattoos.. but if u ever have the oppertunity of getting ink by this true artist u should take it. and to all the assholes talkin shit about him, get a fuckin life.

I have to agree,all you talking shit about Fitts are just a bunch of punks. To even see other supposedly respectable tattoo artists bashing a very talented artist is whacked. The very talented artist who taught me was great friends with him and spoke only praise of the man, he also was not white. Any respectful artist would never volunteer to tear apart one of their own. I'm sure all the people speaking negatively are flaming the fans of hear-say and don't know facts. Back to the topic, I don't think I heard mention of Jessie Smith in VA, he's quite fantastic.

Looking for a way to Contact Mike Fitts, Lost the email infor I had to contact him with a computer crash. My husband has known him for a long time and dont want your personal opinions of him, just want some contact info, have had 2 tatoos done by him in the past and very happy with both Nan

I agree with the positive things said about Mike Fitts. When I lived in MA, he was always cool to me, his work was amazing and he always had great advice. If anyone finds out his whereabouts, please tell him I said hello and I wish him well. -KRYSTOF

You want the best go to Hope Gallery. Joe Cap, Eric, Julio and Tim are the best around. www.HopeGalleryTattoo.com

Some of you guys have some really f***ing low standards. Steve Teftt?! His work isn't even medicore. Disfigured faces, wonky lines, etc.

I know where mike fitts is...i am not sure if he taking alot of clients other then ppl he knows... i can ask him