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Thanks Horisumi, very accurate on all counts. I’m a gardener with a small business. The push to create content and curate an online presence is crazy. Hearing of business’ losing clients because they are sick of seeing gardeners setting up filming equipment and shooting videos at their houses. Every asshole with a lawn mower is a Scorsese now.

To use your analogy with music, I believe we’re in the nirvana phase of content especially around tattooing. People are tired of the flashy bs that was working a couple years ago. We want and need raw honest perspective surrounding tattoo. But like nirvana it still needs to be catchy. Love the video and the perspective

I used to believe I needed to ‘play the social media game’ by making those types of reels and having to post so and so times a week for the algorithmic benefits. Mainly because everyone else around me seems to be doing it. Some artists can churn out digital works to show for every other day. I feel the pressure even as someone who is only just building a portfolio of hand paintings, in hopes to be an apprentice.. I feel much slower than my peers so I can’t even comprehend the pressure current tattoo artists around are feeling. Anyways, I’ve been enjoying your tattoos and art, as well as your more casual ‘rant’ videos. They help to shine a light on topics I may have not thought of in the position of someone with more experience and what you’d do about it. Wishing you a smooth and speedy recovery, Health is King. If I could very humbly request a topic for the future, I would love to hear your insights and advice, the best foot forward for someone like myself to take in getting an apprenticeship and coming out the other end successfully. Especially so in today’s climate. Given the rise in number of newcomers, and private studios popping up everyday, has your faith in the newer generation of artists died down? Or can there be exceptions and if so what qualities do they share in common? It’s a lot to ask I just love that you tell it how it is and keep things real. Get well soon 🙏🏻🙏🏻

Such a great topic and I truly believe that far more of us are on the side of integrity and presenting ourselves to the world in a principled way as opposed to the disposability culture that is the current state of "content creation". It's the same as the current mainstream music and film world. Let's keep pumping low-effort, little to no replay value content out to get it monetized and maybe something will stick while we're working on the next batch of garbage. And yet, the very real promotional aspect remains. They almost have you in a stranglehold because social media is how most of us stay current with culture. I get it, believe me. I have a few endeavors in my life that benefit directly from social media promotion and the idea of staying consistent with a steady stream of "content" has been a huge barrier for me. I hate the idea of this non-stop self visibility in the name of content game. Oh well. I guess that's what is available to us in 2024. This the modern version of wheat pasting flyers to telephone poles, I suppose. The only problem is that all the shitty bands are on the same playing field. Anyways, enough out of me. We're lucky to still have tattooers like you around. Gatekeeping needs to stay alive and thriving, and us clients and collectors who value this tradition have a duty to help you artists keep this space sacred indefinitely. Or at the very least until the robots take over.

Love the videos keep up the great work. Wishing you a speedy recovery

what an inspiring interview

And sure, understandable you need to make a living, but all this fucking money driven people can totally go and die somewhere else. I can’t stand them either, zero respect for the tradition, zero respect for the craft and zero consideration to what it represents. Just money money money…fuck haha I get pissed while I type this

Oh man, beautifully articulated, I’m not against rotary pen machines and what you can do with them but definitely every tattooer out there should know how to handle a coil machine and know how to do a traditional piece. That’s the only thing I would disagree of what you just said, for the rest, shit, it’s so incredibly disheartening to see what’s happening and people doing this little dribbles and calling themselves tattoo artists and then on top of that you need to put up with their massive egos. This chick no long ago was behaving like she was THE messiah of tattooing and she just gave a shit experience and then she was hurting the skin and the tattoo ended up all full of scars haha when they told her she overworked the skin she blamed it on the second skin… so unprofessional and not giving a fuck of the craft.and everywhere you see you see bullshit like that, it’s horrible. Thank you for wording it all out like that brother

Always look forward to these, nothin but the truth

Yes. Totally agree with you. the up coming generation who got bad experience from those shitty tattoers lost faith in getting a good and durable tattoo as they thought thy already got tattoo from the best as they are bombarding everyone with ads ,reels , buy one get one. 😂😂tattoos are losing its value

I agree with you brother. Tattoos and tattooing is a sacred process. During my consultation with the artist that is going to be doing my back piece I told him that very same thing. I feel like he is putting armor on my body and the whole process is like a rite of passage that we are missing in this modern age. Thank you for putting this content out it is helpful to me and validating. I hope you and your family continue to do well!

Too many pop up "tattoo schools" trying to capitalize by pumping out cheap tattooer at a fast rate. growing up, a tattoo artist used to be synonymous with "art", because that what it used to be, an art. now you have every dog calling themselves a tattoo artis after doing a 20-hour course and watching 6 TikTok videos.

Chris garver my absolute hero absolutely loved this

Question about covering your tattoos. Do you cover up your arms and legs when you're out?

Drawing and stenciling by hand is the best for muscle/brain memory and feels authentic i try to draw with out reference alot lol i have to say though I haven’t used a coil in a long time after using them for years my hand and wrist were starting to feel it after long sessions,but unfortunately i use a pen it does the job but hand speed has slowed significantly and i miss the sound feel the way of coil ,i here what your saying and agree ,unfortunately the world we live in we have to adapt to certain things to make a living to keep our families feed and the lights on etc ,so ihave to use ipad for on the go for the last 4 years even though still not use to drawing on glass after this amount of time have to provide a service to live life and to provide for family, love your channel brother and keep up the great work/channel

The knowledge this guy has is unreal! So much wisdom. I bugg him on IG all the time and he always respondS. Wonderful human.

Got a sleeve done by kian back in 2009.he did a great job.i think its about time to go back and see him and get it freshened up again.

Traveling for a great tattoo, from a great artist, is always worth it.

No animal sleeps that long? Hasn't met my dogs 😂

Scary stuff. Integrity goes a long way. That’s why it’s awesome to have people like you around. It’s a dream of mine to get tattooed by you. I’m moving to the Gold Coast from NZ, so hopefully one day soon!

super interesting insights, dope video!

Yes please to the farm videos.

I think I’d be really embarrassed if I found out my tattoo was made with an AI generator

I've been waiting all day patiently lol

A.I. may replace flash for sticker tattoos, but for large custom pieces designed for a specific body area, probably not.

A few years ago here in the UK, there was a UKIP candidate campaigning in the election who maintained that there are chemicals in plastic water bottles that turn you gay. Even with the scientific credentials, this study you're referencing seems to be pretty much on a par with that. Having said that, I think it's true that you can get bad tattoos from toilet seats.

I remember ( acrylic?? ) auto pigments being in the "new, super bright" tattoo inks in the USA. I have two that were likely done with them. The biggest issue seemed to be severe allergic reactions in some people, sometimes requiring hospitalization. Those pigment formulations were discontinued as far as I know. Negative news stories attract attention, no matter the subject. That's why the mainstream media is full of them.

Im a new subscriber, but i think the people who appreciates good tattoo that would commit to the long sessions (irezumi) its not for everybody, its that separation that i like. Cant wait for my looong sessions. Awesome program brother.

Truth!

👍

You have to first get tattooed, and display patience, humility and courage there… to even be considered for the privilege of apprenticeship… imo… Thanks for the vids mate! -Pete Rock Ps. I’m gonna need 20 push ups! 😂

Once again I can’t agree with you more. It’s nice to know I’m not alone

Can you please interview Rob Admiral? I think you’d like his takes.

Very important points. Now we just need the younger artists to actually listen.

No judgement to them from me, but I couldn't see myself going to get work by someone or taking them or their work seriously if they had no tattoos. Do you have any recommendations for a good place for tattoo removal? I'm looking to do just what you did in lasering some large tattoos, some solid black, and starting again with some large Japanese pieces. I'm down in Melbourne.

To me the iPad tattooers and new age pen users all have Imitations of the deal, like it’s a thing you’d see on someones water bottle or the back of a laptop lol

Always look forward to these mate 👊🏻

Can you do an episode about your library ? I'd like to see your inspiration

Valid complaints. If it makes you feel any better, I think nearly all subcultures, artistic or not, have been diluted by the internet. It’s sad for sure…

The last three studio I worked the majority of the artist didn’t know how to line correctly, didn’t know how to use a mag and didn’t know anything About tattoo history . Bring back good apprenticeships.

Henning jorgensen

Absolutely love your work ! And always looking to your next podcasts and definitely looking forward to the consultation with yourself ! Great work

I just read that groceries are up 40% in the US and fuel is on the rise already. Let's go Brandon!!! Personally, I think a lot of shops should close. They are crap. The shops that have been around will survive. This is just selection doing its job. I meanhavent we had enough of infinity circles on stupid women?

Your argument was right on point, those people asking all the time for more diversity and inclusion are the same pointing out „cultural appropriation“… as if it was a bad thing! If we follow their logic, there wouldn‘t be jazz music for exemple. Indeed, what is jazz music if not black people playing on white people‘s instruments, and doing magic! Oh but yes excuse me, I forgot those critics only apply to „white heterosexual males“, every one else has an excuse of being oppressed of some sort… Those woke people would just be laughable if they weren‘t so active (mostly online though) and doing harm especially in tattooing nowadays.

When you say "silly Tattoos" what do you mean?

Thanks to the silly tattoos there seems to be no shortage in clients for the artists who do blackout "work" 😂

I like this angle! Hope it stays

Let’s hope you’re right about a lot of shops closing. Most of the people running ‘em could barely handle being a door greeter at Wal-Mart, let alone run a reputable tattoo establishment. Good riddance. Fuck ‘em.

The overall state of the economy certainly has me nervous about things. The tattoo industry is incredibly oversaturated with artists, and bad ones at that. I am fortunate to be in a position and place where I don't need to research tattooers or worry about what's to come next. Hate for hard working tattooers to need to find other work if it's not financially viable anymore, but if they're those one-year tattooers who don't care how something ages, like you mentioned, then that's probably for the best.

I think frivolous tattoos have always been around but it's way more prominent nowdays due to the ipad generation. You can make a flash sheet by tracing and filling in a couple of hours mindlessly. Try doing that when your painting a flash sheet, or a whole decent sized dragon painting. You're mind (atleast mine) would say "what the fuck are you doing, why are you wasting your time and life on bullshit imagery" Anyway, that's my 2cents.