Ink Master On Spike TV

Ink Master is a Tattoo competition where 16 talented tattoo artists compete against each other for $100 thousand dollars!!  And to be the "Ink Master" The show consists of extreme tattoo challenges that really push these artists to create  impressive original tattoos on their living canvasses . It is hosted by rocker Dave Navarro and judged by two legends in the tattoo world Oliver Peck and Chris Nunez!

These Tattoo artists have several challenges throughout the season and what these challenges do is tests their technical skills, and their creativity. At times throughout the competition they might get people who are tattoo virgins or they might get people who want to cover up a bad tattoo.

My favorite part of the show is when they are being judged because they stand behind their creations even when the judges are harsh about the tattoo they have created. I think it makes them work harder on the next challenge. Some of the artists creations are amazing and some are not so good. But I really have to give them props for getting on the show and trying. I know I couldn't do it. But I think it's truely a talent to be able to do these beautiful tattoos!

My favorite artists on season 2 would have to be Katherine Flores "tatu baby" (for her raw talent as an artist) and Sarah Miller ( for the hilarious drama) Actually she is an awesome tattoo artist! She was the runner up for that season. The winner of season 2 was Steven Tafft who created several incredible tattoos. Take a look at his work here!

Sarah Miller
Photo credit: http://www.spike.com

Getting A Tribal Tattoo

Let's face it, Tribal tattoos look really cool! When getting a tribal tattoo it really depends on why you want a tribal tattoo in the first place. Maybe you have chosen to get a tribal tattoo because of your heritage.

 Check out Infinite Tattoos to see over 15,000 tattoo designs!


One thing that people should know is you don't have to be Polynesian to have a tribal tattoo. but some people will want a certain type of symbol. This might be because of spiritual reasons or it may be that you are proud of your heritage or that you like the way it looks. Just remember that many tribal tattoos have very specific meanings that go way back in time. If you are not familiar with the type of culture you are getting your image from, just be certain that this is right for you. It might be a good idea to check out the meaning before you dive in.

Once you are sure you understand the meaning of your tribal tattoo, figure out where you want to put it. I suggest temporary tattoos first to give yourself an idea of how it will look. Sometimes it's better to see which designs look better on different areas of the body.

You should also make sure you find an artist who is familiar with this type of design. Be careful which tattoo artist you choose when you get a tribal tattoo because some artists are better at certain types of tattoos than others. With tribal tattoos it may be worth your while to find a specialist, someone who knows the ancient art of a real tribal tattoo, even if you have to travel further to have the work done. Remember, a tattoo is (usually) a lifelong commitment!

To see over 15,000 tattoo designs check out Infinite Tattoos

pc: http://tattootrainings.com/

NY Ink A Great New Reality Show

Tommy Montoya of NY Ink

NY Ink is my new favorite reality show. It's more than a reality show, it's a look into the tough world of being a struggling tattoo artist. Ami James the owner of NY Ink (a spin off of Miami Ink) and an accomplished tattoo artist himself has a very talented staff at his new shop in Soho NY.

NY Ink Staff Is:

Ami James
Chris Torrez
Tim Hendricks
Billy DeCola
Tommy Montoya
Robear Chinosi
Megan Massacre
Jessica Gahring

On the show there is a lot of drama and a lot of talent and a lot of testosterone all mixed into one. The amount of talent these artists have makes up for the fighting and bickering that go on on the show. Often there are big fights and you are sure that one of them is either going to get fired or quit.

There are a few episodes that are very sad like for instance when Cory Taylor of Slipknot gets a tattoo of his longtime friend and band mate Paul Grey, it's hard to watch because all of Cory's feelings of the loss of his friend come out while getting a tattoo of him on his calf.

Here is a link to the TLC website where you can catch up on some of the episodes and get air times for the next shows...

http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/tv/ny-ink

My New Favorite Show NY Ink

 

NY Ink is a new tattoo show on TLC  that is a spinoff from Miami Ink. The star of the show is Ami James, a gifted tattoo artist who is known for his love of black and grey tattoos. Ami's new shop is in Soho, NY . Ami hand picked the cast. 

A quote from Ami himself... 

I'm Ami James and I'm a tattoo artist. New York is the greatest city in the world. And to compete here, you have to elevate the game. So I hand-picked the finest tattoo artists around. Because I don't want the best tattoo shop in New York, I want the best shop in the world! There's millions of stories in New York City and our job is to tell them all...in ink.

Stay tuned for more on NY Ink. I will post the latest news on the series and what I think of the shows. :)

Cross Tattoo Designs

Cross tattoos are among the most versatile tattoo symbols out there today. The reason people get cross tattoos is to express their religious feelings, other people may just like the design of a cross tattoo. Whatever the reason people get cross tattoos is that they look really cool!Cross tattoos are usually worn by men. Women also have them, but the design is usually smaller and more feminine.

Celtic Cross Tattoo
The Celtic cross (Irish cross) is a very beautiful universal symbol and Celtic cross tattoos are a popular type of Celtic tattoo.

The Celtic cross is a basic cross with a circle around the middle part of the cross and has a Celtic knot in the center. The effect of these cross tattoos is quite captivating, you can get them in various colors like black, blue or Celtic green. The Celtic cross is also very popular in an armband tattoo.

Christian Cross Tattoos
The Christian faith uses the cross as a symbol that Jesus Christ was crucified by the Romans. The Christian cross symbolizes Jesus' victory over dead.

The most basic cross and very popular cross is called the Latin cross. The vertical line represents the divine, the horizontal line represents the world, the intersection is the union of both.

These Christian cross tattoos are usually small and done in black and white. Most people put them on the wrists or on the arms.

The type that shows Jesus on a wooden cross is called a crucifix

Gothic Cross Tattoos
Gothic subculture is not usually tied to a specific religion, but they like to wear religious symbols, especially Catholic symbols.

Gothic cross tattoos often have an iron texture and are very detailed. The crosses are often combined with imaginary like daggers and barbed wire. Gothic tattoos are German in style.

Steps to the perfect tattoo!

Here are 5 steps you can take to get the perfect tattoo!

1. Choose a design: Pick a unique design that is something that you will be happy with for the rest of your life. Really take the time to think about what size you want, the color, and if it is something you will like 20 or 30 years from now.

Tattoo me now is a great place to find thousands of unique designs to choose from, everything from graphics, to animals to lettering!


2. Think about where you are going to put your new tattoo: You have to remember that wherever you choose to put it is going to be visible to either you and your lover or spouse or to the public. Another thing to consider is the pain involved. There are places on the body where it may hurt a little more than others.

3. Choose the shop where you are going to have it done: When choosing who is going to do your tattoo, do your research on how talented the artist is. Go by word of mouth and look at the art he or she has done on others. Make sure that this artist is respected for thier talent and does a neat and clean job. Considering the threat of the HIV viris you want to make sure that health procedures are being taken in the shop that you choose. Use common sense. Don't go if you have any bad feelings at all! Your artist should be happy to show you his or her artwork and should not be afraid to show you how they take precautions in your health!


4. It will hurt: but, if you choose places that have a little more tissue it won't hurt as bad. The places that hurt the most is going to be the places where there is more bone than tissue like the hands, feet, ribs, and up around the neck.
5. After care: You may just think that you get the tattoo and it will heal and then everything is great, but you really have to take good aftercare of your tattoo to make it look it's best. Take the bandage off after two hours, wash the area with your hands with soap and warm water. rinse with cold water and don't put it directly under your shower. Pat it dry with a towel. Don't rub it. Use Vitamin A ointment on it for about 5 days. You can use Zinc Oxide ointment also and make sure you do this 3 times a day. Always keep it moist. Your tattoo will flake but, don't pick at it. And, don't go into a pool or the sun until it is healed. Always wear sunblock on it to prevent it from fading.
If you follow these steps you will get years of enjoyment out of your new tattoo and can feel proud that you are wearing a unique piece of art!

Click here to visit Tattoo Me Now for unique tattoo design ideas!

Find Your Dream Tattoo

There are a lot of tattoo images available to choose from. Sometimes it can be a little bit overwhelming when you see so many images. Most of the time when you want to get a tattoo you have an idea of what you want but you might need a little help,

Here are some tips to find your dream tattoo:

What are your Interests? – In choosing a tattoo image, you need to think about getting one that signifies your interests. This way, you can be sure that the tattoo does reflect your character trait. Make sure that you choose a tattoo image that reflects an actual interest and not just a fad. Because your tattoo will be there for a long, long time. If you consider your interests, you will end up with a tattoo image that may serve as a conversation-starter with people who have the same interest.

Symbolism – It is important to study the different symbolic meanings of tattoo images you intend to get. If you choose a religious symbol, be sure that you have thoroughly researched about that religion and the implications of putting a tattoo image of it in your body.

Each tattoo image also has a lot of interpretations and can change in meaning depending on the other tattoo images you put it with, the part of the body you place it on, and the position of the tattoo image.However, you also need to remember that there area lot of symbolic interpretations for different tattoo images. As long as you know what you wish to represent, then you can choose any tattoo image you like.

Where are you going to put it? - The placement of a tattoo image affects its meaning, not to mention its aesthetic quality. Of course, a tattoo image on the arm has a different impact from a tattoo in the small of your back.From strength to sensuality, masculinity to femininity, the location of tattoo images can convey any message.It can also show your allegiance or membership to a certain group. Secret societies often make use of tattoo images in specific body parts in order to distinguish their members.Of course, included in this aspect is your need for stealth. Do you need to hide your tattoo from anyone? Well, you need to place your tattoo in a very precise location, where you can be sure not to accidentally reveal it.

Aesthetics – Of course, the primary reason some people get tattoo images is for someone to see them. That’s why aesthetic value should be among your top considerations in getting a tattoo image.You need your tattoo image not only to convey the message you wish, but to also look good.This makes the tattoo image easier to understand and more fun for you to show-off.