Author Information | BetterTattooing.com
I am a journeyman tattooer.
I have worked in many locations throughout the United States and Canada. The opinions expressed on this site are based on my experiences and time spent in the industry. Some are also from scientific studies.
These articles are written to engage and educate those out in the wild world of tattooing, working in a shop, or enjoying the culture. I will admit that some articles may be particular regarding who they are writ. Still, I, but e that anyone who reads them can take things from a different angle or better understand what someone else may be experiencing.
A little about me:
On the tattooing side of things, I made my initial break into the tattooing industry in the early 2000s. I actively sought out professionals to help me improve, but, at that time, there was a different breed of shop owners who agreed to take the time to train me in what they considered safe practices inside the industry. While I am grateful for the experience, I did feel that I was missing something. There was little ability to progress in the. These mentors presented thought; I felt it was the key to constantly learning and seeing progress.
My journey to increase my knowledge began on the road. I had to travel far from home; at other times, I had to beg for any information. It was a fantastic journey and paved the way for me to start analyzing the tattoo industry to figure out where I fit into it.
Moving Forward
I love learning. Getting into tattooing and not having all the information easily accessible was challenging, though. To find out more, I sat and watched industry hotshots work, went to seminars, and asked questions like a raving lunatic. Through all of this, I learned very little. Most of the people I met were focused on the artistic side of tattooing, and very few understood the technical side of things.
Everything I had seen or heard had to be tested on a client; this felt like a crazy way to learn. Why wasn’t there a place or a person who could give me the facts straight!? Then, I fell into a deep pocket of warm fuzzy comfort when I started taking the time to write down what I was doing and analyzing the results months after a procedure. It was like starting from scratch again, but I had an excellent foundation for what not to do. This made it easy to identify what I knew would work and put it down for others to learn from. I wanted to do good and slowly learned how to get there.
Looking back, I am genuinely thankful for all those people, clients, and other tattoo artists who took the time to help me progress, even if it was a miserable experience.
In Closing
What can I say about myself?
I want to claim I say I am a consistent tattoo artist. I believe I am a good tattoo artist because I make far fewer mistakes than I did a decade ago. I listen to my clients and work with them. This idea of myself has pitfalls and leaves me wondering where to go from here.
I know I am far from great, and my philosophy of tattooing is extreme in some ways. Still, I wish to obtain a mastery of the technical aspects of tattooing and leave the art to those who feel it is more important.
Because of this, I want to apologize to anyone in the industry who may take my musings the wrong way. It is not in my efforts to bash or critique anyone trying to make a living or improve their skill.
Welcome to my website. I hope you enjoy it.