Hell & High Tide

That hole in the sand is my escape plan

2011-08-24T13:19:00.001-07:00

Leaving for tour in a week! Pretty stressed out about it but what's new? I'm having trouble staying motivated to maintain this blog. I knew it would happen. I have hired a good friend of mine as a publicist and social media manager, with him taking care of tumblr and stuff like that it's even harder for me to want to sit down and resize photos and type out bunch of whiney garbage. If you're interested in seeing a blog that's updated much more often than this one, with much more photos of me haha and not just the tattoos, feel free to check out the tumblr that has been set up for me. Maxkuhntattoo.tumblr.com. Here, though, its me.

Anvil right on the elbow. Bumping tattoos by Danny reed, Ashley love, Bert krak, and Brian bruno. Haha I don't know what the hell I'm doing, hanging out on an arm like that...

Little rose and pocket watch on Jacquelyn. She's one of the few people I've tattooed that is quieter than me.

"I hope that you're okay even though I'm dying"
You Vandal on Molly!
Big ole' fat lines

The gangs'll come back. you'll see.

2011-08-19T20:24:00.001-07:00

"...The light of truth is my only guide. A knight, unyielding, to the X I'm crucified."
Michaela's straight tattoo

Weirdest tattoo. Zebra poking it head in a window. Very loosely based on a frued painting. Also a cover up. Better picture when its healed.

Brett, both knees caps done in the same day. Rock-sitter. Super swollen, healed pictures forthcoming. Thanks!

As if we don't even try

2011-08-11T13:42:00.001-07:00

Painting, tattooing, sleeping, sweating, planning, saving, talking, not talking. Are the days getting shorter already or is it just me? Come on, fall.

New sheet of original flash. Like all my paintings, thought up while sitting on the couch listening to music, drawn up over dinner, painted when all my peers are out drinking and chasing sex, posted on the internet so idiots can see it for free. The images I paint and tattoo aren't wildly new or creative but I draw them by hand, from my head, my ideas that you can have, forever, for $50-100. Or be disappointed that it's not the same Bert Grimm skull to which some yahoo added some scared geometry or extra eyeballs or whatever the fuck they think is cool. Maybe if I fill in all the o's and a's red, or put two outlines around everything you guys will really be impressed. Fuck you, Internet.

Jacks's stomach and healed butterfly chest. First piece on another one of his tattoo road trips. See you in Wisconsin.

I have prints available of the "I'm sorry, mother" painting I posted a little while ago. High quality prints on heavy card, $50. Maxkuhntattoo@gmail.com if you'd like one. Thanks!

Preview of a sheet of paintings I was working on that I'll probably never finish. "this town has got me down". It'll be for sale if anyone is interested.

Thanks for looking as this blog. I'm a whiney baby. I have a tumblr now that a friend of my is running be cause I am incapable of enthusiastic self promotion and I have no interest in impressing people I've never met. He updates it often with cool pictures that aren't on this blog but here you get to read me type about nonsense.
Maxkuhntattoo.tumblr.com. Thanks again

It's my duty as a human being to be upset

2011-08-04T22:04:00.001-07:00

Busy week, I'm trying to stay on top of posting stuff on the Internet but it's been a problem for from the beginning and its not getting any easier. Well, slightly. I'm terrible at answering text messages and email and all that type of stuff. I do it all for you. Look at my pictures, doll face.

More second-layer tattooing on Ashton's coverup arm. Redraw on a wacky looking sailor Jerry panther

Straight edge sailor girl on Kayla

Yeah, you thought I was through with the ugly tigers? Guess again. I really love this one.

Healed picture of samantha's Dixie riverboat

Hurts to ask

2011-08-04T21:34:00.001-07:00

Black eagle on Jonathan from new york. Real nice guy, a pleasure to tattoo

Tattoo of Michaela's pet bird, hoffy

I bet, I bet. On Tommy

Weekly flash sheets, still going. $50-100 tattoos

She's my Rushmore, Max

2011-07-23T13:57:00.001-07:00

Okay, internet, I'm going to level with you. It's hard for me to stay motivated in Richmond and I'm trying to stay focused and save money for my flight from urban-living and the conclusion of 5YP. Here is my new plan and my new offer, every week I will be posting a new, hand-painted, sheet of original flash with very reasonable tattoo prices that I will be doing that week. I will also be selling the original painting. A trend I'm starting to see through the people I do tattoos on is an interest in collecting original paintings from tattooers they like. I'm very excited about this and really want to encourage it in an environment where everyone can "like" and "reblog" the output of creative people with no effort. People giving something back and cultivating real interests, not Internet posturing and image-sculpting, makes me feel better about all of this.

Here is the first sheet, $50-100 flash tattoos. The original painting is for sale for $150. If this project is successful I will be doing larger sheets with more designs in the future. Thanks for looking and if you'd like to get tattooed, I can be reached through facebook or maxkuhntattoo@gmail.com

Now, today, tomorrow, and always.

2011-07-22T14:39:00.001-07:00

Snake and man on Ashton's arm. He has a whole upper arm of light black & gray that he's covering. This is the first tattoo on top of that

This tattoo is on Aaron, a terribly nice guy. He is from England but lives in Richmond now. This is a tattoo inspired by a painting I did, which was inspired by being miserable and lovesick in London. That Atlantic really is a lonesome ocean.

This is a tattoo I did on Aaron last fall in North Carolina. It's one of the coolest tattoo ideas ever, I wish I'd thought of it.

I'm not sick but I'm not well

2011-07-20T09:44:00.001-07:00

New painting. Watermarked the goddamn thing because all the tumblr yahoos that take and take.

14"x 20" (I think) and FOR SALE

Wakes you up and laughs in your face

2011-07-18T15:08:00.001-07:00

I've acquired a new computer and a new camera that hopefully will make it much easier for me to stay on top of all the interneting that tattooing requires me to do. I'd like to say that people can now expect more prompt email responses and a lot more blog and facebook posts with higher quality images but I'll just have to wait and see. As always, my mind is elsewhere. Here are some new tattoos

Big panther on Elizabeth's thigh. I'm telling you, get more big, tough animals.

Little sailor jerry tattoo on Ash. He has some really amazing tattoos done by a very impressive and intimidating list of artists and I was very flattered to be asked to do it.

Black horse on Tommy's shin. It's a modest mouse tattoo, too.

Healed picture of the matador and bull on Tommy's calf.

Thanks for looking at my tattoos. Love,
Max

Find the one that you love and who loves you

2011-07-15T15:21:00.000-07:00

Adrian's first real tattoo. You know how the story goes- you ask for a panther and snake on your ribs, you leave with a dragon and skull on your arm...same old

Cheryl's feet, mostly healed.

I got a new camera. Come check out the new shop, get a tattoo

905 N. Sheppard

Good Fortune Tattoo

God, come down if you're really there

2011-07-12T00:17:00.001-07:00

Good fortune tattoo is going very well so far. Tattooing has been busy and I'm painting alot more. The split that Simon Erl and I started during the winter is finished and I should have prints soon! Sean and I are painting a split set too and I'm excited about that.

Did color on Kara's straight edge eagle

If I only tattooed eagles on chests all day, I'd still enjoy it.

Sailor Jerry girl on a different Kara

First painting I've done in a while

Don't wear it out

Simon and I, black and red

A commoner among the dead

2011-07-05T16:31:00.001-07:00

England and Ireland were both really fun and I'm so thankful that I am able to travel and that there are always people willing to help me out. I am now back, living in Richmond, Va and working at Good Fortune Tattoo- 905 N. Sheppard. The first week back has been busy and it's been tricky getting back into tattooing full-time after a little break from it. For personal reasons, working as a full-time tattooer/ web blog cry-baby again is necessary for me to be able to do what I really want to with my life. Blah blah, here are some tattoos.

On Justin, devil head- and inverted- weird ape-demon.

Sailor Jerry ladyhead and eagle on Kim's thigh.

I really love the south. Dixieland river boat on Samantha.

I wouldn't want to post a half-way decent, well-lit picture and shock anyone who actually looks at this goddamn blog. Really fun mom and dad tattoos on cheryl. Better picture as soon as I can afford a camera or trade tattoos for one

Dear God, did this kind of thing happen to you?

2011-06-23T13:55:00.001-07:00

I'm posting this from the plane on my way back to London after three days in Galway, Ireland. I'm so thankful to everyone who had me do a tattoo on them and to all the people at AWOL tattoo for inviting me and making me feel so welcome. It was a really great trip and I hope to come back soon.

Bold will hold. Check out that really bold single-needle tattoo, ha. This is on Cian. He does a cool web blog and zine called swallows & daggers that hi-lights traditional tattoos.

Super fun. Fit around the vaccine scar pretty perfectly, too.

See you in hell

Simple anchor, always fun

Support swallows & daggers. Diy, full-color, printed zine, shirts and art prints.
Swallowsndaggers.com

'Cause everything that you said rings true

2011-06-19T17:09:00.001-07:00

Relaxed weekend hanging out in Hackney. Vegan pizza and the one day of nice weather since I've been here. Rain clouds follow me.

I've been staying up until 5 in the morning the past few days, slowly filling up a sketchbook with drawings. I'm flying to Ireland tomorrow. Listening to bare sad music.

Max

'Can't stand being home, Lord, I can't stand being gone

2011-06-17T16:22:00.001-07:00

Great week at Jayne Doe, thank you very much to everyone there! You were all so great and helpful.

Per usual, I'm too tired to type anything more in depth about my traveling. I'll be in Galway, Ireland next week and back in the US after that where I'm working on some exciting stuff. It's exciting for me, anyway. Movin' and shakin'

Irish blood, English heart

2011-05-24T07:26:00.001-07:00

I am so excited to say that I will be doing tattoos at the amazing JayneDoe in Essex 14, 15, 16 June and A.W.O.L. In Galway, Ireland 21 and 22 June! Email mail me if you'd like to set up an appointment. I will have more prints and shirts available for the guestspots.

Summertime when the living's easy.

Quick painting. First attempt painting with black tattoo ink. My sister gave me the idea, get it? "Helen." Everyone's clever these days.

I've been going around with my head in a sling for years

No, don't mention love

2011-05-18T08:26:00.001-07:00

11x17 prints for sale. $25 ppd. Contact me through email or Facebook if you'd like to buy one. Did this during my solo drive North Carolina to California. Best enjoyed by looking at it while listening to "a rush and a push"

Last two tattoos I at golden spiral. First one is on famed tumblr-er PCMIV. Second one, Ryan asked me to do a devil head on a weird spot he had left on his stomach. What was I going to do, not fill in his navel?

He who is not busy being born is busy dying

2011-05-14T10:28:00.001-07:00

Sugar skull based on a painting that was brought in, never used so
Much color in my life.

One of my favorite tattoos I've done, this is the type of tattooing I've wanted to do since I started doing tattoos. Tough animals done really big. This one also took two and a half hours. Can't wait to do color.

Freehanded roses on carli's head. Must have hurt but she sat perfectly as always

Finished may's double cover up. This was my first attempt at how I now go about covering tattoos, ignore the cover up and figure it out later haha. Pretty tough looking tattoo. Ugly animals are cool.

P.s.
Recently I've been called out for being way sassier on this tattoo blog I keep than I used to be or maybe than I am in real life. I can't say why, really. Sam king would probably say "you've changed." I assure you though, I'm just as self-loathing and insecure as ever.

Also for the record, have been including tattoo time with some of the pictures of larger tattoos I've done recently. It is not that I am rushing through tattoos so I can say I did it fast. It is not because I think it is so impressive or because Chad koeplinger does it, it's because at the end of the day, besides the desire for attention to pet our egos, tattooers post pictures on the Internet to keep people interested in what we're doing and to want to get tattooed by us. For me personally when getting tattooed, tattoo time is a factor. Not that I'd sacrifice a good tattoo for a fast one neccessarily but tattoos hurt and fuck getting a stomach, rib, chest or neck that takes 30 hours.

It's cold but it feels like home

2011-05-14T08:51:00.001-07:00

Officially unemployed. More pictures of tattoos that I'm behind on posting. Thanks to everyone who got tattooed and made my last weeks super busy and fun

"I wouldn't care if you died right before my eyes, I'd feel no sympathy." I know I've said it several times before on this blog but the police are not your friends or your protectors. Avoid them, don't talk to them, don't ever call them. If you don't ever leave your house or computer screen and don't know this from experience, please take my word for it. Best case scenario the cop you encounter is a human being with a gun, mace, and a club for beating people; as well as, faults, pride, jealousy, whims and desires, who makes mistakes and has a precedent for destroying or ending lives every single day and who is treated as infallable by our society.

Colorful elbow

Line work and black shading on Kara's chest eagle. We did it in just under 2 and one half hours.

Old west tattoo on Andrew. Super easy going with the whole tattoo process, we both thought the tattoo could use a womens name in it, so of course I suggested his mother's. This tattoo shares an arm with Marina inoue, Bert krak, Steve boltz, and Bailey Robinson, whew!

Can't shake the Devil's hand and then say you were only kiddin'

2011-05-11T08:08:00.001-07:00

Wouldn't be able to fit all the pictures in one post so I'm splitting it up.

Molly's elbow. Molly has a lot of tattoos now and I've done all of them. It's so crazy. It's flattering and they've all been fun. Thanks for having so much faith!

Elyse's tattoo to celebrate her grandfather

Kerrie's sewing machine and lady

"heart broken tattoos are kind of 'my thing'"

Still bleeding a bit

I don't have much in my life but take it, it's yours.

2011-05-08T15:22:00.001-07:00

Second to last week tattooing in Greensboro and it's been a busy one. Thank you to everyone who's been getting tattooed, lots of good ideas. Lots of my friends and family are wondering where I'm going and asking me about it. I know they are just being polite and curious but it feels like being interrogated. Thank you for allowing one more week of unanswered emails to make final plans and buy plane tickets.

Tattoo on Paul done during a fun weekend visit

Put color on molly's knee, looks rabid and insane hah. She ended up getting tattooed three times in two days, super tough.

Quill neck-gouge on Stephen as well as a tiny looney-toon, Owl Jolson, that he and Molly made into matching tattoos.

Nature must still find a way

2011-04-27T19:10:00.001-07:00

It's been a rough week, up's and down's and mostly downs. This world is such a-great and a-funny place to be. This summer is going to be wild I think. I'll be posting travel plans soon as I have more definite dates so keep a look out.

Here are just a few tattoos

Bad pictures of Lena's shin, really excited to color it. Hopefully she'll drink enough water to heal it before I leave so we can get another session in...

Some filler on Sarah's arm, real weird and silly but it seems to make her laugh when she looks at it and girls always look real pretty when they laugh.

Girl and pyramid on Lane, rotary stippled. When it comes to tattoos, lane is not what you'd call "dfw." she knows exactly what she doesn't want...but only when she sees it and can't really articulate what she does want, on the upside she doesn't get bent out of shape when I make fun of her for it, even when I do it publicly on the Internet. Thanks again, lane, for being so flexible on this one.

This was really fun, if you're interested it this type of tattooing let me know, I'd like to do more

Crashing bores

2011-04-22T12:22:00.001-07:00

This morning I was lying around, thinking of all the very amateur opinions I have of being a tattooer that I would tell the Internet about, along with some pictures of tattoos I've just done. I can't remember any of them, thankfully. Here is a picture of a few tattoos anyway.

This is me tattooing my friend Chris Burnstein. He's seriously is on of the best people I know, if you're lucky enough to know him you know it's the the truth. He's a great picture-taker too. Here is his blog, DailyPractice hit him up if you need a new default pic for your fb, or something.

We got it done in two hours, breaks included. Chris is one of those black-only tattoo guys, looks so tough.

I've been doing a lot of tiny, sleeve-filler tattoos recently. It's super fun to do. Everyone wants umbrellas ha.This is molly's arm.

Finished lyles leg

It seems like there has been some confusion about stuff I posted on here. I'm not quitting tattooing, I'm just leaving my full time job and not jumping right into another full-time job. I'm looking forward to spending more time traveling both tattoo related and not, painting and drawing and getting into better physical shape. I'm working on filling a sketch book with tattoos that I'll be doing for discounted prices during guestspots.

Take care
-max

Did you hear my acceptance speech? I quit, I quit, I fucking quit.

2011-04-17T09:55:00.001-07:00

Friday, May 13th will be my last day tattooing in Greensboro.

Golden spiral is a great shop that has helped me out in so many ways and I wouldn't be doing the tattoos I'm doing now if not for everyone who works there pushing me. I'm pretty worn out and need a break. I think I'll be giving Dixie the slip for at least a little while. I need some time off from full time tattooing. I'm not sure if I'm cut out for it. I'll need time to decide. I know that I love to do tattoos when I really feel wide awake and able to do them and I know that I'm unable to work regular jobs. I'll always be tattooing one way or another but as a career, I'm not sure right now. I may eat my words sooner than later but I think I use to be dangerous, I use to do what I wanted to do not what they wanted me to do, I use to take risks. I was miserable all the time but what's new? I was desperate and broke and I think that made me exciting. I think I think too much. "In the days when you were hopelessly poor, I just liked you more."

Blah blah blah. If you have any unfinished pieces from me, please book appointments with me as soon as you can, I want to avoid any problems with people getting their feelings hurt.
If you have any tattoos that you'd like to get from me, now is the time to do it. This is not the last time in the history of the world that I'll ever be tattooing in a shop setting but it'll definitely be easier for the both of us if we do it now. I'll definitely be doing guest spots pretty regularly and painting flash more.

Coming soon:
-Flash for the Friday the 13th tattoo special Sam King and I are doing.
-Watercolor prints and originals for sale
-inexpert and illegal motorcycle riding
-daughter stealing
-felony trespassing
- fist fights
-my triumphant return to aggressive, sober, train hopping. Catch-on-the-fly and/or die.
- kissing my mother on the cheek
- international underground fame.

The vegan straight edge, still winning.

This baggage hurts as we hit the dirt.

2011-04-15T17:53:00.000-07:00

This week as been eventful. I'm starting to move forward on a lot of plans in my personal life. I don't know how much interest you, the internet, have in that though. I'm feeling dangerous again.

Click on the photos for a larger view

My younger sister Ocean came back down to NC and I gave her a few small tattoos.

She's gd funny. Cardinal.

Tiny little dagger and umbrella filler

Paul was one of the first people to ever let me try tattoos and was always down to let me try something new and I've always appreciated that. This one is to commemorate those activists within the radical animal rights, human rights, and earth rights communities imprisoned, without committing a crime but for refusing to submit to unconstitutional grand juries and testify against others. Don't talk to police. Ever. They only have a right to your name and address.

This a rework of the first knee I ever tattooed

This is Saralee

Thanks for looking at my blog.

Love, Max.

Once faint hoof beats become clearer

2011-04-09T11:55:00.000-07:00

ugly-tiger head on Sebastian's ditch. It took fifty minutes, which considering how bad I feel tattooing people there, I was glad.

This week end I started a bunch of pieces that I'm really excited to color. this one is on a real nice guy, getting tatted, still in high school.

I didn't know where this tattoo was going until Megan got to Greensboro. It was a last second choice to put the globe on her elbow and I'm really happy with it.

I basically blacked out Molly's whole knee haha, she's as tough as she now looks with this wolf head.

Thanks again to all the people from Richmond and Asheville and PA that come to get tattooed by me. It really means alot that you're willing to travel.

I have some non-tattoo related things I want to say, just stuff that's been on my mind this week.

-Freeganism is bullshit.

-Drinking beer is not punk

-Fuck watching sports

-Tumblr is multiple-choice culture and style. It's like saying, "Hey, stand over my shoulder and watch me while I look at different websites."

-Tattoos aren't real life. They can be cool but mostly they waste time and hurt real bad.

-There's no way we can talk our way out of this one, the world is falling apart.

-Straight edge is supposed to alienate you. I mean that in as many ways as you can take it.

-I believe it is more important to be real than to be impressive.

Leave me alone, 'cause I'm alright, dad

2011-04-09T11:03:00.000-07:00

This is my good friend Diesel on my good friend David's hand. Done in Vacaville California.

"It was further out than you thought, wind swept and current caught"

On Ashley's tiny arm.

This is this gnarly ugly-panther head I did ashleys knee, around five months healed.

This is a painting I did in October last year that as part of this package I was making for friends and family but it's never going to happen, so here internet, take everything I make

Long Gone Lonesome Blues

2011-04-04T12:12:00.000-07:00

First blog update in a while. I'm not cut out for this.

I've been feeling very off for a while now. I developed an involuntary twitch in my left eye and muscle spasms in my back, I believe due to stress. Recently, I bought a car and drove out west by myself. I'd like to think it did me some good to unplug for a while but I'm back now.-anyway.

Here are some tattoos I did before I left town.

Molly got both of these in the same day, thanks again!

Jenny got this little lady head.

I'd love to do more small tattoos like this.

yep

I'm a complaining baby who can't handle anything.

cheers. Max.

Picture me on the back of a harley...

2011-02-28T10:16:00.000-08:00

Life is nothing much to lose

2011-02-22T11:15:00.000-08:00

Third week of being in the shop every single day. Busy, busy.

Nearly exhausted but I get to do fun tattoos when people come to town.

Kara from Richmond's feet, sat perfectly even when I tattooed between her toes.

viva love.

A pretty tough-looking elbow. It really was a lot of fun to tattoo. It was on some kid from Richmond...I can't really remember his name, ha.

Added some black to May's chest cover. Looking gnarly.

Reworking/covering a tattoo on Lauren's back. Hopefully a lot more to come.

I don't really do "evil stuff", demons and devils and the like, but I had a lot of fun doing this.

Thanks Ron! I'm flattered that I was asked to do a head. Ron's tough.

Thank you to everyone who gets me to put tattoos on them and thank you for looking at my tattoo blog.

There is no hope in modern life.

2011-02-16T11:17:00.000-08:00

It was a bad week for tattoo picture quality. fuck it.

I'm starting to wait and take healed pictures more often. some more from this week will be up in a few weeks.

Geisha cover up, tucked behind some existing tattoos.

Matt wally, one of my favorite people I've met in this life.

My friends Molly and Stephen came into town from Asheville and got tattooed.

Little type writer, bad picture.

Stephen got this giant one on his thigh.

A & C brought me a cupcake and a side of nature.

It's a tough life.

The day's awash, now repeat.

2011-02-07T12:25:00.000-08:00

A and T got matching cobras but I only got an okay picture of A.

vanxlife

Another sitting on Ian's front, starting some background.

Both of these are on Paul, pretty and suicidal tattoos.

For some people, some of the time, things are okay.

Mostly though, life is bullshit.

Old pictures part II

2011-01-30T17:24:00.000-08:00

$25 script word wednesdays...

you don't know how often I try to trick people into getting ugly tigers. I told him I was drawing an eagle. He did end up with it eventually.

Where, house?

Thanks for looking.

Old pictures

2011-01-30T17:15:00.000-08:00

I was clearing up pictures on my phone and there were 50 or so tattoos I never posted anywhere, mostly just small filler tattoos and stuff but maybe they're entertaining. Here are some of them, summer to winter 2010. It's crazy how different my tattoos look. Take Care!

scarred ass chinese that became even more raised after this guy tried burning it off with a cigarette.

wipe down.

cindy ray, ashley love.

never catch me copper.

One King Down

2011-01-29T18:08:00.000-08:00

Started this piece on Lyle's thigh today, this tattoo is going to be really fun. The true straight edge hate humans.

Carli and Ashley got matching tattoos. They are always a pleasure to sit with and always get cool tattoos

...I just realized how perfectly the subject matter of these go with a tattoo including "One King Down" lyrics.

What a day...

As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a gangster.

2011-01-28T18:30:00.000-08:00

"You learn two great things in your life: never rat on your friends and always keep your mouth shut."

ACAB on Alex, mad nice dude yo.

My Love. My Way. on Morgan, first tattoo and sat perfectly. Thanks!

Colors huh?

I can't ever tell if people are looking or not. Comments are appreciated. But you probably don't feel like it and I can't blame you.

Is it red under there?

2011-01-25T17:33:00.000-08:00

I made this painting for a friend of mine. I think it's an inside joke.

I put this tattoo on my sister's calf. Finished at 2 am after a long day.

I wish everyone got stuff like she did. Always really fun tattoos.

I've some tattoos coming up that I'm really excited about.

go vegan.

Oh comely

2011-01-20T18:03:00.000-08:00

Started this big fox on schyler's leg, I'm excited to do color and background

Did this ole banjo player on Taylor, fun tattoo.

I've been working on a lot of paintings and design stuff but I'm waiting a little while before I post stuff.

For those of you who are "friends" of mine on facebook, I've started a folder of sketches I'd like to tattoo and I'll definitely give deals on. check it out if you're interested. Thanks for looking

-xxx-

Kick them when they fall down

2011-01-15T15:43:00.000-08:00

Preview of a flash split with Simon Erl that I am really stoked for.

Ashton's lonely gentlesir

My great friend Jack got this on his chest the day before he left for tour. Really fun to tattoo, really fun hangout. 2.5 hours, I think. script not by me.

Start of May's chest cover. "Man, that Lion(ess) is off the chain!"

Tin tin!

thanks. xxx.

In the future when all's well

2010-12-09T22:47:00.001-08:00

I made some impulsive decisions at the international ticket counter of the Lyon train station and ended up going to a city- country, in fact, that was not on my itinerary and in which I know not a soul. I don't really have the money to be taking extra train trips and paying for lodging but, well, I've always liked the word "cavalier."

Since the last update I have been in Prague, Zurich, and Lyon. I have been having some trouble with power supplies since I left America which has kept me from tattooing the past few days but it has allowed me to get more painting done. I think I've gotten the problem worked out now, or at least I have worked out a way around it.

I did these tattoos on morgain in Lyon, thanks man!

We also ended up doing his knuckles. Shitty, rushed cell phone picture, as always.

Soon it will be Christmas.

Circle's just another word for dead end.

2010-12-01T16:27:00.001-08:00

Once again, I'm too exhausted (perhaps one could say "lazy") to write all that I'd planned for a long procrastinated blog update on adventures in misery and tattooing in Europe. Please accept these captioned pictures of tattoos and paintings and my sincere appreciation for your attention, patience, and your possible interest in me.

The, yes...1,2, three, pocket knives are the only real 'essential' part of this case. Everything else is filler so I look like I know what I'm doing. "A knight without armour in a savage land."

Before I flew to London I went to an art supply in brooklyn and bought a tube of black and a tube of red. That's all I brought. Stoked.

Split flash with Simon Erl. A pleasure, truly. More to come, I'm super excited.

Original flash

Gifted to simon

I would like to say, at least briefly, that all the tattoos posted here were done during my guest spot at Origin tattoo in Olomouc, Czech Republic. I would like to thank George, Lenny, Hana, Blum, all the people who got tattooed by me, and everyone who made my stay in your beautiful country as pleasant as it was. I will surely be back.

This was my first tradtional portrait of a non-famous face. Portrait of the clients girlfriend. It is quite a nerve wracking responsiblity, I don't know how you black and grey guys can do it all day

I think I should say, tattoo requested was head of broccoli with the text, "hate people, love vegetables". Haha, I am never drawing what I am supposed to and am so grateful to all the people who let me get away with it. This is on Lenny Edge of Origin tattoo, thanks dude.

Back of the calf. Thanks for letting me run with the idea man.

Tea cup on Nika!

On George of origin tattoo. One session, 4 hours. Thanks so much for everything man. (I would like to add that George is probaly around 6'4" and is a big dude. It would be a stuggle to fit this one anyone elses chest)

Sneek peek at a split painting with lenny and george.

Yessir, It's true.

I been doing a lot of thinking recently. About tattooing and about being a tattooer and how well I relate to that identity or could possibly ever hope to, and really what I want out of all this or anything really... and junk.
"life has never been crazier"

But she knows that when he goes, he really goes

2010-11-02T13:15:00.001-07:00

Black and red, skulls and motorcycles, fuck yeah. Thanks Daniel.

Part two of naval battle on Kim

Laura and Schyler got matching jerk tattoos, 'cause they're jerks. They are nice to me, though. They make vegan baked good too.

The tower on Saralee, really a pleasant experience

Really cool, ugly, tough-ass panther head on knee. Thanks again Ashley for getting all the really fun tattoos.

The world-famous Sam MF King slapped this on over the bullshit on my right arm. Thanks again Sam, see you again when we're both celebrity millionaires, bring Ron with you.

Thank you to all of my friends and family for the best wishes and farewells, gotta go seek some adventure before I'm dead.

Do you think you've made the right decision this time?

2010-11-02T12:48:00.001-07:00

New York City until Thursday. Uk/euro misery tour '10, some dreams come true.

She passes her luck with a handshake.

Trying out this mobile blog editor, working out the kinks.

Let me kiss you

2010-10-26T14:14:00.000-07:00

Gnarly tiger on schyler

Chuck and Ashley, bummer tats

Lighty Linda.

Sweet Nothing on Lauren.

the saying goes, snooze you lose, sorry.

First color session

"It'll kick the lard out of a biscuit"

Fun one

Ohhhhh brother, I dont have energy for the internet.

It's getting cold.

He choked on that glass of water and saved on hospital bills

2010-10-20T15:00:00.000-07:00

Keely

Ashley, wonderful tattoo client.

straight edge, ever heard of it?

There is no turning back from here

2010-10-19T10:20:00.000-07:00

My friend Jack put this tattoo on me, Sunday. International Straight Edge day.

I dont care what anyone thinks of it. more hate than fear, more disgust than anything else.

melancholy boy/smiths lyrics on Jack.

everyone, get more black and red tattoos.

part one of naval battle thigh piece on Kim.

xlaurax

Molly's calves.


still bleeding...

A huge thank you to everyone who has been travelling to get tattoo by me recently

it means a great deal to me. Tattooing isn't an activity that boosts self esteem and I appreciate all of the encouragement. Really, I do. My days in North Carolina are numbered. I'm getting my ducks in a row. Uk/Euro misery tour, i need all the help i can get.

1923

2010-10-19T09:52:00.000-07:00

"All crying, 'We will go with you, O Wind!'
The foliage follow him, leaf and stem;
But a sleep oppresses them as they go,
And they end by bidding them as they go,
And they end by bidding him stay with them.

Since ever they flung abroad in spring
The leaves had promised themselves this flight,
Who now would fain seek sheltering wall,
Or thicket, or hollow place for the night.

And now they answer his summoning blast
With an ever vaguer and vaguer stir,
Or at utmost a little reluctant whirl
That drops them no further than where they were.

I only hope that when I am free
As they are free to go in quest
Of the knowledge beyond the bounds of life
It may not seem better to me to rest."

Pirate Black Beard

healed.

freehand.

I forgot all of your names

2010-10-14T08:09:00.000-07:00

boxer on justin

straight edge. healed.

morrissey and kittens on ashley


shin arrow on Carli

Blogger has been acting up on me, I havent been able to update until today.

I've had a lot going on but its 10 a.m. and I havent been sleeping well.

tattoos and the vegan straight edge.

Where was Jesus when he was twenty one?

2010-09-21T11:05:00.000-07:00

Death was taken away at a very young age.

I'm still six years old anticipating my birthday

but I can drive now, buy tobacco and vote

drink liquor in bars and gamble in casinos.

but who let the little boy in?

fresh off the jungle gym,

high off of sugar, bouncing off the walls, hangin with the grown-ups.

Age ain't nothing but a number, still I wonder where all the adults are.

I've been painting more recently.

this is one of my favorite paintings I've done. its four of my pocket knives.click to see close ups

Plane tickets bought, so ready to go. Too much sitting has ruined me.

busy week part II

2010-09-13T12:40:00.000-07:00

couldn't fit all the pictures in one post.

filler rose and tiny clipper ship on Kara

magician on my other, other, dad, Jack. on his ditch. hard to photograph.

little boy on Jordy.

chest piece i did a while ago but never posted. healed.

Don't ever tell anyone anything

2010-09-13T12:38:00.000-07:00

Busy week but I'll keep it to myself. Here are the tattoos it produced. go vegan.

part II on Ian's front. Once again, he sat like someone who can sit really well for tattoos

dustin.

Harry Potter tat on Kristen

Matt is xstraightxxxedgex

Traded my bow for a New Years kiss, broken arrows and loveless wrists

The war outside manifests from a war within

2010-09-07T11:11:00.000-07:00

I will in Southern California the first week in October and I will be tattooing in the Los Angeles area the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd! Email me at maxkuhntatto(at)gmail(dot)com or on facebook to book for info on booking an appointment. All profits from the tattooing done will be donated to a new animal rights non-profit that is about to be launched called Rescued. I'm really excited about this organization and their plans. If nothing else get something small off these sheets just to donate. You'll get tattooed and be donating money to help save exploited farmed animals in California.

This is a tattoo I did on my big sister Grace yesterday while she's on a quick visit to the east coast. We live on opposite sides of the country now and it was so nice to get to hang out with both of my lovely sisters and my wonderful mother for an afternoon. Also I love that its an American Nightmare tattoo. "I never said I'd stay to the fucking end"

cheers.

Eternal Jihad.

There's a place in this city where things go to die

2010-09-04T10:33:00.000-07:00

Planning, Painting, Tattooing. Complaining and Whining, Saving and Sleeping.

no television court show will reform me.

Be at peace as I break into pieces for you.

2010-08-31T10:59:00.000-07:00

"Lover, are you looking outside? Because before I die, I'll draw a heart in the sky"


click to enlarge

peek of a quick flash sheet I just finished

Has the world changed or have I changed?

2010-08-31T09:43:00.000-07:00

I did this tattoo on my friend Schyler. Just to reiterate, her name is

Schyler Gately

She has tough skin.

There's no denying the setting sun

2010-08-27T17:31:00.000-07:00

Just did this. wild.

Traditional portrait of young Bob Shaw. Healed.

I never said they were completely unfounded

2010-08-27T09:30:00.000-07:00

Nurse on Laura, for her mother. I really liked doing this one.

Smaller, filler pieces on Lauren, freehanded that knife on her

Part 1: front piece on Ian from Richmond. Sat like a rock, more to come soon.

More tattoos, more travelling, more misery. Summer's ending.

"To feed your weakness, another vice, to satisfy your hunger, you never think twice, of the pain it causes others you just talk about your "rights" as you eat the flesh from another that you denied life."

Go vegan.

Each one a reminder- today wasn't any easier.

2010-08-19T09:54:00.000-07:00

I haven't updated this thing is a while now. I've got a few projects that I'm working on that I'm really excited about but it is a little soon to talk about/show them. For now I'm just going to post a bunch of pictures of what I've been up too. Cheers!

my little sister.

In Progress

Ian's Moz tattoo. We impulsively tattooed a death date prediction with it.

I literally tattooed the first numbers that popped into my head right on him.

Better picture of this one soon

Finished Sarah's leg

Is one more minute gonna kill you now?

2010-08-05T14:06:00.000-07:00

I've had this blog address on my business cards for some time now and I'm not sure if enough non-friends look at it to make it necessary to stop talking about personal stuff. Anyway, I feel rotten. I havent been keeping up with friends or family again, I've been really lousy at keeping in touch for months now. I dont like being on the internet, posting on here, returning emails...I'm tired. At a time when i really should be trying to learn to meet people and talk to them, like a normal adult, I really just want to go home and draw pictures.

I'm starting to save money towards my jump to UK/Europe this fall

I'm making plans for more tattooing and travelling in the US in the next few weeks.

Here is what I've doing lately.

I've been doing more tattoos on people who are only getting black tattoos on their bodies.

It's fun, I have to do things differently than I normally would- from drawing on up.

This my good friend Chris with a line from a poem by our mutual friend Skunk-teeth

I've been trying my hand at drawing tattoos on and that's been really fun and exciting for me

Had my heart set on disappointment

2010-07-23T11:22:00.000-07:00

The past week or so there has been a steady stream of people coming into town and people going away.

Yesterday three friends from Richmond all came down and got tattooed while they were here.

Sometimes I wish I could spend everyday just doing tattoos i like on people I know, it's still hard for me to sit with strangers and pretend to be outgoing. I enjoy it but sometimes it just makes me feel lousy as hell.

Mary and Kara got matching Harry Potter tattoos.

Celebrating a Hogwarts acceptance letter that will probably never come.

Brandon got two tattoos

If I lean into their mess, I'll see you in hell

2010-07-23T11:10:00.000-07:00

I bought a new liner, did this small tattoo to try it out

*EXPLICIT*

I think a lot of my closer friends were very surprised that I would consider doing this but this but here it is...

This was a very difficult tattoo to do and that's really all i have to say about it at this point.
Obviously, that is not my ungloved thumb but the thumb of the person who got the tattoo.

Not talking 'bout staple shit, they went for something more

2010-07-15T15:23:00.000-07:00

My friend Sarah and I started this sail-less ship on her shin. I really like it.

One of two hardcore band related tattoos I did yesterday.

Some really great friends were in Greensboro for a few days,

I put this tattoo on my friend and amazing photographer Chris Brentsen

I really like tattooing him because he has the same attraction to really gnarly, heavy lined, roughly shaded tattoos that I do. Judge rules, whip shading rules, viva skate-edge.

xxx

Brutality's right before our eyes

2010-07-10T10:53:00.000-07:00

Murdering thieves all fucking disguised.

To be completely honest, for the past 30 minutes I've been sitting here, staring at my computer screen trying to figure out how to best explain my feelings about the police to someone who still completely believes that the police as an institution are in any way benevolent or who still thinks that, "some cops are okay." I just don't think I can do it today. For the past few days, whenever I force myself to think about it, I get so fucking upset; so angry, so scared, and so fucking sad. Right now, all over the world, in every community, wild, unchecked, uncontrollable, violent people with intimidating weapons and technology are roaming around. They kill without warning or provocation, steal, lie, and imprison with the full support of the law behind them. I don't have a shred of compassion for any police officer, I don't care who you think they are as people, as fathers, mothers, spouses, neighbors. When they put on that uniform, the become only one thing to me. And you could ask any cop where their loyalties lie. They put each other and themselves before anything else, they do what their position in that 'Fraternal Order' dictates long before their personal politics or public safety. When they put on that uniform, they take responsibility for every atrocity committed with that same badge. They don't give a fuck about you. Don't talk to them, no matter what. Don't call them, they are not your friends, they are nothing good. They are a murderous, government sanctioned, street gang, foot soldiers for martial law. Avoid them, always.

In solidarity with the demonstrators in Oakland, in response of the 2009 murder of an unarmed civilian, Oscar Grant, I offered $10 ACAB tattoos yesterday. I did first come first served. I'm sorry to anyone who wanted one done yesterday that I didnt get to.

Grant is shot 1:57 in the first video

I sort of started pretending I had a bullet in my guts

2010-07-10T09:32:00.000-07:00

Cilantro:
The leaves have a different taste from the seeds, with citrus overtones. Some perceive an unpleasant "soapy" taste or a rank smell and avoid the leaves.^[6] The flavours have also been compared to those of the stink bug, and similar chemical groups are involved (aldehydes). Belief that aversion is genetically determined may arise from the known genetic variation in taste perception of the synthetic chemical phenylthiocarbamide

This is Tara, she hates cilantro and knows all the vegan spots. She even brought me Daiya pizza

Fuck what fireworks stand for

2010-07-03T11:23:00.000-07:00

This has been an exhausting week, just between a lot of walk-ins and trying to get personal errands done in the few hours a day I'm not at work without the aid of a car or bike. Also, as anyone who knows me can say, it only takes something very small to stress me out. I passed a yard sale on my way to work and now I finally have a drawing desk at home, so that's cool.

This is a tattoo I promised my friend that I'd do a very long time ago, we finally did it and I'm glad we had waited.

My younger sister came down to North Carolina for a short but really nice visit and I put this tattoo on her arm. Its a subtle reference to a book we both like. She and I both know it and that's really the point, I think.

Last night I did this tattoo on Scott's hand, I really like it.

I can't keep up. I can't keep up

xxx

The Order That Shall Be

2010-06-25T18:27:00.000-07:00

Bzzzzzzzzzzzz. Bzzzzzz. Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

first up- anchor on my friend Chris

Second- my friend Dalan is on tour with Contend/Distressed. He invited me to his birthday party, I gave him a neck tattoo. He's an awesome guy, has 'xveganx' in ExC font on the front of his neck.

Last we have this anchor I did about an hour ago that I'm really happy with, thanks Jess!

If warnings go unheeded

and pleas for mercy are ignored,

our alternative to militant resistance

is a half life in a dead world.

-vse-

It could go on forever, in which case I'm doomed

2010-06-24T13:04:00.000-07:00

I spent the past few days in LA, to appear on a television court show. The taping was stressful to me but it only lasted a few minutes but the trip allowed me to see my brother and sister and friends and go out to eat a lot. I'm going to be going back out to SoCal at the end of July to visit with family longer and tattoo. If you think you'd like to get a tattoo from me, let me know through email (maxkuhntattoo(at)gmaildotcom) or facebook so I can start figuring out where it makes most sense to go.

The Vegan Straight Edge.

This is a quick tattoo I did just before I left town.

I've gotten my own apartment now and bought groceries and a toaster oven last night, world's ugliest boy became the ugliest man. haha.

sixty watts, brighter than my future

2010-06-18T13:01:00.000-07:00

Yesterday afternoon, my friends and I got into a conversation about how cool and gnarly hand poked tattoos are. Lauren had never done one so I set her up so she could do one on me. They hurt more, take longer, look shittier and are all around cooler and more tuff.

xxx

After that I gave her a boring ol' machine-made tattoo

Ta-Dah!

This is an elbow tattoo I did just now

I like it.

Call or come by Golden Spiral 336.333.3937 to set up an appointment to get a tattoo. If you'd like to set up an appointment with Lauren to get a tuffer, cooler tattoo, talk to me and I'll see what I can do

It wasn't us who turned away, it wasn't I that went astray

2010-06-16T14:15:00.000-07:00

I did this little coal car yesterday on this man's ditch. I love trains and it was a fun little tattoo to do but I had to really try not to think about how it must have felt for him

I did this tattoo on my friend Laura, it was her first tattoo. I feel very flattered that she let me do it. I love doing tattoos with minimal color.

go vegan.

A half life disappears today

2010-06-15T11:36:00.000-07:00

I spent this past weekend in Richmond, working at Main Tattoo. It was a pretty stressful weekend all in all but I got a lot out of it. Part of me thinks I'm not cool enough to be a tattooer, I have a very hard time socializing and avoid talking to strangers. I don't know. I'm very glad to be back in Carolina, although i still dont have a place to live. I got a new camera and I'm still trying to figure out how to use it. I think eventually it'll help me to finally get some decent pictures of tattoos but this past weekend I got better ones with my cell phone.

I put this tattoo on my friend Justin. He's one of those people that were down to let me tattoo them when I was first starting and I owe those people alot.

Umbrella on Roxanne, thanks for all the free root beers

dot dot dot

This is a cover up I did on a Marine. Could only be approx. the size of his hand, no bigger. New Rules. It was fun to do.

This weekend I also got a new Sean Harrington shader and it plays real sports, it's not trying to be the best at exercising.

check out main tattoo.

Thanks Richmond. catch ya later babe

If you were then say that you were

2010-06-09T16:55:00.000-07:00

Although I don't know many people here, I'm getting to do fun tattoos on the people that I do know and walk-ins are keeping me fed. If I just had my own place to live, I'd be feeling great. I've been doing a lot of drawing the past few days for tattoos I'm doing in Richmond and for paintings I have planned. I have fun doing that.
This is a tattoo I did on my friend Sarah. It cracked me up doing it, both of us. It's just such a gnarly, tough looking tattoo and she doesn't necessarily look that way at first glance.

Very grateful to my two loyal gso friends for helping me out so much and trying their hardest to make an eternally uneasy boy more comfortable. And to all the new chaps.
cheers

...Off the rails I was happy to stay

2010-06-08T12:15:00.000-07:00

I've started work at Golden Spiral in Greensboro. I'm really enjoying myself, its very relaxed and it feels really good to have the resources to tattoo and draw comfortably again. Here is a tattoo that I did on my good friend Lauren, who has been very very helpful with my move to NC. I really like how it came out.
I've some tattoos to do in Richmond this weekend that I'm really excited about, I have some time open sunday afternoon if anyone is interested in getting a tattoo. Cheers.

I'll see you when we're both not so emotional

2010-06-04T15:07:00.000-07:00

It's been a long time since I've updated this blog or myspace/facebook for that matter. Not like I really think anyone has been holding there breath or anything though. I've been really down in the dumps since my hand broke and I felt like so much was of what i was doing but up in the air it was pointless to talk about plans with the internet especially when i was so disinterested in talking in real life. I have been really distant from most of my family and friends since i left richmond and I really apologize for it, i've just been feeling so goddamn rotten and tired. Since I last wrote I saw the doctor, they put me in a cast for three weeks, I went to North Carolina, then to Richmond for a day, then back to greensboro, then to DC, then back to Brooklyn, to Connecticut, to Richmond, I'm back in Greensboro now. A few days shy of the three week mark, I cut of my cast with one of my pocket knives. My hand was very weak and deformed but I could draw. The next day I did a small tattoo on my friend Matt. After about 15 minutes my hand was getting really sore and stiff and I had to call it quits. Since then my hand has steadily improved. it looks better and i can use it almost normally. I worked a day at Heroes and Ghosts earlier this week, taking appointments on some friends of mine. Taking gloves on and off is a little difficult but I was able to tattoo nearly unimpeded by my hand. I didn't have my camera in Richmond with me but people took some quick photos of their tattoos for me. Blurry cell phone picture, asheigh's peacock. Small cover up, of a scarred little pantera tattoo. I think we are going to do a bigger CFH tattoo above it, he seemed into the idea. This is actually a tattoo I did a while ago but never got a picture of. My friend Flynn came down to Richmond while i was there and I got a picture of it with a cell phone. Healed. I really like doing straight edge and straight edge related tattoos, I like how this one came out

So, recap out of the way. I'm now in Greensboro, NC. I'll be starting at Golden Spiral Tattoo this weekend. I'm really excited about it, It's a really nice shop and although I don't really know many people yet I think I'll get to do some cool tattoos down here. For Richmond people, I will be working at the new Heroes and Ghosts June 11-13th. email me at maxkuhntattoo at gmail dot com or myspace.com/maxsqualor to set something up. Cheers.

Broke account so I broke a sweat

2010-04-30T11:43:00.000-07:00

So last Thursday, my 3rd day in New York, I broke my tattooing hand. I spent five hours in a hospital, they xrayed it, set it the bone that was broken, put on a plaster splint, wrapped that up with an ace bandage and told me to come back in a two weeks so they could xray it again and tell me how it was doing. I havent been able to draw, paint or tattoo and it's keeping me down in the dumps. My phone situation is sketchy and i can't make or receive phone calls so I havent really kept in touch with my family. It takes me forever to type anything so i havent really talked to anyone else really. What i have been doing is watching movies on the internent, eating food, and sulking. Last night i took my splint off and drew for a little bit. took me a long time but i drew out a grimm-style eagle. My fingers, especially the knuckles, were very swollen from the wrap being too tight. while my hand was free i tried not to move it around too much other than to hold a pencil. besides being stiff from not moving all week i was only aware that my hand had been broken when i tried to stretch it out flat and even then it was only slightly sore. i put the plaster back in place and wrapped it in a new ace bandage. after last night i think it will be weeks still before i can safely start tattooing again. doing my best to sit tight. health sucks.

i'm sorry for the way that i'm acting

Is it really so strange?

2010-04-22T16:37:00.000-07:00

First few days in Brooklyn have been pretty cool. My friend matt is really excited that I'm here and is committed to getting a new tattoo everyday that i'm here. The first two we did are just small ones to fill some of the spot between two of his existing tattoos. I'm getting rest and eating lots of sweets. Tonight I'm off to see Earth Crisis. Still trying, still confused . Look back soon to see matt's daily tattoos. cheers

There Goes Rhymin' Simon.

2010-04-17T17:43:00.000-07:00

I'm having a very busy week, trying to tie up loose ends. Music stuff, art stuff, tattoo stuff, friend stuff, dog-sitting stuff, packing stuff. Pretty stressed out and ready to be gone. I'm not really feeling too good about much. Ah, well. Here are some tattoos I've put on the past two days.
first up is this tattoo I did on a very dear friend. Bit more "girlie" than i am usually doing but I'm glad to have done it.
Real small, real simple.
I like this tattoo alot. Part Moz tattoo, Part date-edge.
Cheers!

Working on Leaving the Living

2010-04-15T09:24:00.000-07:00

I've been staying a Lee and Benny's new warehouse space and it is currently internet-free. It's strange to me how much legitimate catching-up I have to do when I go just a day or two without being on the computer. My life now is not something i'm use to. In the past few days Tamara, my friend from New York came down and we did tattoo trades while she was here. I'll have pictures from that soon. I had my last day the Heroes & Ghosts and I'm less tied to Richmond than I have been since 18. Here are some tattoos that I've done recently. I put the Filler tattoo on Mac's leg. He likes Minor Threat and hates love. and god. The Bmx wheel is from the last walk-in I took at the shop. His son races bmx. I really liked doing it. When I was a child I loved looking at my father's one tattoo and asking to hear the story of him getting it, I can imagine how much cooler it would have been to me if the tattoo had been about me. I like being involved in a story like that, even if it sounds corny. The mirror I put on my sister. I is a tattoo I've put off doing for a long time but I'm really glad that we did it. I had a lot of problems with my equipment during this tattoo and I'm thankful for my sisters patience with me being so frustrated.

Remember, always

2010-04-10T17:16:00.000-07:00

Today I did this baby deer. Over the past few weeks I've been talked into using blue in some tattoos by the people getting them, something that i use to avoid. Now i find myself adding it to things by choice. I tattooed a walk in today also that had a few tattoos from someone who i really respect that were done when they were an apprentice. It was so cool to see and encourages me a lot.

I wish I had more to offer in that department...

2010-04-09T14:10:00.000-07:00

Last night I gave my father a tattoo. I've been wanting to tattoo him for a while now. He is a mural artist and since I started tattooing I've seen parallels in the work that we do and in the client/"artist" relationship and I just thought he'd get a kick out of watching me do a tattoo. He and his beagle, who goes everywhere with him, came to visit me at the shop and we ended up putting a portrait of his dog on him, somewhat of an impulsive decision on his part. It was his second tattoo, his first having been done in the middle 70's. The last photo is of a "Man's Ruin" tattoo i made today. I like those better when they are on women.

Some tattoos and paintings- Early 2010

2010-04-08T10:45:00.000-07:00

First Entry

2010-04-08T10:29:00.000-07:00

I'm starting a blog. I look at several amazing tattooers blogs and there is something that i really enjoy about them. It is not that I feel like my life or tattooing is so interesting that it needs a blog, I just think that this is a more appropriate and better looking place to post new work over various social networking sites. I will mostly be updating this more often than myspace and facebook as far as painting and tattooing goes. cheers.