You know what burns my bum.....

YTattoo artists that don't know shit about tattoo history or slam icons that made the tattoo industry what it is today. I've worked with people who say Ed Hardy sucked as a tattooist!!!! R U KIDDING ME!!! This guy was doing body suits before u even knew how to put a machine together (if they can even do that) or that Sailor Jerry was just a flash artist that put cartoons on people, people need to do their homework and I need colleagues that find the same things important that I do. People that don't talk outta their ass thinking they know where tattooing came from and then slamming the artists that pushed the envelope.  When I broke down and actually showed him Ed's work at first he didn't believe me then of course he's impressed and I'm like ya and that was late 70s early 80s and it still looks amazing so have some respect. This ignorance shouldn't even b allowed in the tattoo industry.  Only artists that frequently get dropped are bob tyrell, Paul booth, maybe Guy. Not that all 3 aren't amaZing but if that's ur idea of of the only greats that made out industry the way it is, and u hear Lyle Tuttle and look like a deer in the headlights, or Thom de Vita and u state off in space, do us all a favor..,... Read a book. And if u can't read u shouldn't b tattooing lol.   Comment please, add to the discussion, share in my frustration

..,..end rant😈

JGraves

Tattoo artists

So as some might know I am looking for a shop to work out of again. This was a big eye opener over the last year, started as a dream, good people, good location, then things got worse and worse.

     One thing I'd like to bring up is the totem pole in the shop, this is normal, one person is seat one then seat 2 and so on. Totally normal , however ud think the number 1 artist would b in the shop more (he's the owner) however after many months it changed, I live 45 min from the shop by car he lives 5 min away by walking, so it became that I would go to work, and if someone came in I would have to call him txt him a pic to set a price or even worse he'd come in and do the tat, so I'm the bait and he gets the fish, unless of course it's my client. Still a strange situation. 

      But my rant more goes out to u other tattoo artists, now I'm the kind of tattooist that prides himself on doing whatever comes in the door, portraits, b&g, color, realism, traditional, whatever, however if it's realism I'll find a photograph to go from or I'm gonna get references to draw a design that is custom unless the client wants a flash piece, eagles, roses, lots of traditional r strong images people want. However how do all u tattoo artists feel about searching google, finding a tattoo of a well drawn design and well done tattoo and then seriously copying it, making the stencil by hand right from the printout of the tattoo, I saw full sleeves being done this way, collaborations of other peoples custom tats and made into a collage sleeve, no original anything, no flash, I'm talking detailed custom designs already on flesh and taken basically plagerized, now I don't know how any client never caught on and said ya I like that but I want it to b mine, they just went along with it, i know I wouldn't have, plus any client that brought in tattoo pics that were done I would talk em into letting me change it to b custom. 

      Am I just off the mark? Artists, clients, tattoo enthusiasts, comment on this, tell me and the world what u think.  I'm gonna make this blog a place where the tattoo community can really lay it out, say what u mean, I'm in Maine but we r open to all. And ur voice counts.  Do u think plagerized tats r cool, of even acceptable? I know where I stand but I wanna hear from the masses. Funny cause I can go on google and match the original to the tattoo to the new copy that's now walking around Maine, the internet is awesome but it has made some tattooists lazy and at a loss of creativity. Do u agree? I feel I work my ass off to bring something new or diff or a modification to the styles we have, but I see artists scoot by in their shops just copying, they copy good work so it looks good but is it right?  I was told customers don't care if it's already a tattoo as long as it looks good, I agree with the archetype traditional images we r attracted to, the panther clawing in, the eagle on The chest, etc.  but other than that I feel copying a custom tat and then passing it off as ur own is wrong, no credit to the artist, the person who paid for the original would b pissed. But this is the type of frustration I had at my last shop. In a year the other artist drew NOTHING, not one tat, he borrowed drawings from me cause he couldn't find what he wanted online,  how can u b a great artist and not draw or paint or do anything but copy others work, and I feel I am the only one that noticed this is wrong. I'd hear from his wife about how amazing artist he is? Am I just retarded lol, I mean fundementally he is a great artist, he can copy with the best of em, but is that cool? Just copying? Bringing nothing to the table.  So if U read the post, leave a comment, I'll b continuing with my career I just need like minded peeps, and I like to hear what others have to say about things like this

-JGRAVES 

Touch up on Black and Gray realistic Tiger

I wanted to go in and fix anything that might of needed any improvements or just to make it pop some more 

Gear inside of a leg

November Promotion for any Nature Related Tattoo!!!!!!

Realistic eye

I wanted to do an eye one day so I did one on my bros leg 

Beagle paw print

My beagle died in September and I've been wondering what to get for a tattoo for him, today Justin tattooed a beagles paw print behind my ear with his dates. 

Realistic Tiger

Here's a black and gray tiger that Justin did today on virgin skin, he got one sick first tattoo he did it right!

Jellyfish

Cover up with Bear

There was some uncolored tribal and starting to coverup his lower forearm with a bear

Justin Graves Halloween Special!

Skin Deep Tattoo Flyer

New Flyer for custom artwork!

Lilies added to a custom piece

A few lilies were added to some already existing flowers to add to her CUSTOM PIECE! Taking advantage of Fridays Specials!

New Saturday Special Flyer!

Game of Thrones Tattoo

A hardcore fan got a quote from Game of Thrones the saying Aria says to get her to Bravos #WhackyWednesdays #JustinGravesTattoocom # SkinDeepTattoo #GameofThronesTattoo

Grand opening Discount!

New Sign out front

Eric bought a new sign yesterday nothing too fancy but with the lights in and how high it is you can see that it's a tattoo shop from far on the road it will help a ton

Drunken Krusty and Bartman

Earlier we posted an outline here it is finished but there's a lot more to this back piece to go here's a perfect example of what "Whacky "Wednesdays!" is all about getting to tattoo your favorite shows/characters doesn't get better than that! #WhackWednesdays #JustinGraves #SkinDeepTattoo #SkinDeepLewiston

Skull with Blue Rose

Restoring a cross with wings

There's a after(top) and before (below) picture

Whacky Wednesdays!!!!!!!

Next Saturday is the beginning of "Saturday Specials"!

Starting next Saturday if you come in and want any custom type of custom tattoo you could SAVE UP TO 25% OFF! All discounts will be determined by the size and of course what the tattoo is of. All Tattoos are priced by the piece NEVER by the hour like many shops. All work is always guaranteed touch ups for free!

Tattoo dagger

Just finished a sweet dagger on a great client, the blade is like a tattoo needle it's sick

Blue Rose

This morning we added a blue rose to a leg piece that we've been working on for a few sessions previously, when it's finished it will be posted 

Flaming Cherries for Flash Friday

Last night a walk in wanted some Flash so we put some cherries and other flash related ideas around it she saved over 20% last night! How much do you want to save today with your flash piece?

"Flash Fridays" Hanya Mask deal

Choose from one of these Hanya Masks below and pay anywhere from the shop minimum of $50-125 depending on size if you find a different mask we will work it out 

Bartman and Drunken Krusty

Here's the start to The Simpsons back piece a client is getting he also got the pirate Krusty (the same tattoo Bart has in an episode when he's an adult) the moon didn't get finished and more shadowing will happen when more is added

Flash Fridays

10% off any new customer or 10% if you refer a new client

Black and gray rose

Jolly Roger Krusty the Clown skull and crossbones

Our friend is on the journey to complete a full Simpsons back piece we already got an outline of Bartman and Krazy Krusty but this is a tattoo that part had in the future just modified a bit. But this is just the beginning!

Back to College Discount

Simpsons tattoo Flying Hellfish

On Fxx there's been a 12 day Simpsons marathon and Trav and I have been watching a ton of it. When Trav was younger he was die hard fan so when we saw it he knew that the Hellfish logo would be a good one.

Baby footprints

Added to name cover up with pocket watch and flowers

When we covered up the name we did it with the anchor we added the pocket watch and the 2 bigger flowers I really like how this is turning out

Army of Darkness

This is one if my proudest tattoos I've loved this movie for years so I was so excited to tackle this piece I'm really stoked on how it came out on the inside of his arm we're doing another Evil Dead tattoo you'll just have to wait and see

Background to finished half sleeve on forearm

We tied the bottom half of his sleeve together with some clouds and other black and gray designs

Lotus with ohm symbol

Name cover up with flowers

Alien Type Fetus

Alien type fetus there's another symmetrically on the left side should be coloring that in soon

Happy Buddha touch up

I didn't do the original piece but I'm starting to re work the whole piece in time. We stated with the Buddha first

Karate kid quote

My brother and I loved these movies growing up, the other day we were watching #2 so Trav got a quote on the side of his hand

Owl Dagger

I did this dagger on my brother Travis that is starting to learn how to pierce at Skin Deep, same place where I work so I'm pumped for him. This design was colored very traditionally but we decided to color it different but wanted to design so have that American traditional feel to it

Goomba touch up

I tattooed this Goomba on my brother a while ago but he was in the sun too much so it needed a touch up badly. After months of giving him crap to fix it today we finally did