Keeping flash alive!

I recently have set the goal for myself to draw one page of flash a week. For those of you who do not know what flash is- flash is the art that is drawn by tattooers that decorate tattoo shops walls. Flash is set up so you can choose a pre drawn image and have it tattooed on you in a quickly enough manor. For many years this was the way people received tattoos. This was just the way it was. When I first started tattooing I did a lot of flash but then it quickly moved to a different approach in the way clients asked for the tattoos they wanted. As the word "custom tattoo" grew and became more desirable and the way-about-getting a tattoo- has changed the tattoo scene and industry a lot.
I try to draw as much flash as I can through out my career and have years where I don't even have a full set- which is usually 4-6 pages. 
Here is some samples through the years where I have experimented, taught myself techniques, and just hoped that someone would want to get one of my pieces.
Unfortunatly, some people think that getting a piece of flash means that you are not getting a unique piece. That many others may have that tattoo, down playing individualism. I believe that is on the contrary. Flash designs are awesome. They are specifically built to make a perfect tattoo on skin, that will hold up over time, keeping their shape better than some other "custom" designs. Flash is a huge part of tattoo history and should keep on being celebrated as a special part of the tattoo culture. At most shops the resident artists have flash that they have drawn themselves that you could choose from, thus supporting the artist even further more by getting one of their pieces. There is also flash that is drawn by artists from all over the world that the shop has collected over time. So, you really can't go wrong by picking a piece of flash off the wall.
Lastly, there is no difference from choosing an image off of google or pinterest. Hundreds of people are getting the same images of the internet. If you really want something one of a kind, you need to speak to your artist and get their opinion of what tattoo is best for you. Some images that are traditional, like roses will be done forever because they are simply tried and true. Don't be too quick to say "everyone else has that". Get what you want if you think it looks cool and leave it at that.

We talk about humanities so much at the shop. Either between us as co-workers or with our clients. I often say that part of my job is to talk down-to-earth with people all day long.
 It often feels like I'm in a bubble in the shop- like we have created a bubble there, a safe place. We're often having conversations about why we think people are the way they are- why are we/they struggling in life, why is communication so hard? What is social media doing to us as people, public figures? It's really quiet fascinating and beautiful. I leave these conversations often feeling happy that these people are on my team and I think they have such a good head on their shoulders and then I think of admiration. I think admiration is such a huge thing for us humans. If you don't have admiration for the closest people in your life, in your circle how does that benefit you or them? I wonder, if you do not admire your loved ones, how does that help you grow as a person or how do you have successful relationships if you do not have admiration? In tattooing, if you do not admire your artist that's easy- don't get tattooed by them. If you do not admire them as a person, don't get tattooed by them either. I have a saying that I adopted from my dojo for the shop. Spirit first, technique second. In the shop it says to me that if you admire your artist as a person in a friendly caring way you will always care for that tattoo since only good "vibes" have transferred to the tattoo. If you only care what the tattoo looks like even if  your artist treats you like shit, you will have those stinky "vibes" (memory) tattooed on you forever... So, what I think is that it is important to be an honorable person today in this world of personal confusion- so we can love ourselves and each other, be strong and motivated to reach goals and be awe inspired by the beauty of this world and the humans in it...just sayin'

Here is some of my favorite humans.

Media- influence and inspiration.

I like to check out what's happening on Pinterest...I often use Google images, interest and instagram for visual aids.
There is a lot of people that bring in pictures from Pinterest for reference for their tattoo design. Mostly women that is.  I like to surf Pinterest and I have quiet a few boards going, myself. But I have to say that I see a theme. For example a lot of the 'pin-uppy' pics of girl/models all look the same to me. And the tattoos that they choose, I have seen a hundred times. All the girls on there look like Kat Von D. I know she has a lot of influence over how girls get tattoos in the early 2000's...It just seems to me like originality is lacking.
Maybe it is me and my shop but it is nice that people are not asking for the same old thing over and over.
So, I think what I am recommending is to only use certain media as reference- like pinterest and google image- use it only as a rough idea and push the idea farther so it is not the same 'ole.
A big purpose back in the day for collecting tattoos was to stand out from all others- have some individualization.
Now, to blend in with the crowd- get a tattoo?

As your personal tattoo adviser- trust me if I want to go the extra mile and draw you something different then your print out from the internet, let me do it. :)
/http://www.pinterest.com/valkyrie213/