The Marines have already placed a ban on anyone new coming in with large, visible tattoos, but a new revision to the ban adds yet a new restriction against those grandfathered in under the new clause. Marines already serving with sleeve or large, visible pieces of ink may not serve as recruiters or as guards at U.S. Embassy locations. Citing concern over the “image” portrayed, the military branch officials have decided that large tattoos don’t give the right impression. (Article)

Question: I got my tattoo about two weeks ago and it felt healed, so I thought I could go swimming. Then about a few days after I started swimming, it became bright red and kind of blotchy and it itches alot. Now my mom told me to keep cleaning it regularly, stop swimming and put A&D cream on it, but I was wondering if there was anything else I could do to speed up the process of it to heal?

Answer: I think your mom’s advice is right on the money for right now. I don’t
think it sounds infected - just really irritated. Signs of infection are a
red halo around the tattoo, feeling hot to the touch, oozing puss
(especially yellow or green in color) and emanating a foul smell. Watch
for those signs and go to the doctor if it manifests any of those
symptoms, because it can go as far as being life threatening if you let it
get really bad. In the meantime, just do what your mom suggested and
hopefully you’ll be in the clear in a few days.

For those who don’t know, tattoo artist Johnny Jackson and his wife Annette (Inkaholik - Houston, TX) were in a severe car accident, being hit head on by an 18 wheeler. Like most of us, they are self-employed, so this auction will help with medical costs and living expenses until they recover. Any and all donations would be appreciated. If you can’t donate, go check out the forum posts anyway - you never know there may be something you fall in love with and want to “bid” on!!

Here’s the instructions on how to donate:

Auction will start Today and will end October 1st giving us a good 2 weeks for people to donate items to auction off and people to place bids.

Now for the fun part, everyone that wants to donate an item in the auction simply as to start a thread in this section including the item or thing to auction. Paintings, Antics, Toys, Games… Tattoo Time, all is welcome in this auction.

On October 1st auction will end and all the winning bids will have to be paid via paypal. I will be holding the funds into a specific account and upon reception of the item by the person who won the auction the money will be transfered to Johnny’s paypal account.

Let’s rally together and help out Mr. and Mrs Johnny Jackson, our thoughts and prayers are going to both of them wishing then a quick recovery.
AND here’s the link to go to do it: Help Out Johnny Jackson and Mizuzinkaholik

A couple of weeks ago you met Beth, an artist from the Tattoo Factory in Chicago, Illinois. The talent at this particular shop is so abundant that I would be remiss to fail to highlight some of the other artists from there as well.

This week, meet Dawn Grace. Dawn had the privilege of being trained by one of the most famous old-timers in the business and has found herself very much at home in her line of work thanks to her training and the encouragement she received to always remain versatile. That versatility and her talent are both evident when you view her art gallery. One of the things I really like about Dawn’s tattoo work is how she has been able to transfer her talents in other artistic mediums, such as Mehndi and mosaics, into her inkwork which creates a very unique style you don’t see often in the tattoo industry.

Man Pleads Guilty to Arson and Manslaughter Charges in Tattoo Shop Fire
You may remember this story from last year. It happened in the UK - an upper level tattoo shop was burned, causing the entire building to collapse and killed a man still inside. Authorities think the man who started the fire - a former employee of the tattoo studio - was just trying to cause a little damage to decrease the price of the tattoo shop because he was wanting to buy it. Smart thinking!

More News This Week:

TattooFinder.com Celebrates Release of Tattoo Sourcebook

TX Shop Unlicensed; Tattooer Arrested for Inking Minors

thatstgerdi writes: “I plan on getting a tattoo with in the next week I have the basic design already planned out. But I was recommended 2 different places by people who I really trust. These people also went to them and got great work done. How do I decide between the 2? I have also checked out both places artwork online and both are amazing.”

What would you do if you had two artists to choose from for one tattoo? Join the forum and add to the discussion!

Meet Minty Fresh - my newest featured tattoo artist. He’s young, talented and absolutely adorable! Check out his bio and find out what kind of “nerd” Minty confesses to being and how he “accidentally” became a tattoo artist!

Once you’ve gotten to know a bit about the man behind the machine, check out his tattoo gallery. It features 15 images of Minty’s artistry. You’ll see why Minty prefers working with color, because he does it very well!

“Alcohol will thin out your blood and cause you to bleed more. Depends on how much you drank and how long it takes the alcohol to get throughout your system. Excess bleeding can make it much harder to work because the blood will push out the ink… or it can mix in while you’re trying to put the ink in, thinning out the ink and basically ‘watering it down’… which makes it more transparent.

Your clients are also (or should be) signing a contract. Can’t sign a contract if you’re not in your right mind. :/ Drunk people make hasty, impulsive decisions. And yes, they may come back the next day complaining or worse.

Drunk people often don’t sit well. It’s difficult enough to tattoo someone… then add alcohol. They move, can’t stay in one position because they forget, talk with their hands, can’t or won’t listen when you need them to, jump, twist, twitch and this whole time you’re working on them with your fingers two inches away from their BLOODY NEEDLE. 0.0 It’s a big health risk. Just not worth it IMO.

Besides… the only time I can really put up with drunk people is if I’m drunk myself. I can’t stand working on someone and having them breathe alcohol on me the whole time… because sometimes they just have to see what’s going on as close as they can get. Ever try to work on someones arm when they’re trying to see it themselves? Heads and hats get in the way. lol” - Sharptattoos

In 2000 or 2001 , I got a tattoo of Jesus Christs’ face on my left shoulder blade by
Tiny @ Electric Pencil in Whittier, CA. I moved away and lost track of the shop
because it is no longer there. I got another tattoo by Body Illusions in La Mirada,
CA. Due to unfortunate events, they closed down. I’m assuming they might have had
ties together because they both shut down around the same time. I’ve been trying to
locate Tiny for more work because his work is EXCELLENT and would like for him to
put some more ink on me. I can send a picture of his work for proof. He should
remember his work (all shading). Do you know where he works @ now?

Does anyone know where Tiny works now or how to reach him? Please leave a comment below or shoot me an email!

Man Arrested for Not Telling Tattoo Clients he Has HIV
Gerald Campbell Jr., 32, of Crystal, Michigan, has been arrested for not informing his sex partners or his tattoo clients that he is HIV-positive. He has a criminal record and has already served prison time for attempted murder, so I’m guessing this guy didn’t work in a professional studio. This is the risk you take when you get tattooed by someone out of their home just to save a few bucks. Anyone who came in contact with Campbell is being urged to be tested for HIV.

More News This Week:
Man Killed in Vegas Tattoo Shop

TX Tattoo Shop Shooting Caused by Mistaken Identity

Man Accused of Illegal Tattooing

Lizardman Walks the Red Carpet at Ripley’s Museum

Artist Sells “Living Tattoo” on Another Man’s Back