Famous World's Worst Portrait Tattoo gets FIXED! (Page 4/4) pontiackid86 AUG 22, 12:28 AM see I don't get why people do portrait tattoos on them selves.... Unless you pay a TON of money they always look like crap tbone42 AUG 22, 11:02 PM quote Originally posted by pontiackid86: see I don't get why people do portrait tattoos on them selves.... Unless you pay a TON of money they always look like crap Depends on definition of a "ton of money". Scott's rate is $150/hr.. usually 5-6 hours for a good session on a black and gray portrait. I have spent waaay more on Fieros and parts in my day than tattoos... and I know he won't just mail it in. You should go to the best. Always do your research, look at photos and at tattoos face to face. Make a vacation out of it, and even if it is expensive nobody can take it away from you. It's fun, collecting them... my next one might be taking me to Puerto Rico. tbone42 AUG 28, 11:21 AM Crazy first day at the shop for Mr. Versago. He drove all morning from Akron to get to my shop near Cincinnati. Rented a truck to bring all of his equipment. We wheeled his toolboxes and other stuff in and let him be to set up. It got very quiet in his office so I came around the corner to see what was up and he was just sitting there, staring at his toolbox intently. "What's up?" I ask. He says "I left my toolbox keys in Akron." Shoot. So the two choices are drill it out or call a locksmith. We call the 'smith, he comes out. And has to drill the lock anyhow. Finally things get underway around 245... his clients thankfully showed up a half hour late, just in time for him to get at his equipment and then he is off and running. You see, he goes into "The Zone"... like no one I have ever seen. So much so, that after he is finished with the 6.5 hour tattoo session, he just sits and stares into the distance of his mind until he comes back a few minutes later. I tell him the work he did was beautiful, and only then do I figure that he is staring at the art he just made with new eyes.. not the eyes that controlled his actions while working, but different eyes that observe instead of direct. In other words, this guy channels something when he works, and is not completely "there" while doing his work. This phenomenon is not unknown to me, I have "come back" after a few long sessions myself.. you get in the groove and there is no more intention anymore, just creating and action. Actually, it is something I have been theorizing about for a long time- it's a form of performance, and there is a performer/audience dynamic. He LIVES for the work he does to be seen, appreciated, and talked about. In a way, he is just an extension of the work he does. When he creates something masterful, he gets so stoked by the reviews and compliments, it makes him strive even harder the next time to top what he did and get more rave reviews... he does not drink. He does not do drugs. He gets high on what he does, daily. This guy is not normal, but in a very good way. More later, with pics! tbone42 AUG 29, 12:47 AM This has been such a positive experience for me. I feel like some osmosis was going on there... got to work on a portrait of my own and I was inspired to work hard and and it really shined. Also, I have never had anyone work with me, under me, or around me show me such absolute respect. And although he busted my balls pretty good here and there, and vice versa, but it was only in the most good natured ways. This was a real nice bit of serendipity for me, I am sorry to see it over. Seriously, I will re-install pip soon and post pics. Got some good ones. normsf AUG 29, 12:55 AM quote Originally posted by tbone42: Seriously, I will re-install pip soon and post pics. Got some good ones. Hello, photobucket works well for me here. Im just not smart enough for PIP apparently, LOL. tbone42 AUG 31, 06:42 PM Hopefully here is some photos to see.. First is the show poster he made for the event: Here's Versago working in my shop: We did not get a photo of the Gal's tattoo, but here are the other two he did. First is Woody Heyes, legendary OSU coach.. And finally, my tattoo, Gen. John B. Gordon, Army of Northern Virginia.. (Cmon, you had to expect it was a Civil War thing..) Yeah, WE BAD! tbone42 JUN 11, 12:34 PM quote Originally posted by tbone42: Crazy first day at the shop for Mr. Versago. He drove all morning from Akron to get to my shop near Cincinnati. Rented a truck to bring all of his equipment. We wheeled his toolboxes and other stuff in and let him be to set up. It got very quiet in his office so I came around the corner to see what was up and he was just sitting there, staring at his toolbox intently. "What's up?" I ask. He says "I left my toolbox keys in Akron." Shoot. So the two choices are drill it out or call a locksmith. We call the 'smith, he comes out. And has to drill the lock anyhow. Finally things get underway around 245... his clients thankfully showed up a half hour late, just in time for him to get at his equipment and then he is off and running. You see, he goes into "The Zone"... like no one I have ever seen. So much so, that after he is finished with the 6.5 hour tattoo session, he just sits and stares into the distance of his mind until he comes back a few minutes later. I tell him the work he did was beautiful, and only then do I figure that he is staring at the art he just made with new eyes.. not the eyes that controlled his actions while working, but different eyes that observe instead of direct. In other words, this guy channels something when he works, and is not completely "there" while doing his work. This phenomenon is not unknown to me, I have "come back" after a few long sessions myself.. you get in the groove and there is no more intention anymore, just creating and action. Actually, it is something I have been theorizing about for a long time- it's a form of performance, and there is a performer/audience dynamic. He LIVES for the work he does to be seen, appreciated, and talked about. In a way, he is just an extension of the work he does. When he creates something masterful, he gets so stoked by the reviews and compliments, it makes him strive even harder the next time to top what he did and get more rave reviews... he does not drink. He does not do drugs. He gets high on what he does, daily. This guy is not normal, but in a very good way. More later, with pics! Heh.. this post got some attention from other sources and got re-posted on Inked.com or somewhere. No credit, of course, to the author.