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www.pinterest.com/squiblex/my-tattoos/

This is a link to my tattoos that ive done. Any constructive critisism is welcome.

Ive been wondering the same thing, I have a part of my house licensed and legal as a privately owned and operated studio, and Ive wanted to figure out just what the general thoughts on that were from others in the industry.

i guess i am going to give my two cents worth on this one . most tattoo artist i think will agree that a scratcher is really a person that is either dirty, not qualified in doing tattoos proper. nor do they care to learn they tend to take the easy road and buy a kit off some site then they act like they have been tattooing forever carving people up and learning bad habits. there are a ton of these people just making things worst for the tattoo community. meaning that shops now have to try to educate people in fields that they shouldn't have to worry about. like diseases,bloodbourne safety and why tattoos cost what they do. if scratchers would stop then i think people would go back to trusting shops again. and let us do our jobs as professionals. now i know of a ton of self taught artist out there and some prefer to work out of their home shops some are good but most of them cut corners on safety or equipment. like pigments, machine bags. or cleaners and disinfectants or they are not trained in laws and regulations they just think they know the laws and codes. any way i think that the scratcher term is a way for the tattoo community to call out all the people that are not up to the standards that we have worked so hard for . i mean most of us that have put time in take pride in ourselves our art and our craft. i have spent more time learning, busting my ass and working all hours of the night to learn this craft. my family stands by my side and deals with all the crap that i have to do just so i can be a tattoo artist. i see my kids grow up so fast and it is hard for me to spend time with them because if im not tattooing , drawing , learning then they don't eat. every minute of my day has to do with tattooing and where i want to get us in life. so i guess to say that tattooing is something that you can just buy a kit and do. pisses me off. i think that there are so many people that take our craft and just crap on it . and it seems to be getting worse.i wished that people that are thinking of getting into tattooing that they would walk in my shoes for a week and i bet money that most would say to hell with that. tattooing is something that if you don't give your life to then you will never get far. it can be good to you and give you so much but you have to be able to give back. i guess the way i look at it is if you don't want to be classed as a scratcher then you better ask yourself if tattooing is what you really want to do for your life or just leave it alone.there are no short cuts if you are questioning working out of your house then clients are too.try to get in a shop.relocate, hustle for that spot in the tattooing community work your ass off spend hours drawing learning and have some pride. people always say i cant relocate. thats bullshit and i will call you on it .if mike devries said that he would hire you in his shop most of you would freaking walk there barefoot i would no questions about it . so saying relocating is out, then you need to stop tattooing and go work a nine to five. because you will never be what the tattooing community wants or needs, i am the type of person that will take tattooing to the grave and proud to be a craftsman of tattooing the good and the bad. ( that is what i mean by pride). now i know that there are bad shops out there and they are classed the same (scratcher) but worst they give a false appearance to get people in just to mess them up and that is more crap we have to teach people about to stay away from. i have one that i am dealing with in my town. he really messes people up then i have to try to fix it . and cover-ups suck when you do them a lot. i am all for good artist but if you have been tattooing for years and years and you cant run a line then you need to stop. ok so sorry for the book and getting off course some but i hope this helps just take pride of our craft and work work work!!! nothing comes free in tattooing.....

 "i think that the scratcher term is a way for the tattoo community to call out all the people that are not up to the standards that we have worked for"
I like that statement. That to me sums it all up very clearly. So i guess im a scratcher in a way. Although i dont tattoo anyone else i just do it as a bit of a hobbie. I too have a family to look after an if i dont work we dont eat. I only get a chance to play around every couple of months after theyve gone to sleep. My machines are ebay knockoffs but my power source needles and ink are all from proper suppliers, starbrite inks and monster point needles, dettol for cleaning ultra sonic cleaner for my tips and grips alcohol wipes for wiping down machines an whatnot. I know its not all industry standard but i keep everything clean as possible an iv never had an infection or anything close. Ive always had the highest respect for those of you who have payed your dues i take my hat off to you i know i struggled through my boilermakers apprentiship with a family. But thanks for answering my question.

you are so welcome. i hope that i wasn't coming off as a asshole but some people that read things on here take things and twist them.or only remember certain parts and end up having bad habits. anyway glad i can help. also as far as you tattooing yourself as a hobby that is your business im not saying that you are considered a scratcher .because you are doing it to yourself so your not harming anyone but yourself.i think most would say just make sure that you are being safe and using good equipment safety is the main thing for you. especially since you have a family to take care of and you don't need to hurt yourself then not be able to be there for your family as far as the pride thing i was talking about .you being a boilermaker you understand being a tradesman and crafting your skills so im sure you do understand pride. i have alot of friends that are boilermakers. thats a very prideful trade and a very noble job...so my hats off to you

Don´t leave your daytime job until you can afford your life necessities out of your work on tattooing, and use every resource (money & time) into get better on drawing, learning more then just the basics (pigments, styles, kinds of machine, skin, etc), use your salary from your daytime job to get more and better equipment and supplies, get an apprenticeship in an establishment or either meet some real tattoo artists, or do what ever to learn, take your Hepatitis B vaccination, keep drawing from different kind of styles, learn more about clean and sanitation, and stay humble, consider yourself a rookie always so you will stay opened to knowledge....got to leave now, finished my 9 to 5 job and got to run to the shop to stay there from 6 to midnite. Don´t take a NO for an answer!!!!