Whats up?

So what will be in the new book, and why is it taking so long?

The new tattoo book (the follow on to Basic Fundamentals of Modern Tattoo) will cover a lot of stuff. Part of why it is behind schedule is because I am really trying to make sure you get your money worth on this one. This book will not replace Basic Fundamentals of Modern Tattoo, but it will be the next book in the series. Basic Fundamentals was designed to work with the tattoo apprentice who is in a studio studying under a professional. It has a lot of information, but you need to have those hands on experiences. I am realistic though and I know a lot of people who purchased the book are not tattoo apprentices in the formal respect. That is okay, I am not one of those people who will condemn a new artist in the industry because he/she did not start off their career as a formal apprentice. I know this is a feat in itself to obtain.

The goal is to get the information out there, and make sure it is the best quality information that is easy to understand. Tattoo is a profession where you have to really study under another artist who you respect and who’s style you want to emulate or pull from (to an extent). It is difficult to get an apprenticeship in the tattoo industry though, and you (the apprentice) might be forced to take what you can get (know that this is a bad thing and it goes both ways, sometimes artists take on apprentices that they wish they could do better as well). You really just have to make sure you learn what you can from whoever will teach you. Even an artist, who does not have the best “artistic” skill, might be very technical – or have his own set of tips and tricks that you can eventually apply. As a new tattoo artist / apprentice you should always be humble and take everything you can like a sponge – just keep your mouth shut and smile and nod.

The new book will really go more into a case study and style theory, where I will take you through a bunch of tattoos (mostly grey wash, grey and white, and simple color) from start to finish. Breaking down everything that occurs each step of the way and how each machine is setup. Each tattoo will also have a medium resolution video on the web site to go along with the book with detailed audio commentary. I will also go over tattoo machine building and setup in extensive detail. I will show you a very simple way to break down every aspect of your tattoo machine and ensure that you can remain consistent. I will give you a breakdown of parts to buy – and the vendors. In Basic Fundamentals of Modern Tattoo I give a list of each quality vendor, but I really try to avoid recommending specifics (other than what I use). In the new book, I will not only use a single frame (that costs under $80.00) to build 4 different tattoo machines, but I will show you how to mix and match machine parts to get the exact desired results. I also will go over specifics about important aspects of setting up the machine (not just the tuning aspect) but the way I ride my springs and how I set the needles up in the machines, as well as what are the best disposables to use for each job.

My goal for tattoo books is that we are beyond an age where you can just have a book. You need to have a rich media experience, and that means you should get reading materials as well as audio materials and videos.

I know I am the type of person who hates to pay $100.00 for a eBook or PDF – If I am paying more than $50.00 for a book, I want to have a tangible copy of that book that I can highlight and read while I am laying in bed (yes I know I can use my laptop in bed) but there is just something about a paper book that cannot be matched. I also know that books can not show you everything that a video or audio clip can. But you have to remember that a video or audio clip or even a really good forum can’t give you that feedback that you will get from a real human mentor in a tattoo studio.

Why is it taking so long to get these titles out / update the portal?
I am still in Afghanistan – so I have limited time to work on these projects. Please stick with me though, I am serious about this industry and I am serious about trying to provide the best gear and texts that I can. Remember, if you have purchased one of my texts – you can email me directly and I will respond!