livestrong is incorrect! PSA. PLEASE SHARE.
PSA: SHARE!!!
if you have read/are using that site as a source of info about tattoo inks please PLEASE be aware-
THE SOURCE THEY CITE IS COMPLETELY NOT CREDIBLE WITHIN THE TATTOO INDUSTRY.
THE SOURCE THEY USED IS INCORRECT.
THE INKS (BRANDS) THEY LIST ARE REALLY TERRIBLE FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS AND YOU WILL NOT FIND A TALENTED PROFESSIONAL USING THEM.
they used a fake, crappy online “tattoo school” scam website to get their info. the inks listed include two brands with recalls (!!!!!) and a brand that has really low pigmentation. those brands were listed as “good” only because they’re potentially available to non professional artists!!! Most amateur grade and publicly available inks are made with all sorts of contaminants, and some are dangerous.
The scam school website they used as a reference is NOT a reliable source for information.
THIS IS A BAD SOURCE FOR INFORMATION ABOUT TATTOO INKS.
professional grade tattoo inks are not available to the general public, contain nothing extraneous, and you won’t find out about them through “how-to tattoo dot com” or some crap like that.
tattoo inks available to professionals show no toxicity in ingredients, are not hazardous, and are usually vegan (some brands of black are the exception to that).
if you have questions about ink, ask your tattoo artist. we will always answer questions for you and we have msds sheets as well. (these images are an example, from a brand used by many professionals.)
(this is from one of several brands often used by professionals)
I’ve seen reference to this website several times now, so I decided it was time to let people know this is NOT CORRECT INFORMATION.
Please, please. If you have concerns about the inks, ASK YOUR TATTOO ARTIST. If you do not trust your artist, FIND ONE YOU TRUST. Get tattooed by professionals only!
The Horrors is here, get your creatures!

The Horrors is an adult coloring book, featuring 61 pieces of original line art representing monsters, cryptids, and ghosts from around the world. For each of the nightmares, there is a page explaining their origin and history.(here are two pages as a sample, you can print these to color for free!)
Since some of the illustrations include guts, gore, and possibly (monstrous) nudity, this coloring book is not suitable for children, only for adults.
Seminar: Passive income and social media use for tattoo artists
Seminar: Passive income and social media use for tattooers.
Even though we all make our daily bread tattooing, we all are also human beings, living inside bodies that can get broken or worn. When you’ve got slow times or an injury or illness, passive income is a good backup, and if done properly it will complement and improve your work on skin.
If you’re using social media at all- to share your tattoo work – or if you would like to start selling your other artwork online to reach a wider audience- this class is for you.
If you see the internet ad social media as a chore, hate pinterest, and fear theft- this class is for you.
Learn to use social media properly — without compromising your copyright.
This class relates to the sale of secondary mediums beyond tattooing, and will go over the relationship between your existing client base and the collectors who will buy your work on paper rather than skin.
We’ll cover print-on-demand services, pros and cons of social media use, networking as a strategy to find collectors, consolidating your media management, and getting more reach with your work online.
Seminar text and cheatsheet handout packet, aftercare instructions, and legal consent form templates included.
next year’s agenda
So far, my plans for next year are sparse. I’ll be wintering in Spokane until March, when I’ll be working at the evergreen convention, then a week or so at high priestess right after.
I’m hoping to work the Portland convention in the fall- depending on dates. I’ll likely work at the eye candy convention in NY state next fall again, too. I have not yet made any other plans!
I’ll definitely be back in Seattle for at least a week or two, here and there, and I’ll try to make it to az/lv as well. I’ll be on the east coast in September/October if all goes well, too.
do you live somewhere I haven’t been? do you want a bunch of tattoos? drop a comment and let me know, I’ve got time for at least one distant drive (within the US) that I haven’t planned yet.
Northern California is possible, as is the Southeast.
side note: I hate driving through Texas, so if I’ll have to do that, you better be ready to make me some dinner.
spidermonkey, and mom’s
My last two stops before I go east for six weeks-ish. I spent last weekend at Spider Monkey in Olympia- I LOVE that shop and everyone in it. What a great time!
I spent the morning today building a portfolio page within the site; you can view that HERE if you like.
This coming weekend (thurs the 4th through sunday) I’ll be at Mom’s Tattoo in Spokane. Can’t wait- they’re such lovely people, and the shop environment is so light and airy. I’ll be taking walkins every one of the days I am there!
Here are a few recent photos to keep you entertained.
round two of the DayStar tour!
Eugene, Seattle, and Auburn WA.