Inks

I'm shopping for a new set of inks. My last one was stolen by my boss (long story that wull be in my next post) and I obviously need more. I was using stuido one, but I keep hearing about all these other wonderful inks. I know that ink doesn't matter if the artist sucks and that it's not magic potion that will make otherwise crappy tattoos wonderful, but there are differences in quality from brand to brand, pigment to pigment. I've been looking into Starbrite (even though I read on a post here that the red caused bad reactions), Micky Sharpz Easyflow Dispersion, Dermaglo, MOM's, and Eternal. I'm also very curious about the ingredients put into these brands.The site I was looking at with MOM's had a warning at the bottom about the ink possibly containing things like lead and arsenic. I don't know if that's a general warning about all tattoo inks or if it was brand specific.

So you're a professional artist? You're asking a forum this why? The inks I use you can't buy unless they can verify that you actually work in a shop. Not only that but I use powder pigments too... Sorry can't really help you much... 7

I work in a shop. Sort of. I've made another post about that situation.

I work in a shop. Sort of. I've made another post about that situation.

man how many apprentices get there shit stolen? the same shit happened to me but it was all my shit

It happens...sucks...but it happens...Ya gotta be very picky who ya trust people.

i guess some thing you gotta learn the hard way

Shops stealing brings up an interesting thought. My wife now at a shop, she got offers from 3. Two of them she really liked, but it was another apprentice (now artist and friend) who experienced theft of their art (not actual equipment) one of the shops that made her decision. Work the apprentice did was in the portfolio of one of the shop's artists. Most shops require an apprentice leave equipment there to prevent scratching, but there are no garuntees against theft. At her current shop she only takes her machines with her. Ink, needles, power supplies, etc... are left at the shop. I personally think this helps both sides show trust in the other side, but allows each protection from their fears.

yeah, apprentices who quit dont get to keep their equipment too often. Basically, if someone is investing their time teaching you to tattoo and you bail, you best not be needing that equipment in the near future. People think getting an apprenticeship is hard, but the real hard part isn't just finding a teacher, its finding someone *worth* teaching you. Once you find that person, the commitment is pretty heavy on both sides. But the karma you will earn by learning this trade the right way will pay off immensely. Luckily, the good-karma path is simple, get better at your artwork and get amazing tattoos from the best of the best.

Well i guess that depends on if the person had to buy their own equipment then of course they should be able to keep it!

Well, I can see why a quitting/fired apprentice would lose their machines and hardware if the mentor was wise and the apprentice was hazzardous and impatient. I know you hate the refference to weaponry when talking about equipment, but that really is like leaving a loaded gun in the hands of a tempermental child.