real tattooing is almost dead

it sounds like to me most american tattoo artist only do it for the money. all of the spiritual meaning has been killed.

I have seen people enter into the business mostly for the money and have seen some so called "artists" charge astronomical prices for crappy work. Yet there are some who are truly dedicated to the industry and love it for what it is- an amazing art form. In any business your going to get people who do it for money and others who do it for the love of doing it...that's just life. I find that those who go into it for just the "quick buck" end up getting burned later anyways...so I lose no sleep over it. I have done many many memorial pieces for clients and these have been some of my favorites as it means so much to them to have someone who they love forever be a part of them, and I am honored to be such an important part of their life...even if it is for only and hour or two. I hear their stories, listen to their experiences and in many ways become a small part of that history... Yes...I love what I do---and to be perfectly truthful if I made nothing out of it (which for some clients I have had I did it for them at no charge since they could not afford it) I would still do it. So you see...there are people out there who just love what they do.

Spiritual meaning? I don't want my tattoo artist to be a hippie, personally, nor do I believe in spiritual realities. If an artist does amazing work, I hope he likes his job and makes money.

You're not looking in the right place, dude. A lot of major talent here.

ha, yeah, this isnt the place to talk about the death of tattooing in America... Have you checked out the tattoo gallery lately?