[purplethumb]

Hello everybody. Purplethumbs the handle but you guys can call PT or Wes if you like. I joined the boards back in June of 08 just been lurkin in the shadows so I guess its about time I introduced myself

Im 25 have been drawing since I could hold a pencil (or anything that could make a line for that matter). I joined the US Navy at 17 and soon after got my first professional tattoo at a shop in CT where I was stationed. My artist and I really hit it off during that first session and before I knew it I was spending all my free time hanging out at the shop helping out the artists however I could, setting up, breaking down, folding paper towels and getting lunch mostly. After a while I knew this was what I wanted to do with my life (tattooing I mean).

My artist kinda took me under his wing and one day asked if I ever considered being an apprentice. I was stoked at the Idea and he was willing to teach me but when we talked to the shop owner about it he turned me away explaining that he himself was a retired Navy chief petty officer and as such he knew that the likelyhood of me being stationed there long enough to do a full apprenticeship was very slim (I was in sub-school at the time) but that he didnt have a problem with me hanging out in the shop. At the time I felt smited, 4 months latter when I received orders to report to my new station aboard the USS Luisianna in Kings Bay GA I understood where he was coming from.

Being deployed effectively ended tattooing for me, at least for a few years. After I got out moving back to CT wasn't a viable option so I looked elsewhere for a mentor but havent been able to find one so willing to teach me without a $5000 price tag attached (which I'd gladly pay if I had it). A little discouraged but far from beaten I took what I had learned about the art, technique, equipment and most importantly BBP safety and began to "teach myself". I invested in good equipment and began to practice on fruit, practice skin, myself, friends, and eventually paying customers (in that order and far between).

While Im no professional I have learned a lot and have come to put out some decent work. Recently I have felt as though my progress has stalled out to a degree so in response I have scaled back actually tattooing clients to one maybe two pieces a week and have refocused my time and energy into compiling a sizable drawing and flash portfolio in the hopes of getting a very talented local artist to see me the way my first mentor did and give me a shot.

In short I'm a scratcher but one who wants to and WILL BE much more. (not putting down scratchers here but lets face it there is a certain stigma involved with working out of your house that we all would like to get away from, at least those of us that are truly tattooists at heart)



A little about my tools, I use:

5 machines, all tuned a little different- liner, cutback liner, shader, color packer, and a greywash shader

Starbrite and Intenze for colors, Inenze grey washes (as a starting point then cap hop from there) and One ink for lining and black fill

Lexan disposable tubes

SS grips with autoclavable covers

Proper sterilization and BBP practices are and always will be of the utmost importance to me. I use bleach/ water pre-soak followed by a 20 min bath in a madacide FD filled ultrasonic cleaner, then a 15 min bath in a cup of madacide 1 (fresh alcohol rinse between each step to avoid corrosion) and lastly cycled through an All American pot style electric autoclave.

Pics of my work to follow soon in the show and tell section, feel free to tear them apart god knows I do.

PT

[deerfaced]

Welcome Wes

Look forward to seeing some of your work dude. You sound like you've a good head on your shoulders...

Al.

[Teo]

welcome bro,