Tattoo Magazine Subscription

I'll never forget my first tattoo, as it is a lot like losing your virginity. Its a special occasion, where you don't know exactly what you are getting yourself into, but while getting inked that time at least I didn't knock over any tables or lampshades with nervousness. My fascination with dragons, such as Smaug and Chinese Mythology, was why I have a huge dragon on my upper right arm. It was also a reason to annoy my girlfriend at the time, who thought I was getting a tiny one, which was not exactly the case. It was nerve racking sitting in the chair the first time, because so many people had told me it hurt terribly.

I was shocked when the tattooist started, because while the first thirty seconds were at a minimal level of pain, it didn't hurt after that at all. In fact, I found the experience to be annoying, even though I was happy with the results. The buzzing needle constantly going in and out of my arm area, was a bit irritating, but nothing that I couldn't stand for the time frame it took to finish it. The artist was awesome during this first time, and I've kept in touch with her over the years, because I am a fan of her work.

Some people do think tattoos hurt, but I have five of them, and haven't been in any real pain. A friend of mine, who is 6"4 and a former college offensive lineman, did cry while we got tatted together though. I guess a lot of it depends on your perception of pain, and I have heard that certain areas of the body can hurt more than others. I am planning on getting another tattoo soon, because once you get started, you just keep getting more of them. All of mine are in areas that can be hidden under professional attire, and while several of my friends have them all over, I try to keep them in places where I can still get a job if someone has a problem with this artwork for some reason.

Tattoo Magazine claims to be "the world's largest selling tattoo magazine" on their cover. I take them at their word, as they are available for subscriptions and at most book stores, and have been around for a long time. It is published on a monthly basis, and with a cover price of $5.99, I am going to be subscribing soon instead of picking one up on an occasional basis. This price might be high due to the fact that Tattoo issues are not loaded with advertisements, like a lot of other publications are. There are only a couple of ads in each issue, and they don't interfere with the featured articles, and are mostly based upon stuff that I'd be interested in.

Each issue is around ninety to one hundred pages of length, and you can expect several hours of reading material. Most of the articles are based upon people with a lot of tattoos, and it goes into why they picked certain designs, and how they found an artist that could bring their idea into reality. This is a unique look at the industry, and how some touching life stories can be brought up through art. There have been several of these articles where a tattoo was based upon a loved one lost, or for a day in history such as 9/11. A lot of these stories are inspirational, and are a reminder of how our human experience can be drawn out into body art.

My favorite feature of each issue is the Slinging Ink Section. Here you can find out about large tattoo conventions that have or will occur, and see what kind of fashion accessories are becoming popular. Sometimes they interview celebrities about their art work, and there is usually a band covered in this section. While a lot of the bands tend to be hard rock/heavy metal based, there have been a few that were more pop and regular rock oriented. Here is where you can find out about upcoming tattoo shows, and while a lot of them seem to be in Las Vegas, there are a few spread out on the east and west coasts.

The pictures in each issue are phenomenal. I have actually been amazed by some of the art work I have seen, and while I probably cannot afford a lot of it, at least its fascinating to look at. There is an even spread among men and women who have been tattooed in each issue, and I have found some of the women in each issue to be so beautiful with their tattoos. Although there are some skimpy outfits, there's nothing too controversial here, as you won't be witnessing a closeup of body piercings in certain areas. There's the occasional butt crack or cleavage shot, but no pornographic pictures.

This is a great publication, and I look forward to subscribing to this, so it can be delivered to my door. You can get some ideas from each issue, and find some designs that might work for something you are looking for. Each issue delivers a high level of quality, and I am impressed by their professionalism in the photography and articles.
They cover everything in depth, and unlike the local newspaper, they don't write so an eighth grade dropout can understand them either. This is the ultimate tattoo magazine, and I fully recommend it. You might just catch me reading this, the next time I'm in the chair!