Happy New Year!!!

Well 2009 was definitely interesting to say the least . Some great achievements some great disappointments. LEt go of alot of people in 09'. Cest La Vie! It Is What It Is! No regrets !! My Life Your Entertainment. For 2010 I will go harder simply cause I know nothing else .Im not built any other way . Sorry.As the Ball Drops remember what got you here, what you've been through and definitely where we are headed. BE Unstoppable!!!! Peace!

The Evolution of the Tattoo Party

The evolution of the Tattoo party is at hand . Most artists myself included come from this. How else is a tattoo artist with no shop going to make money. I can't Knock the hustle. But even after you get your chips up and acquire a shop people will still want you to do them. Heres the catch since your not at the shop your prices should be heavily reduced at best. No Bueno! Bad enough the conditions we work in are kinda crazy. You ever tattooed in a baby's room or put your power source and ink tray on an ironing board. Man that was  some bullshit!!! There is some decent money in tattoo parties but there are no guidelines. So you have to deal with any and everything. Certain folks who wouldn't normally deal with you cause you too expensive bite at the chance to get a really cheap tattoo cause its suppose to be cheap. Ignorant Hatin Ass Dudes who you gotta carry your glock for. (yeah thats right just cause you dont see it dont mean its not around) My favorite drunk people they will argue with you all night. I had to take a stand and give it up. Not that I'm too good for it but how much longer could I keep doing it . For real I dont want to tattoo in your house or your kitchen. One on one house call is totally different(depending on how fine she is LOL). Or if its out of state (Shout Out to BMore Maryland my second home nothing but love for y'all.) So now you can book my establishment for you and friends for your parties .You get to enjoy your tattoo experience with out trashing your house and I have everything to my disposal. Alot of shops are throwing tattoo parties now but I had to put some thought to that if a shop is throwing the party for anyone that walks in the door thats called being OPEN thats not a party. I dont have to compromise my prices either because people know the quality they are receiving. QUALITY you dont hear that enough in this game . I hold my standard of work on higher bar I think we all should. I have Tattoo Parties that are booked by customers almost every other weekend . The last one was thrown by Drockin Beats a producer from queens . He brought a dj and liquor  and we had a really good time.The place was packed. All my artists were working. There was dancing booty shaking gorgeous women MAAN LISTEN!!Check out the pics of the party and if your interested hit me up .Peace.

J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS!!!!

On SunDay I went to the Jets Game . A good rivalry game at that ,New York Jets vs. Miami Dolphins. I was given a ticket to the game from the lovely D. Malone (Shes a Strokergurl) for my birthday.It was real cool to me cause it was last minute also this is what my sundays consist of ...Football!! My twitter peeps normally twit the action and score all sunday. So im geeked when we get there all the hussle and bussle.YO For Real New york fans are the illest. I saw it all .Painted Faces , mad football jerseys . After our surprise of our location (I think our seats were in heaven)Holy Shit! The game pace was rather slow toward halftime and the crowd showed it .You really want to know what a football game is like ? Here goes! Its like a third grade class room of bad ass kids gettin over on the substitute teacher I SWEAR!! You ever wonder what happen to the obnoxious over weight jerk that tortured you in elementary school. That asshole got season tickets .All of them. I've never seen so much misguided energy (thats saying it with class) And beer consumption does not help.The businessmen I was seated next too seemed equally annoyed yet quiet ( just like the really smart kids in class...thats how i put that metaphor together. Im not a racist well not really a racist but i have to say that white folks are the biggest niggers and need to own up to it.But i love yall though cause you prove me right.LOL (Just kidding) I had A great time nonetheless. Who knows maybe next  time I'll be acting the fool . I think people in general have alot of stress to release. Well we lost by 5 points. But the season aint over!!! GangGreen On you Bitches Lets Go Jets!!!

SketchN' @ Work

Went to work a little early did this before my clients came it's called "Don't Sell Your Soul". I think I'm going to do this on canvas.


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The Thin Line Between Vanity and Cheapness!!

We all want to enjoy the finer things in life. We all love a sale or even discounts. BUT i think its safe to say you have to draw the line somewhere. When did it become the trend to be cheap when it comes to your actual being. For instance  a client walks in with her son and speaks to the manager about her son getting a tattoo on his chest of praying hands. Here at OneStroke Tattoos that ranges anywhere from $200 and up. Because as you know the clients tattoo is always a little more than what they ask you for. In this case the clients son wanted wings behind the praying hands this of course changes the demographic of the whole tattoo,now it a full chest piece. Our manager explains to the client the difference. OOOO GAWD! Why ? That much ? How come its just praying hands. Mind you her son has on a 7 for Men Shirt and jeans and Prada shoes!! Im like WTF!!! How do you do that shit? Like REALLY! His metrosexual outfit cost way more than the tattoo. And you complainin' unbelievable !! When you go out if the price is not a sale or discounted and you really want whatever it is you Pay whatever the price is. Right?You dont even argue with the cashier about the price cause you know you got NO WINS in a store.  Yet when we charge them they want to go the cheap ass route. I don't  understand. HELLO Im working on your skin for Christs sake .The tattoo will last alot longer than the clothing. People should really love themselves more! Yet they looking for some cheap Tattoo hookup like this shit isn't work. But I know the value of what I do and I have pride in my work so pay me what I'm worth! I already respect the "situation" ya dig ! I know everybody don't have it (money). Respect me and yourself. How about not coming to see me when you don't. This is a business. Needless to say she stepped outside and made a phone call .Stuck her head in to say C'mon on y'all i found somebody who'll do it cheaper than $200 loud enough for us to hear . As her son and his crew skipped out (thats right I said skipped)I realized in a year or two she will have bigger things to worry about ! Like why her son acts like a fairy.(Nothing against fairies!) This backwardass cheap shit is a disease I swear! Everyone knows I take care of my people and my clients for the simple fact that its my name out there. People need  to understand that its a disservice to all artists to have to give your art away. Respect me Bitches!! LOL just kidding!

Just A little Sketching

Haven't drawn anything in a while. Just a little warm up ya know to get the wheels turning!!!


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Meet B.Girard

Things happen for a reason of this I'm a firm believer. In this life we cross paths with so many people that either love you, hate you, want to use you, or just want to be you. So when you find folk that are genuine you tend to gravitate toward them. I met the lovely B.Girard under some strange circumstances to say the least. This woman is what I believe every woman wants to be ...FREE. By that I mean she is tattooed and pierced and purely confident and walks tall with that. Professional piercer, model, businesswoman and she's a strokergurl ! She'll be piercing at OneStroke Tattoos doing dermal piercing guest spoting (she resides in California)so call for schedule. I could go on for days about how cool and talented she is so I will simply say Real ReCogniZe Real.

bgirardink.blogspot

ONESTroke @ MiAMI Tattoolapalooza 09 aka SO WaStED!!

This was one of the highlights of the summer. Ingredients :South Beach, Strokergurlz, Fat Tuesdays and DtatStar = Onestroke at the Miami Tattoolapalooza . YesSir they let me come outside and play. Originally the plan was to go down there observe and learn. Well when we landed the weather was great   .HOt like Hell but cooler. We didn't set up till the next day so it was time to get wasted!!

The next day after setup it was showtime. The StrokerGurlz put on a show. High energy. We had a party at our booth everyday of the convention. I tattooed quite a few people, they promoted ,entertained. At the end of the day we were all nice .They served drinks there.HAHA. Silly Humans. Funny enough I saw some familiar faces from when I was real young in the tattoo game. It was real cool I felt like I was supposed to be there. Big shout out to Gino @Illustratedink and Chico @Marked 4Life .I also met Jaz from the Black Lotus Gallery in Bklyn He' s a rightous  dude. Also Jesse Smith  cool as hell .That  man tattoos straight sick. And last but certainly not least the coolest Surfer dude Tattoo Guru Cool-Aid. A real down to earth dude .He tatted my arm. His tattoos are sick for real.

When the convention was done  we all spent some well deserved time on the beach .OH YEah  did I mention in between all that "someone"fell in love with a monkey, pierced their face,walked naked down the hotel hallway,skinny dipped in the ocean,threw up in their hotel room,took a police officers handcuffs,got molested on a pool table and got drunk. Did I mention we got drunk.HAHA. So Wasted!

I LOVE MIAMI

StrokerGurl Siting

The StrokerGurlz are popping up everywhere these days. This is Neena from Baltimore Maryland.

THE STROKERGURLZ

Have you ever read a magazine or visited a website and never see anything you can relate to? To be honest this how I felt looking for black women with tattoos. I checked numerous sites just to see, for a visual. It was either very scarce or not there at all. Yes I got offended. Like WTF! Black women don't get tattoos ,full back ,sleeves, legs nothing ? Just your average hood shit. No real art or self expression. I was pissed!! So I said to myself "Self this isn't right ! Even in the model books their tats were horrible or just some simple shit. I know plenty of gorgeous black everyday women that I've been tattooing over 10 years that have substantial amounts of work on them. "BING" on goes the lightbulb! After a meeting with A.Minx the answer was clear "Create your own Lane".

I proudly present to you the Strokergurlz. "Strokergurlz is a website dedicated to women of color  who need a platform where they can display their tattoos tastefully". On a personal note I originally wanted to just profile women I tattooed. But how do I help the culture grow for us if I do that? So I invite women that I haven't tattooed to join and represent their artists.

STROKERGURLZ TWITTER

DTATSTAR TWITTER

P.S. I LOVE THESE GIRLS!! REAL TALK!!

$50 TATTERDAYS @ ONESTROKE TATTOOS

With respect to the current economic situation we ran a tattoo special at OneStroke Tattoos called $50 TatterDays.Basically Im giving 2inch pieces of custom tattoos for $50.NO IM NOT DOING ANY BIG PIECES.I posted it on facebook and twitter and the response was great.Customers stop Me in the Street like "what you got goin on over there". I explained that I understand that for some the money situations are not leaving them enough to spend on tattoos and "self Pleasures" so this was my way helping .We will run the special again So Follow me on facebook ,twitter or myspace for more info. PEace.

OneStRoke Tattoos @ 2009 eXXXotica Expo

Spontaneous. Sometimes its fun to be spontaneous. One particular Saturday, after much debate ,we(One Stroke Tattoos) decided to go to the Exxxotica Porn convention in Edison, New Jersey.Yeah I know, your like porn right?, but lets face it,i feel if you don't like porn your life is just lacking...lol lol lol.....Anyway, back to the subject....We had a blast! upon entering the first thing i notice is the venue is covered in porn hot pink carpet. Next up of course at the very first booth was ron jermey...one of the kings of porn. to the left and right of him are towers that are about 6-7 feet tall with stripper poles mounted on top and dancers shaking like salt shakers....many of the booths were selling DVDS, sex toys and the like....as we moved toward the stage, and the giant ceilng mounted swing that you can see A.Minx is on...we saw the infamous PINKY. she and cherokee D'Ass were taking pictures and signing autographes as the on lookers just stared and admired.. she is a real superstar, also she is about 5 foot nothing. ...dosent she look taller in the movies? i dont know maybe it's just me..lol (shrugs shoulders)....as we made our way to the stage to see 2Live Crew. we pass a booth were people are congragating....to our surprise we see a woman with big white feather fans dancing in the isle topless. turns out it was the booth for BBBW(big beautiful black women).... now that was something too see..it maybe right for some but not for me....all and all it was a pretty good decision to go, even though it was last minute..... and the with all the things that i DID see the strangest was a booth selling bed sheets...not rubber or animal print or satin..just regular sheets like Walmart bed sheets ...lol lol lol go figure! it definetly Dope Shit.

Once Again

Hey Peoples it's DTaTStar I'm back at it with this blog as promised . But this time around I'm takin you behind the scenes.This is going to be interesting. Alot has been going on since my last blog so I'm just going to throw it all out there no real dated order.So here goes! Let's Get It!!!!!!





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Im Back ...Stay a While

Photography BY David Dean