penguincomp Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 Adam Hays at Red Rocket Tattoo in NYC did my sleeve. There are multiple meanings in my ink. First off, it is not done. I have about 6 hours of detail work left to do. So on to the story! 2008 was a great year for me. My first daughter was born (I have twin daughters born a year later) and I took delivery of my 2008 Shelby Terlingua. #2 of 38 built. I took delivery at the Shelby American Terlingua 2008 event in Terlingua, TX. Come to find out, my wife went to college in the next down over. In 2009, Shelby American couldn't do the event. So myself and 3 of my friends did. In 2010 I took the Terlingua Preservation Society to 501c3 making it a non-profit business entity. We donate all of our proceeds to the local community (70% live below the poverty level down there) which includes Terlingua High School, Terlingua Fire & EMS and Activets. Among others. In 2012 we had our biggest year yet and raised over 24k in our one weekend. Terlingua has become a big part of my life. 2.5 years ago I started thinking about getting my first tattoo. Then it was on to the what theme, color, grayscale or what. I spent a year and a half figuring out what I wanted. During my Terlingua event I discovered the artwork of Adam Hays. At around the same time I started looking at the local artists by me and was found that none of them could capture the essence of what I was looking for. I race Mustangs and getting into desert racing. I decided I wanted something that imbued Terlingua, my daughters and my racing. Last summer I discovered that Adam did tattoo work, I hit his web page and the light bulb went off in my head. THIS IS THE GUY! I emailed the shop in August 2012, couple of phone conversations later I had an appointment for January 2013. Since I was flying in for the appointments, I wanted as much work done as humanly possible while I was there. I left it up to Adam to decide what could be done. What did I know? I had never had a tattoo. He was the expert and I left this up to him. I gave Adam the details of what I wanted in the design. He came up with the idea of horses racing through the desert and the skeletons (Terlingua thing) on the horses. It tied everything in and I loved the concept. Last Thursday and Friday I discovered what my pain threshold was, which was about what Adam could tattoo in a single sitting. We had two six hour days of tattooing. Below is the product as it is on my arm now. What is left is the mountains behind it (which will have my wife's name in it because without her, I would not have my daughters), some cactus and dust clouds coming up around the horses. All in all, I am extremely happy with my ink and the work that Adam has done. Now to get my race schedule this year and find out when I can get back to NYC to get my tat finished :) Added note: Shelby, Bella and Lexi are my daughters. TNBradley, CultExciter, Brock Varty and 14 others 17 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gougetheeyes Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 Welcome dude -- this is a hell of a story! And about the toughest "first tattoo" I can think of.. You will fit right in here, good sir. Congratulations on pretty much everything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graeme Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 Really nice tattoo, you're doing it right! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johannes Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 First one eh? Good for you! Nice little piece you have...and welcome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slayer9019 Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 Hey @penguincomp glad to see you made it over here to LST! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tatB Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 very nice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CultExciter Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 Welcome dude! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
penguincomp Posted January 21, 2013 Author Share Posted January 21, 2013 Guess I left out this part of the story. I have the plans for my right arm in my head. I am also a Master Diver, Rescue Diver, TEC Diver and a host of other diving certifications (still working on TEC and Dive Master). I also enjoy the Caribbean and boating. So my right arm is going to be a full color ocean theme with a pirate ship on top (shoulder) then under the water is going to be a SCUBA diver, fish and other aquatic life. Opposing arms, different themes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slayer9019 Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 Guess I left out this part of the story. I have the plans for my right arm in my head. I am also a Master Diver, Rescue Diver, TEC Diver and a host of other diving certifications (still working on TEC and Dive Master). I also enjoy the Caribbean and boating. So my right arm is going to be a full color ocean theme with a pirate ship on top (shoulder) then under the water is going to be a SCUBA diver, fish and other aquatic life. Opposing arms, different themes. Any thoughts on style? I vote american traditional. Bold black with that color scheme will pop! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TNBradley Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 Wow, that tattoo is epic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
penguincomp Posted January 21, 2013 Author Share Posted January 21, 2013 Adam told me of a guy down in the Atlanta area who is a tattoo artist as well but he specializes in the water scenes since he is a diver and underwater photographer. I am going to look into him when the time is right. I am not starting the right arm until I am done with the left. Ninja edit: http://www.psychotats.com/newweb/pages/DeanoCook/DeanoCook.htm This is the guy. slayer9019 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JVandal Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 Yeah, Deano Cook would also be an obvious choice for underwater realism, if you wanted to take it (the right arm) in that direction. He was on Tattoo Wars on TLC a few years ago you can still find the videos on YouTube if you were interested in checking out his work that way. first video: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hogg Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 Welcome! That's one helluva first tattoo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reverend1 Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 Beautiful Tattoo. I love the Terlingua! When that car was released I was floored, really a cool package. Glad to know a real life person got their hands on one. I hope you enjoy your stay here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
penguincomp Posted January 23, 2013 Author Share Posted January 23, 2013 Beautiful Tattoo. I love the Terlingua! When that car was released I was floored, really a cool package. Glad to know a real life person got their hands on one. I hope you enjoy your stay here. We get (on average) 10 of the Terlingua's down to Terlingua every year (including the Terlingua Cobra) :) Thanks for the warm welcome everyone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan S Posted January 23, 2013 Share Posted January 23, 2013 Welcome to LST. Divers n sharks, eh?! penguincomp 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
penguincomp Posted January 23, 2013 Author Share Posted January 23, 2013 Now that is some nice ink. Who did them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan S Posted January 23, 2013 Share Posted January 23, 2013 Den Yakovlev...look him up on FB. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocketfish344 Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 welcome! and wow! awesome tattoo! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iwar Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 Welcome @penguincomp Good lookin' arm you got there. Adam Hays is an awesome tattooer. Glad you found LST and decided to join up :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
penguincomp Posted March 4, 2013 Author Share Posted March 4, 2013 Latest update: Next appoints with Adam Hays are in May to finish up my sleeve. Much to my surprise, I had no scabbing. Itched like a bitch for awhile with the skin flaking off. When I am tired and not thinking I find myself walking across the house and out of the corner of my eye I get surprised that I have a full sleeve. My girls love it. "That's my horsey!" says one of my 3yo daughters. Mark Bee, tatB, Delicious and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brock Varty Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 Den Yakovlev...look him up on FB. Den Yekovlev isn't even human. Those Eastern Euaropean/Russian dudes are all just tattoo monsters... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan S Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 Den Yekovlev isn't even human. Those Eastern Euaropean/Russian dudes are all just tattoo monsters... Ain't that the troof! Take a look at the pic he just put up...talk about some portraiture!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samuse Posted March 6, 2013 Share Posted March 6, 2013 Awesome tattoo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wraith Posted March 9, 2013 Share Posted March 9, 2013 Welcome and thats a really good first Tattoo ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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